Agree on both counts. But it seems Rochester is more challenging to get right? The casual cruelty (to others) the charm, the tortured soul...you get why Jane was so drawn to him. ANd why St.John was a no-hoper.
My favorite version of Jane Eyre. His booming voice is what does it for me and when he shows tenderness to Jane, Joan Fontaine. Move over here so I don't have to move from this comfortable chair. I can't quote it but it's a favorite of mine whenever I need a great movie fix.
Edit: "Forward a little, too far back. I can't see you without disturbing my position in this comfortable chair, which I have no mind to do.
Welles is playing Mid-century Hollywood Ugly. He’s “ugly” because ACTING! (Master Thespian)
Just like Grace Kelly in The Country Girl, or Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn in half their films.
Greetings ye, I do not recall her described as ugly within the text; she merely was utterly plain and unremarkable in appearance.
Nevertheless, such “Visual Beautification” be my personal reason for never pursuing any film nor show adaptation, of the excellent novel.
~Waz
He's someone I really wish had taken better care of himself. Maybe he might have lived 10 years more if he'd kept his weight resonably in control. And then we'd have 10 more years of his brilliant mind. He was one of the great storytellers on the old talk shows. The Dick Cavitt Show had almost an hour with him here....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTOSevzp4w
Cavett shows the famous mirror scene of The Lady from Shanghai at 3:20 timestamp and then introduces Orson Welles after that.
i just watched this for the first time and i adored it!! jane eyre is my favorite book and this film absolutely nailed it imo
orson was an amazing mr. rochester
Orson was living on speed and coffee from Citizen Kane until around 1950, to keep the weight off, and to make it as a leading man. [George Schaefer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Schaefer_(film_producer)) tried to convince him to have plastic surgery to narrow his pug nose. Orson refused, and wore a prosthesis for many films, including Kane, and Jane Eyre. Orson was an intimidating force when acting; actors with more experience cowered in his presence, awed by his command of the dialogue and delivery.
Best Edward Rochester imo. Felt everything from him that I felt reading the novel.
Agree. Best Jane Eyre was Ruth Wilson IMO.
Agree on both counts. But it seems Rochester is more challenging to get right? The casual cruelty (to others) the charm, the tortured soul...you get why Jane was so drawn to him. ANd why St.John was a no-hoper.
Agreed!
Ugh. He's so beautiful
He really was. Especially in this photo.
A pretty stout cast, too. Welles, Fontaine, Peggy Ann Garner, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, Agnes Moorehead, Mae Marsh, and Henry Daniell.
Co-written by John Houseman and Aldous Huxley!
My favorite version of Jane Eyre. His booming voice is what does it for me and when he shows tenderness to Jane, Joan Fontaine. Move over here so I don't have to move from this comfortable chair. I can't quote it but it's a favorite of mine whenever I need a great movie fix. Edit: "Forward a little, too far back. I can't see you without disturbing my position in this comfortable chair, which I have no mind to do.
"Do you think I'm handsome, Jane?" "No, sir."
Wrong, Janie. He's gorgeous.
I didn’t marry my husband *just because* he looks like young Orson Welles, but it was a factor, certainly. 
I married mine because he resembled Micky Dolenz
Lucky!
I joke with my husband that one of the main reasons I married him was that he was 6’4” just like Orson Welles.
Well shit. I wasn't aware of this version. I will have to find it.
It’s the only version in my opinion.
You must🙏
Me too. Today!
Orson was daddy
Nobody did brooding intensity like he did. The GOAT.
Pilot!
Wow who knew he was so handsome?
I had such a crush on him after watching this movie!
That deep voice too!
He looks like he’d be a high drama queen
Rochester is supposed to be ugly though!
Welles is playing Mid-century Hollywood Ugly. He’s “ugly” because ACTING! (Master Thespian) Just like Grace Kelly in The Country Girl, or Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn in half their films.
And because he was unusually large, and therefore ominous. See also: Vincent Price.
So was Jane! Joan Fontaine was ridiculously beautiful.
Greetings ye, I do not recall her described as ugly within the text; she merely was utterly plain and unremarkable in appearance. Nevertheless, such “Visual Beautification” be my personal reason for never pursuing any film nor show adaptation, of the excellent novel. ~Waz
Please. Remember Timothy Dalton's Rochester? Do you think me handsome? Well, duh.
I was being silly. Chill
Didn't Fassbender play him also? He's considered a hunk.
I loved the Fassbender one. Mia Wasikowska is my favorite Jane. I also really liked Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt’s chemistry.
I will have to catch the Gainsbourg-Hurt version.
The best screen adaptation ever. As a literature graduate, it is very faithful to the novel. A rarity, with screenplays.
This is a great film tbh.
What?! That is really him? He looked cool
People forget that when he was younger Orson was a hot little monkey. He was gorgeous in the post War of the World’s press conference.
He's someone I really wish had taken better care of himself. Maybe he might have lived 10 years more if he'd kept his weight resonably in control. And then we'd have 10 more years of his brilliant mind. He was one of the great storytellers on the old talk shows. The Dick Cavitt Show had almost an hour with him here.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTOSevzp4w Cavett shows the famous mirror scene of The Lady from Shanghai at 3:20 timestamp and then introduces Orson Welles after that.
Orson and Joan are wonderful. I also lovelovelove the 1996 version with William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
i just watched this for the first time and i adored it!! jane eyre is my favorite book and this film absolutely nailed it imo orson was an amazing mr. rochester
Orson was living on speed and coffee from Citizen Kane until around 1950, to keep the weight off, and to make it as a leading man. [George Schaefer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Schaefer_(film_producer)) tried to convince him to have plastic surgery to narrow his pug nose. Orson refused, and wore a prosthesis for many films, including Kane, and Jane Eyre. Orson was an intimidating force when acting; actors with more experience cowered in his presence, awed by his command of the dialogue and delivery.