Jane Eyre 175 Years -- October 19, 2022

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175 years ago today, Charlotte Brontë, using the male pseudonym Currer Bell, published her most popular novel, Jane Eyre. 

About a year ago, we saw that the story had been adapted into silent movies many times:

Big V Riot Squad: Jane Eyre -- September 13, 1921

This time I will write about some of the talking picture adaptions. 

Akron Beacon-Journal, 04-August-1934

The first talkie that I could find was Jane Eyre, made in 1934 by Monogram. Virginia Bruce played Jane, Colin Clive played Edward Rochester and Claire Du Brey played Bertha Rochester. Christy Cabanne directed. 

Boston Globe, 28-July-1934

Monogram was known for making relatively high-quality B pictures on relatively modest budgets. The success of a costume picture made on such a low budget attracted the attention of other studios.

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In 1943, Val Lewton was in the midst of producing a series of excellent but low-budgeted horror films for RKO. Jacques Tourneur directed I Walked with a Zombie, which borrowed much of its plot from Jane Eyre. Frances Dee played a Canadian nurse who was hired to be caregiver for the sick wife (Christine Gordon) of a wealthy plantation owner (Tom Conway). Things rapidly go sideways. It is always nice to see and hear Calypso singer Sir Lancelot in a Lewton film.

Also in 1943, Robert Stevenson directed the first big-budget sound adaption, which was written by John Houseman and Aldous Huxley. Joan Fontaine played Jane, Orson Welles played Edward Rochester and I don't know who played Bertha. The film was produced and distributed by 20th Century-Fox. Welles played Rochester several times on the radio.

Detroit Free Press, 18-July-1943

Also during 1943, movie star Sylvia Sidney toured the nation with her husband, Luther Adler. Helen Jerome wrote the stage adaption.

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In 1970, George C Scott played Edward Rochester in a made-for-television movie. It was released in theaters in Europe. Susannah York played Jane. Scott did several movies like this in that period, including adaptions of A Christmas Carol, Beauty and the Beast and Oliver Twist. The later productions were sponsored by Armour Star Ham.

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Director Franco Zeffereli made an adaption in 1996. Charlotte Gainsbourg was Jane, William Hurt was Rochester and Maria Schneider was Bertha Rochester.

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In 1997, director Carey Fukunaga made another adaption. Mia Wasikowska was Jane Eyre, Michael Fassbender was Rochester and Valentina Cervi was Bertha.

Perhaps another time, I will write about non-English language versions or television adaptions.

Jane Eyre -- September 13, 1921

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre has been made into movies many times. One hundred years ago this month, in September 1921, Mabel Ballin played Jane in an adaption produced and directed by her husband, Hugo Ballin. Hugo was also a muralist. Norman Trevor, who played Rochester, was born in British India and had changed his name from Norman Pritchard. In the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, he represented India and won the first two medals (silver) won by a representative of an Asian nation. Some sources say that he competed for Great Britain, but the IOC (International Olympic Committee) regards the medals as being won by India. Elizabeth Arians played Bertha Rochester. WW Hodkinson released the film.

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

I can't find any images for the first adaption of Jane Eyre, which was a one-reeler produced by Thanhouser in 1910. Irma Taylor played Jane Eyre, Frank Hall Crane played Rochester and Amelia Barleon played Bertha Rochester. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-February-1914

1914 saw two two-reel productions of Jane Eyre; one was released through IMP. The IMP version was directed by Frank Hall Crane, who had played Rochester in the 1910 version, and starred Ethel Grandin as Jane and Irving Cummings as Rochester. Cummings later became a director, and was the last host of The Lux Radio Theater. Miss Burke played Bertha Rochester. 

Bennington Evening Banner, 06-March-1914

Moving Picture Weekly, 04-July-1914

The Whitman version was directed by Martin Faust. Lisbeth Blackstone played Jane. Alberta Roy played Bertha Rochester. The fire that destroyed Rochester's home and killed Bertha Rochester nearly destroyed the Whitman studio and killed Alberta Roy, whose costume caught fire.

South Bend News-Times, 23
-May-1915

In 1915, Biograph released a three-reel version of Jane Eyre. Louise Vale played Jane, Franklin Ritchie played Rochester and Gretchen Hartman played Bertha. The film was directed by Travers Vale, husband of Louise. Alan Hale played a small part. Note how this ad spells Chaplin's first name and uses a photo of him without his tramp makeup. 

Daily Ardmoreite, 04-April-1915

Note that this ad says the Biograph Jane Eyre had four reels. 

Arizona Republican, 23-June-1918

In 1918, Select Pictures released an adaption of Jane Eyre with the title Woman and Wife. Jane was played by Alice Brady, who was a well-respected actress who continued to work into the talkie era. Elliott Dexter played Rochester. Rochester's wife, called Valerie in this version, was played by Leonora Morgan. Edward José directed.

Exhibitors Herald, 29-December-1917

Kinematograph, 12-December-1926

The last silent production of Jane Eyre was made in Germany. It was called Die Waise von Lowood (The Orphan of Lowood). Evelyn Holt played Jane. Olaf Fønss played Rochester. I don't know who played Bertha. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt, who worked in Hollywood after he fled Nazi Germany. 

I may write about the many talkie versions another time.