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jill_rooney
Reviews
Screen Two: Northanger Abbey (1987)
Gorgeous Production with the lovely Peter Firth and beautiful Katherine Schlesinger
A wonderfully romantic adaptation. Catherine in this production is extremely naive as in the book. The photography and music are mysterious and atmospheric. There are a lot of strange looking people and fantasy scenes, allowing access into the heroine's mind. I was very interested in the creepy bathing scene with trays of herbs being carried by the bathers.
By the end I felt totally immersed in the film, and suffered 'romance withdrawal'. Katherine Schlesinger has such unusual looks, and unlike the previous reviewer I find her mesmerising. Peter Firth is a lovely hero though somewhat too old for the part at the time? He treads the line of creepiness to put more doubt into the heroine's mind.
The adaptation is firmly set in the 1790s when Jane Austen first wrote it. It thereby stands out from other adaptations. The era is different from the usual Jane Austen - huge wigs, and loud, immoral behaviour. Interesting. The music is so wonderful at the end that I tried to obtain it in the 80's but to no avail.
Jane Eyre (1973)
Thorough production of the classic novel.
Why, when mentions are made of productions of 'Jane Eyre', is this production never mentioned? I saw it when I was 11 years old, and fell desperately in love with Rochester (Michael Jayston). I then read the novel, my first ever classic novel. One thing led to another, and ten years later there I was with a degree in English literature. This production sparked an interest that never died. For years I have been hoping it would be released on video, and now at last I am the proud owner of a DVD copy. Yes, it has dated, the production values are those of the 1970's. But the performances are compelling, luring the viewer into the world of passion and suppression. The script is very faithful to the novel, the most faithful I have seen, with plenty of time for the childhood scenes so necessary to explain the adult Jane, and the relationship with St John Rivers fully explored. I was always amazed that Sorcha Cusack (Jane) seemed to disappear from the screen for many years, she is very talented and makes a sympathetic Jane. As for Michael Jayston, words fail me... I am still in love with him!!!