CIVIC THEATRE

Chronicle (Levin), 16 March 1946, Page 2

CIVIC THEATRE

TO-NIGHT AND MONDAY The greatest love storv of all time comes to the screen of the Civic Theatre to-night, and it is to be reported at once that "Jane Eyre/' amazingiy popular as it has been with millions of readers, is destined to far surpass that su'ccess as a motion picture. Since Charlotte Bronte's celebrated romance was first published, it has appeared in dozens of editions and has been a continuous best-seller. Now, on the screen, it attains new stature and greatness and is a proud newcomer to the long list of cinematic achievments of 20th Century-Fox. In the leading roles of Edward Rochester and Jane — roles. it seems, that they were destined to play — are two of the screen's outstanding stars, Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine. Despite the acclaim that has greeted previous performances of these players, in "Jane Eyre" pach reaches a milestone in their brilliant careers.

"Jane Eyre" has been described as "a love story every woman would die a thousand deaths tcTlive." A girl with no home, no family ,v who has known only the cruelty of women and the bestiality of men, Jane's path crosses that of a man whose passion-tossed life has been spent searching for one woman he oould love with all the depths of his soul. Sweeping relentlessly through the whole range of human emotions. the romance of Jane and Edward Rochester reaches a climax — and then a grim secret of his past tears 'Jane from his arms.