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In an interview published a month before A Thousand Acres was released, Colin Firth said Jess reminded him of a friend who had also lost his mother early.
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"He needed to make every woman fall in love with him. He would cry with all of them and announce every time, 'That's the first time I've cried since my mother died.' I don't believe that was cynical. He was licking his wounds with every woman he met." ... When Jess pours on the sensitivity with both women, "you might see that as his narcissism, but I see it as his pride in his sensitivity.
He needs to convince himself that he is sensitive. I don't believe it's cynical."
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Did you see the film, recall those words, then wonder what he meant? Jess Clark's mother is never mentioned in the film. Why would Colin Firth make that comparison? If you read the script as it was in June 1996, around the Colin Firth signed to play the role of Jess, you might understand better.
The script also helps to explain why Colin Firth would play a role, that in the film, was not much more than a selfish Lothario, who seduces, then abandons two women. In Laura Jones' script, Jess is seen, heard and discussed more than in the final film. His doubts, motivations, pains and ambitions unrelated to Rose or Ginny are occasionally explored. In other words, there was more for an actor to work with.
In the script, there are many scenes with Jess that were later revised, clipped or cut, or where his dialogue was obliterated by voice overs. There were also some scenes in the final cut, that weren't in the script. I'm going to point out a few, but, if you call back later, I'll have additional details. Like scenes in which Jess talked about his relationship with his father, additional conversations scenes with Ginny, and Jess's reactions to other characters in the film - not in the final cut.
Click on one of the links below. I've included dialogue, stage directions and an occasional explanation in square brackets [ ].
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