Jane Eyre on AllMovie

Hugo Ballin directed his wife Mabel Ballin in this slow and unmoving adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's oft-filmed novel. Jane Eyre (Mabel Ballin) is sent to an orphanage because her aunt hates her willful nature. Now that she is a young woman, she is sent to the home of Fairfax Rochester (Norman Trevor) to become governess to his ward, Adele (June Ellen Terry). At first the moody Rochester is cool towards Jane, but eventually he falls deeply in love with her. They plan to marry, but at the church, Mason (John Webb Dillon) appears and reveals that Rochester is already married to his sister (Elizabeth Meriens). Because Mrs. Rochester has become hopelessly insane, she has been hidden away for many years. Jane leaves Rochester, and not long after, his wife burns down the house. Mrs. Rochester dies in the fire, and Rochester is blinded. When Jane hears the news, she goes to him. The couple make up and are reunited. Eventually Rochester's sight returns. This silent film doesn't come close to the 1944 Orson Wells/Joan Fontaine version of the novel.