A biography of the film versions

The Buffalo news explores classic novels that have been adapted many times over the decades. Two of them are obviously Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Here's what it says:

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte

1944: Robert Stevenson's "Jane Eyre" is a model in creating a dark, glossy and romanticized film without losing the story's heart. Could there be a more commanding figure to play Mr. Rochester than Orson Welles? The elegant Joan Fontaine is much too lovely to play Jane, even with that odd hairdo that surely inspired Princess Leia's coif in "Star Wars."

1983: Before he was James Bond, Timothy Dalton played iconic literary characters on both stage and screen. Though young for the role, the intense actor is a great Mr. Rochester in this BBC production that also starred Zelah Clarke and Judy Cornwell.

1996 ("Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre"): William Hurt seemed an odd choice to embody the overwhelming presence of Mr. Rochester, but he subtly captured the character's inner torment. Charlotte Gainsbourg may well be the best Jane Eyre on film.

1997: This A&E adaptation starred Ciaran Hinds as a stern Mr. Rochester and Samantha Morton as the shy governess. The casting is probably closest to Bronte's vision.

Epilogue: This is one story that has been adapted exceedingly well, so they're all worth watching. Start with Welles' version and work your way up through the years.

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte

1939: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven and Geraldine Fitzgerald helped Hollywood romanticize Bronte in this classic.

1970: Timothy Dalton was Heathcliff in this gritty, tempestuous adaptation.

1992 ("Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights"): While most adaptation's of Bronte's novel stop around Chapter 17 and quickly reunite the lovers in the afterlife, this feature film showed the ugliness and the suffering of the decades that followed before Heathcliff and Catherine could be at peace. Ralph Fiennes, another seemingly odd casting choice, makes up in profound inner torment what he may lack in stature as Heathcliff; Juliette Binoche matched him well as the bewitching Cathy.

2003: This slick MTV movie changes Heathcliff to a sexy guy name Heath who wants to be a rock star. Starring Erika Christensen, Mike Vogel, Christopher Masterson and Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy").

Epilogue: Looking for pretty? Go for the 1939 version. Primal? No one captured Heathcliff's untamed qualities better than Dalton. My favorite though, is the more agonizing, fleshed out and fully adapted 1992 film.

So, perhaps this is the moment to remind directors and studios that there are more classic novels than just that. Why not break the ice with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall or Villette? Come on, be brave!!

Categories: In_the_News, Movies-DVD-TV