Tier Ranking Mr. Rochester: Six Actors/ One Sexy Jerk [CC] 

People who only listen and don’t actually watch your videos are truly missing out. Your written comments make me laugh. I haven’t seen any of these though I do plan to read Jane Eyre soon. I’ll have to watch your top three or something. I love old films. I blame my grandma.

This was a very thoughtful presentation. I love everything Jane Eyre but my list differs from yours. While I thought Ciaran Hinds looked more the part than the other actors you mentioned, his portrayal was totally opposed to the Rochester in the book. (For instance after the aborted wedding he blames Jane, not himself something he never does in the book.) and I blame the screenplay on that depiction of Mr. R. as Hines is a great actor otherwise. He is always low on my Mr. R list though. As far as being closest to the Rochester Charlotte created, Timothy Dalton reminds me most of the Rochester I read about in her novel (again see the after the wedding scene). He certainly delivered her lines well. I also enjoyed William Hurt and Toby Stevens. Orson Wells did a nice job as well. I've not seen Dilip Kumar. I have often mused why Rochester is such a loved character. I think it is because he loved Jane so well and so completely. The real love story was Charlotte's real husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, who loved her for years and finally won her over, then after her death stayed with her father until her father died. That is dedication and love for sure.

I feel like Charlotte Bronte had an understanding of her characters’ motivations that stays consistent in the book. Rochester was bullied and lied to by his father, brother and brother-in-law, entrapped in a marriage to an insane woman he didn’t know, and spent 15 years trying to keep her at home instead of committing her to an asylum. I feel that explains his actions in the book completely. He stays true to his core by his attempt to coax Bertha off the edge during the fire she set that’s destroying his house. He was able to rescue everyone except Bertha, and dreadfully injured in the attempt. His self deprecation is understandable. Thank you for your video and analysis.

Timothy Dalton below Ciaran Hinds?? I am sorry but I could not stand Ciaran Hinds Rochester at all, he was a bully, very loud and abusive. I did not like him at all. Timothy Dalton is the quintessential Mr. Rochester, and I have read the novel, he acts exactly like novel's Rochester. I don't understand what is wrong in being a theatre actor, and moreover he goes theatrical only in " I must leave you scene" and I cannot blame him for that because 1983 series was very much faithful to the novel and this particular scene is even way more dramatic in the novel. He really did a wonderful job, regarding his dialogue delivery well he is a trained Shakespearean actor, you did not mention his enunciation,his dialogue delivery of cord of communion speech. I have seen all the version of Jane Eyre even the recent ones and personally for me Timothy Dalton is the best.

"One Rochester To Rule Them All". Hahahaha! Love that! I think women are obsessed because Rochester is so passionate and willing to go to great lengths to secure the woman he loves. Part of that is he had been trapped for long years in a terrible marriage. Having been around relatives who are insane and alcoholic, I sympathize with how desperate you become to escape it to a sane, loving, rational relationship. Your characterization of Rochester as a "psychopath who has learned to survive in a genteel society" is completely off beam. Older guys act they are on drugs around pretty young women; it is a natural phenomenon. Add an isolated, lonely life and a crazy wife upstairs, and it explains a lot of the desperation. I disagree with your ranking. For me it's Dalton, Stephens, Fassbender, Welles, Hinds, and George C. Scott (who you did not review). Loved this, great fun! I enjoyed hearing your reasoning. It's fun to have so many versions. I agree that Stephens is sexy and he has a lot of charm and humor.

