Stars: William Hurt, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Joan Plowright, Anna Paquin, Geraldine Chaplin, Maria Schneider, Billie Whitelaw, John Wood, Fiona Shaw, Amanda Root, Amanda Root, Elle Macpherson, Billie Whitelaw

Director: Franco Zeffirelli

Summary: Victorian England, and an abused orphan becomes the governess of Thornfield Hall. There she meets Mr. Rochester... Based on the novel by Charlotte Bronte.

Charlotte Bronte's classic novel of Gothic romance gets the Zeffirelli treatment in this moving adaptation. Orphaned Jane Eyre (Charlotte Gainsbourg) grows into a strong-willed heroine after enduring a miserable childhood (where she's played by Anne Paquin). Things start looking better when she falls in love with the brooding Rochester (William Hurt), lord of the manor where she gets a job as governess. Unfortunately, Rochester's family skeletons threaten to sabotage their happy ending. Director Franco Zeffirelli (HAMLET, OTHELLO, ROMEO AND JULIET) stays faithful to the book while stressing natural characters and landscapes over stylized gloom and mystery, with rewarding results.

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Continuing the BBC's unrivalled reputation for costume drama, their new adaptation of Jane Eyreproved to be one of the television triumphs of 2006. Based, as you'd expect, on the Charlotte Bronte book of the same name, this two-disc set brings together the full series, spread across the best part of four sumptuous hours.

It's a faithful adaptation, with Ruth Wilson giving an exceptional performance in the title role. Mr Rochester's boots, meanwhile, are filled by Toby Stephenson, and both prove to be wise choices. Backed up by an excellent supporting cast, they're also supported by some quite superb scenery, warm photography and skilful, at times neatly understated the direction, that gives the story space to develop.

Is the best adaptation of Jane Eyre? It certainly builds a compelling case, and while there's the odd slight misstep along the way, it's primarily a terrific interpretation of a classic romance. Perhaps the only real disappointment is that the DVD release itself doesn't offer more in the way of added features, but given the presentation and quality of the main attraction, that's unlikely, rightly, to deter those in search of some classic BBC drama. --Jon Foster

Aspect Ratio:	1.33 Full Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Original Theatrical Trailer, Scene Access, Interactive Menus, Making Of Featurette
Year:	1996
Release Date:	June 30, 2003
Runtime:	96 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	P 8875 D V D
Keywords:	Classic, Book, General, Jane, Eyre, Drama, Period, Based
Genre:	Drama