Wuthering Heights 1939

      A servant in the house of Wuthering Heights tells a traveler the unfortunate tale of lovers Cathy and Heathcliff.  In this adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel set in 19th-century England, wealthy young Cathy Earnshaw shares a loving bond with Heathcliff.  He is a poor childhood friend who now works in her stables.  Unfortunately, things become complicated when the affluent Edgar Linton decides to pursue Cathy and Heathcliff leaves the estate because of his resentment. Though Heathcliff returns with a self-made fortune, he realizes he may have lost Cathy in his absence.

     This is a lavish production with opulent furnishings, women’s clothing and hairstyles.  It is definitely a class society and servants do not mingle with the gentry.  Unquestionably one of the finest adaptations of the novel and the favorite of producer Samuel Goldwyn.  Winning more than a dozen Oscars and launching the career of English actor Laurence Olivier.  There is an underlying darkness and cruelty underneath the themes of wealth and poverty.  

     Teens may try to watch this movie as an alternative to reading the novel for English class?  The downside of this option is that the film only covers a portion of the overall story.  While it's framed as a ghost story, it's not really for young horror fans!!  The spooky angle might get some teens to sit down and watch a classic they wouldn't otherwise view?  Heathcliff has been summed up as a "romantic" hero for generations of schoolgirls but he is rarely heroic in the traditional movie sense.  Instead, he’s vindictive, obsessed and determined to make the woman he loves suffer because of his own heartache.  A lot of Heathcliff's negatives are attributed to his "gypsy" ancestry but this is a bit of racism and classed-based discrimination from the old days!!  5 1/2* (I really liked this movie and I have not read the novel)

104 min, directed by William Wyler, written by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and Emily Bronte with Merel Oberon, Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Flora Robson, Donald Crisp, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Hugh Williams, Leo G. Caroll, Miles Mander, Cecil Kellaway, Cecil Humphreys, Sarita Wooton, Rex Downing, Douglas Scott.

Note:  Imdb 7.6* out of 10* with 16,719 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% out of 23 critic reviews 85% with 5,000+ audience scores, French Films 5* James Travers 2008, Common Sense Media Charles Cassady Jr. 5*, age 10+, 3* violence and drinking, drugs & smoking.

Special Note:  There were difficulties involved in filming this project.  Samuel Goldwyn agreed to buy the rights after he heard that Warner Brothers was interested.  There was contention over the casting of the lead roles.  Goldwyn wanted Meryl Oberon to play Cathy but he was persuaded to cast Olivier.  Olivier agreed because he thought his fiancee Vivien Leigh would play Cathy?  Goldwyn would not agree to cast Leigh.  David Niven was cast as Edgar Linton but he was reluctant to play the bland character Linton.