I had previously watched the classic 1944 version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine; this later adaptation is well enough done and acted as TV movies go, but can't really be compared artistically (especially with respect to the narrative's Gothic trappings, much more vividly captured in atmospheric black-and-white).
It was surprising to find George C. Scott in a romantic melodrama, but it's he who gives the film life; in any case, this seemed to start him off tackling the classics for TV following JANE EYRE with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1976), OLIVER TWIST (1982), A Christmas CAROL (1984) and even MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1986)! Susannah York is a good match for him and brings reasonable passion to the title character. The supporting cast, then, is peppered with veteran character actors such as Jack Hawkins, Kenneth Griffith and, best of all, Ian Bannen (as the religious fanatic who proposes to Jane).
I own but have never read the Charlotte Bronte novel; still, from what I recall of the earlier version, this one's pretty faithful and it has suitably literate dialogue to boot. John Williams, then, delivers a sweeping and heavily romantic score.
It was surprising to find George C. Scott in a romantic melodrama, but it's he who gives the film life; in any case, this seemed to start him off tackling the classics for TV following JANE EYRE with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1976), OLIVER TWIST (1982), A Christmas CAROL (1984) and even MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1986)! Susannah York is a good match for him and brings reasonable passion to the title character. The supporting cast, then, is peppered with veteran character actors such as Jack Hawkins, Kenneth Griffith and, best of all, Ian Bannen (as the religious fanatic who proposes to Jane).
I own but have never read the Charlotte Bronte novel; still, from what I recall of the earlier version, this one's pretty faithful and it has suitably literate dialogue to boot. John Williams, then, delivers a sweeping and heavily romantic score.