Scrooge - 1970

Enjoyable musical of Dickens famous story. If you want a change of pace with this classic tale, this is a good choice but be prepared, there are quite a few creative changes to the basic story to accommodate both the humor and the music. Ok performances but with the back and forth of drama to humor, some seemed a little over the top, especially that of Scrooge (Finney) and Marley (Guinness). Still, the music was enjoyable and this version is a great addition to anyone’s “Christmas Carol” viewing.

Jane Eyre - 1973

Faithful adaptation of this classic novel. This is surprisingly one of the better adaptations done by BBC during this era. The acting is fairly good, especially from Cusack (Jane) and Jayston (Rochester), although Cusack appears a little old for the part of Jane. The script is detailed and develops each phase of Jane’s life which allows the viewer to identify with her many struggles: despair, hope, passion and joy. As with other BBC films during this time, it does have its weaknesses. The story moves too slowly and the costumes LOOK like costumes. The filming has poor lighting and is quite choppy which can be distracting. And Jane definitely needed help with her hair – the 70’s meets the 1800’s! (sigh) Still, with few adaptations even attempting to take on the details of this novel, this is one to see at least once.   ***