JANE EYRE (1943) Margaret O'Brien

[DickLindsay]

Hello, this is a film i like very much.  However, I never quite get what happens to  Margaret O'Brien's character (Adele) at the end of the film.  Was she sent away?  Did she die during the fire?  At one point, a few years ago, I thought I heard the answer but I find it confusing again.  anyone know??

[slaytonf]

You know, I don't think even Ms. Bronte herself resolves her disposition. 

[LuckyDan]

I don't recall how the 40s movie handled it, but Charlotte wrote a litte paragraph about her in the final pages.

Needless to say

* * SPOILER * *

 

You have not quite forgotten little Adèle, have you, reader? I had not; I soon asked and obtained leave of Mr. Rochester, to go and see her at the school where he had placed her. Her frantic joy at beholding me again moved me much. She looked pale and thin: she said she was not happy. I found the rules of the establishment were too strict, its course of study too severe for a child of her age: I took her home with me. I meant to become her governess once more, but I soon found this impracticable; my time and cares were now required by another—my husband needed them all. So I sought out a school conducted on a more indulgent system, and near enough to permit of my visiting her often, and bringing her home sometimes. I took care she should never want for anything that could contribute to her comfort: she soon settled in her new abode, became very happy there, and made fair progress in her studies. As she grew up, a sound English education corrected in a great measure her French defects; and when she left school, I found in her a pleasing and obliging companion: docile, good-tempered, and well-principled.

[slaytonf]

And so much for her.

[DickLindsay]

well... i guess that is ok.  I finished watching the film today (i watch movies in pieces at the gym), and Orson Welles refers to Adele at the last scene asking his housekeeper why she isn't serving  Adele (Margaret O'Brien) her lunch.  Its unclear as to whether she is there, or whether he is temporarily 'out of it'.  Guess we'll never really know what the film makers wanted us to think.

[LuckyDan]

55 minutes ago, DickLindsay said:

well... i guess that is ok.  I finished watching the film today (i watch movies in pieces at the gym), and Orson Welles refers to Adele at the last scene asking his housekeeper why she isn't serving  Adele (Margaret O'Brien) her lunch.  Its unclear as to whether she is there, or whether he is temporarily 'out of it'.  Guess we'll never really know what the film makers wanted us to think

In the movie, Mrs. Fairfax tells Jane of the fire, then Rochester hears her and says Adèle is waiting for her supper.

 I copied this from a site called "Jane Eyre on page and screen" but I cannot get the link to paste.

1943 begins with crows wheeling in the sky over the ruined Thornfield. The camera slowly pans down to Jane’s wondering face as Mrs. Fairfax tells the story of the fire: “It was she who did it, Miss Eyre. She struck down Grace Poole as she slept. And then she set fire to Thornfield. It was her laugh in the gallery that woke me. I ran into the nursery and wrapped Adèle in a shawl and carried her down. And as we came out into the courtyard, I heard her laugh again.”