Search - John Williams :: Jane Eyre (1970)

An atmospheric pastoral classic

Dr. Lyndon Smith | England. | 12/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This sound track to the movie Jane Eyre must rate as one of John William's greatest creations. The music captures much of the atmosphere of the book, and it achieves that ambition of Mahler's in that nature is directly represented in the music. The listener is transported by it into the English countryside. The emotion of the various scenes of the film is well conveyed. In the long term the soundtrack will probably be viewed as more valuable than the film since, like the novel itself, it transports you to another reality where you generate your own images while being stimulated by the richness of the material."

When will they ever learn?

Dr. Lyndon Smith | 06/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful score which unfortunately keeps going out of print. To say that "Jane Eyre" is one of John Williams' best efforts is merely the beginning. As the other reviewer has indicated, this is music that can stand alone, whether one's a fan of the book/movies/musical or not.I tried to find the recording for several years after it was issued on CD in the 1980's. Happily, it was reissued, only to go out of print again. I can only say, if you have a chance to acquire it, do so! You won't regret it."

One of John Williams' earliest and best scores!

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 01/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When John Williams wrote the music for "Jane Eyre," a British teleflick aired initially on NBC, starring George C. Scott and Susannah York, he was a few years away from superstardom that would befall him with his scores for "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and "Star Wars." Though he had scored some movies prior to "Eyre," much of the composer's work was familiar to audiences of Irwin Allen television productions, primarily his work on "Lost in Space," "The Time Tunnel," and "Land of the Giants."



It is his hauntingly romantic melodies for "Jane Eyre" wherein the composer begins to show his strength. The score brings to vivid life the story of the English governess thrust in the Gothic trappings of the mansion of her employer.



Williams' score is excitingly passionate and has one of the most beautiful themes ever composed for both the small and large screen. The composition ranks as one of his best and some of the composer's techniques can be found in his successive scores to 1979's "Dracula" and 1987's "The Witches of Eastwick."



The three scores when combined form what has to be called "Williams' Gothic Trilogy.""