Metadata
WORK ID: YFA 1509 (Master Record)
Title | Year | Date |
EMILY JANE | 1980 | 1980-01-01 |
Details
Original Format: 16mm Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 29 mins Credits: Jack Eley |
Summary This documentary filmed around Haworth takes a look into the much celebrated 19th century literary figures the Brontes, especially focusing on Emily, who most prominent work is the much celebrated gothic novel 'Wuthering Heights'. This film examines their lives by visiting the houses and schools which shaped their lives, and also uses actors to play the Brontes as they explore the Yorkshire Moors, which influenced their works tremendously. |
Description
This documentary filmed around Haworth takes a look into the much celebrated 19th century literary figures the Brontes, especially focusing on Emily, who most prominent work is the much celebrated gothic novel 'Wuthering Heights'. This film examines their lives by visiting the houses and schools which shaped their lives, and also uses actors to play the Brontes as they explore the Yorkshire Moors, which influenced their works tremendously.
Title - Emily Jane.
Title - Emily Jane...
This documentary filmed around Haworth takes a look into the much celebrated 19th century literary figures the Brontes, especially focusing on Emily, who most prominent work is the much celebrated gothic novel 'Wuthering Heights'. This film examines their lives by visiting the houses and schools which shaped their lives, and also uses actors to play the Brontes as they explore the Yorkshire Moors, which influenced their works tremendously.
Title - Emily Jane.
Title - Emily Jane Bronte was born 1818 and died in 1848. The story of her tragically short life is without parallel.
The film opens with various shots of expansive Moorland and a rundown stone cottage. Outside a house, a plaque reads 'in this house were born the following members of the Bronte family: Charlotte - 1816, Patrick Branwell - 1817, Emily Jane - 1818, Anne - 1820. A painting of the church, where Emily Jane Bronte was baptised in the 19th century, is then juxtaposed with the ruins that remain today. The font is captured by the filmmaker in an overgrown garden, and then there is a shot of a records book which has logged Emily Jane's Baptism.
A horse and cart is then captured by the filmmaker traversing a country lane amongst the Moors. There is then a shot of a grand country home and a cemetery. Someone then holds a drawing of a school house; the writing beneath the drawing reads: 'The school at Cowan bridge as it was in 1824'. Next, a semi-detached house is shown, and is quickly followed by a multitude of different shots of rivers and moorland.
The exterior of a grand church is then shown, and a close up of a plaque states 'Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte & Emily Bronte lived here as pupils of the clergy daughters school 1824-25, The school was moved to Casterton 1833'.
Inside another country house, the filmmaker captures shots of the hallway and a painting of a woman. A group of children wearing 19th century clothing exit the house and walk through the moors (presumably imitating the Bronte siblings). The girls then sit by a river, and the brother finds a model sail boat which he places in the stream. The pseudo Bronte's then chat on the veranda of the house; reading and writing.
A tiny book which is filled with scrawling writing is then shown, and the book contains a title page that reads 'The evening walk - A poem by the Marquis of Douro - in Pinparic metre'. The 'Marquis of Douro' was a name the Bronte's bestowed upon the sons of the Duke of Wellington, who they greatly idolised.
A woman in a 19th century bonnet and pink dress exits the house with another woman also in similar clothing, and they stroll across the moors together. Another great country house is captured before the woman makes another trip through the moors; this time accompanied by a man. Inside a house, a musical book rests top of a piano, and the book is open at a song called 'The silver swan', which is a famous madrigal by Orlando Gibbons. A gate then has a sign that says 'Law hill house' on it. Following this, there are shots of houses and a close up of a painting of the Bronte sisters.
The filmmaker captures the interior of another house, possibly somewhere Emily Bronte lived. Next, more panoramic views of moorland are followed by another scene that depicts the Brontes exploring the moors in their later years.
Another book is laid out, and its cover reads: Poems - Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell (the Bronte's Pseudonym). The camera zooms in on a particular poem called 'Sympathy'.
Paintings of 19th century buildings are then displayed, and there are then shots which show how the buildings have changed since that period. There is then a lengthy passage comprising of many shots of Moorland interspersed with paintings of the sisters and other significant 19th century artwork.
A new book is laid out called 'Agnes Grey - A novel by Acton Bell'. Following this, a shot shows some old copies of 'Wuthering Heights' by 'Ellis Bell', and a newspaper cutting which question the truth behind the 'Bell' Pseudonym.
A woman in black 19th century attire strolls the Moorland and then sits at a desk, where she scratches on parchment with a quill. A hooded figure then roams the moors momentarily, before the filmmaker returns to a house and with grand 19th century furniture and artwork, which includes a portrait of Emily Bronte. There is then a shot of a memorial which reads' In memory of Emily and Jane Bronte who died Dec. 19th 1845. Aged 30 years. And of Charlotte Bronte born April 21st 1816 - Died March 31st 1855'.
A bookshelf is then captured and it is entirely filled with Bronte novels. Then there are further shots of the Moorland and a figure wearing a bonnet can be seen sitting on a distant hillside.
Title - The co-operation of the Bronte society and the Yorkshire arts association is gratefully acknowledged.
Title - Thanks also to all who helped to make this film.
Title - Written and produced by Jack Eley.
Title - The end.
Context
This is a splendid documentary about Emily Jane Brontë, made on location by dedicated Leeds amateur filmmaker Jack Eley. With Jack’s typically enlivening commentary, it shows where the Brontës lived, settings for Wuthering Heights, fascinating historic items and period re-enactments drawn from the life of the sisters and their brother – with the hooded figure of Heathcliff haunting the moors.
John (Jack) S. Eley was a major player in the very active Leeds Cine Club in the 1950s and ‘60s. He...
This is a splendid documentary about Emily Jane Brontë, made on location by dedicated Leeds amateur filmmaker Jack Eley. With Jack’s typically enlivening commentary, it shows where the Brontës lived, settings for Wuthering Heights, fascinating historic items and period re-enactments drawn from the life of the sisters and their brother – with the hooded figure of Heathcliff haunting the moors.
John (Jack) S. Eley was a major player in the very active Leeds Cine Club in the 1950s and ‘60s. He liked to make well-crafted documentaries like this one (made with the help of the Brontë Society and the Yorkshire Arts Association), with other films on Rupert Brooke and John Ruskin. His friend and fellow filmmaker Gordon Riley filmed Jack making the film, behind the scenes, for ‘The Shooting of Emily Jane’. The personnel playing all the characters in the film aren’t known, although Jack’s wife Gladys and daughter Sue are among them. A wonderful tour of the area seen in the film, including Top Withens, the possible location of Wuthering Heights, is provided by Brontë enthusiast Helen Broadhead. |