I don t agree in this ranking and analysis. The only version, which meets the intentions, characters and developments of the original book is - in cast and libretto - the 1983 BBC Version. And Timothy Daltons Interpretation or better complete embodiement, incorporation of the original Character of Rochester is one of the most brilliant, virtuos fireworks of peek acting performances since Richard Burtons "Night of lguano". How he developed this demanding and multiambivalent role always from Janes perspective as narrator with all shadows between disperation, solitudine, vulnerability, humor, teasing, relief, caring of others, the dispeared betrayal with gaslightening and manipulation by his fear to lose with Jane his only chance for normal life, till pride and defiance, the so important lack of impuls controll of a traumatized complexe character (his abrupt change of mood too), sarcasms, selfishness, imperious arrogance. Only he shows the social differences between his always aristocratic allures (besides the others are only aristocratic recognition is marked by costumes but not by demenour). He shows, how his character becomes more soften, humorful released and respectful under Janes influence and love to her, so his asperation and dispair by his misfortunes. Jane Eyre is a conversation novel, means more important than description and authenty of Atmosphäre and physical appearance are all these long dialogues which reveal the intention, feelings and characters of both. And what Dalton with his 20x long original dialogues makes, is most outstanding and virtuosest, incredible, breathtaking. Each vocal intonation, each emphasis of accent and changing of expression, each breath is placed perfectly. losten how he change voice and even ghs modi of breathing. Bronte describes a soundful deep voice, like his. As his own words. He is Rochester in this moments. Not these (sorry but as profisinger I listen to that lacks immediatly) un-educated, u trained and even broken, soundless voices of the B class actors on soap Opera level of 2007 and 2011. They have even problems to speak their few so important phrases. Compare the fire dialog, how he declame it and how Stephan rattled it off without any emotional partizipation or even professionell declamation. Little Better Fassbaender, but also far away shows Daltons outstanding drop heights. And he changes his looks according to Janes progressing perception of love like in the book. All casts of 1983 are perfect to the book. Zelah Clarke is also more Jane Eyre as the others with her exactly played restraint of feelngs and developments of a selfconsiousness equality to him at the end, when he didn t treat her anymore as child, and she was anymore so naive as a child. in each aspect. I found this version, because I was so deluded by the 2011 Jane, better with her cheekyness 2007 . Rather good was Samantha in 1997.But they all are like their ERs - according to the superficial only visual focused narrativa of story in these younger libretti - without any social topography and character developement. they are the same persons on the end like beginning. No motivation, no influence,whether the misfortunes took place or not. Stephens with his hobbling gaits, and only variation between grumbling, more laszive than falling in love, and merry attitude, would be a good Beethoven but he is so far away from the original Rochester character like the variation of story and motivation at all. And in the book the sensual erotic is always hidden, like his outbreaks of Daltons restraint Rochester, but which is more erotic fe. in his fire scene or proposal or after wedding scenes, only by his kind of breathing and change of gazing or his teasing scenes about money. than if you show concrete bed scenes (which contradict each motivation and intention of the 1840 story: If Jane still breaks here and on the end the convention of a sessual meeting, it is anymore understandable why she leaves him at all).therefore they are not in the book, because with this invention, the whole story makes no sense anymore. She destroyed him with intention, to find herself or for her own selffishness?! Its thought to modern. Like this is made like Sex-attraction, but not a "love attraction by two equals. Remember the book and 1983: Rochester and Jane would also accept on the end a platonic/ fatherly / nurse relation (" I will abide"), only to could live together. During 2007 he wants her only for Sex, or dying. or like 2011 conventional kiss scenes like the snownight dream, which are so often repeated in many other films. I m no friend of valute interpretations by a novel adaption by the authentic appearances of the actors, but Stephans and Fassbaender is too "good looking" like Dalton too. But seen by Janes eyes! Cirian only is shouting. But among the last ones, he is nearest to the book with his humor also (the scene with "writing to Pilot" and "explain me the 30 days week" is divine, also when invented, its corresponding exactly Rochesters sarcastic and humorful way of thinking . So my Ranking is Dalton with a far distance Hinds Fassbaender, (but the film is plain because only a optical atmosfera intention with a flat plott minimal narrative without impression. I forget it immediatly during I remember each intonation, move of the 1983 version.) Stephen Hold Wells

I love how nuanced your ranking was! Having never read Jane Eyre or seen any of the movies I will trust your judgement, but I love that you take both the source material and personal preference into account.

this is the best tier ranking list i've ever seen. the detailed explanation makes it all the better. i love toby stephens, so i must watch his version!

Thank you for discussing Indian adaptations of Jane Eyre. I find that interesting.

“Whats a Rochester?” 😂 I truly enjoy your videos! You make such amazing insights of your topic each time but always keep the humor in it. I found this one particularly interesting!

Oh I ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH!! Love your Rochester analysis at the beginning, why we love him so much...We're such repressed damaged goods 🤣 And HAHA Timothy Dalton.... Yelling Victory... Now I can't unsee it 🤣 I respect you putting Toby Stephens up as 1 over Fassbender, I do love his interpretation and the sexual tension was INSANE. BUT for me it's about-if I was in the same room as him, which Rochester would I completely crumble over with fear, lust, confusion, love, and just be completely drawn to. Fassbender has the winning edge for me in that sense. Oh I'm totally re-watching this week! Thanks for this fun video! ❤️❤️

“He’s pretty much a disaster lover” so accurate 😂 somehow, I’ve never seen any of the movie adaptations!

Tobey Stephen number one for sure. Great call.

Toby Stephens is definitely the sexiest Rochester. He's my personal favourite.

What about the Jane eyre with William hurt - that’s the only one I’ve watched I thought it was amazing

Nice analysis

I really do not like JE and therefore have not seen more than the Fass version. And even that I think I have blocked out. Or was it the Hinds version?? See, I dont even know. But I will say I am now intrigued to see if my views have changed. Plan on watching the Stevens, Fass and Hinds versions soon

😱 Dilip Kumar played a version of Rochester and I never knew about it??? I have to watch this movie! And I totally agree with your rankings, except that I'd flip the Welles and Dalton versions -- Welles is just inherently mercurial as an actor, and Dalton has never done anything for me