Jane Eyre (1944)
Available on Region 2 DVD

Synopsis: From Tudor Rose through Back Street to Mary Poppins, British director Robert Stevenson has shown an unusual talent in his warmly sympathetic treatment of films about women. This typical 20th Century-Fox period melodrama is a fine example of his work, though many will persist in attributing the film's virtues to Orson Welles, who might have made a fine job of directing it, given the chance.

Welles's Edward Rochester is suitably awesome, dominating his scenes (naturally), but, unfortunately, slowing the pace whenever he appears. Joan Fontaine, still recovering from a severe double dose of Alfred Hitchcock — Rebecca and Suspicion — is fine, though wan, in the title role. Watch for a young Elizabeth Taylor in a small but telling role early in the film.

Cast: Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine.
Runtime: 97 min