“What do they know of Heaven or Hell, Cathy, who know nothing of life?”

Review (with SPOILERS!)–Wuthering Heights (William Wyler, 1939)

Honestly, this is one of my favorite films of all time. Starring Laurence Olivier as the dark and brooding Heathcliff, and Merle Oberon as the whimsical Catherine Earnshaw, Wuthering Heights as directed by William Wyler and produced by Samuel Goldwyn, was one of the highlights of 1939–the year many historians consider to be the greatest in motion picture history. It was based on the romantic Gothic novel by Emil Bronte, and focuses on the main love story between Heathcliff and Cathy instead of branching off to include everything else from the novel. However, in my opinion, it still works.

As a young girl, Cathy Earnshaw lived with her father, housekeeper Ellen, and brother Hindley, at Wuthering Heights, a middle-class house on the moors of northern England. The children are spoiled, but when Mr. Earnshaw brings home a beggar boy he found on the streets of Liverpool (whom he calls Heathcliff), the children must learn to share what they have with “those less fortunate.” While Hindley grows to detest Heathcliff, who becomes a stable boy after their father dies, and sees him as some sort of rival for first, their father’s affection, and later as master of the house), Cathy befriends him and eventually falls in love with him.

From a young age, Cathy and Heathcliff take refuge from life’s troubles by climbing up to Penistone Crag, and there they fashion an imaginary kingdom in which they reign as king and queen. It is at Penistone where they can be together as well as the place where Heathcliff declares to her that she’ll “always be my queen.” As much as flighty Cathy loves Heathcliff, she is soon torn between her loyalty to him and the class difference that separates them. Once, out at Penistone Crag, Cathy hears music coming from the neighboring estate, Thrushcross Grange, where the wealthy Lintons are throwing a party. Heathcliff and Cathy go to investigate, and as circumstance has it, Cathy becomes involved in this wealthy sphere while Heathcliff is shunned.

Cathy then falls for Edgar Linton (played by David Niven), but just as she turns her back to Heathcliff’s undying love, causing him to flee Wuthering Heights, she discovers that she and Heathcliff share the same soul. However, by then it is too late–Heathcliff leaves and Cathy marries Edgar Linton. Heathcliff does return, however, after having found his fortune elsewhereand having become hard and bitter, and he vows to have his revenge. At this point, the story enters a love quadrangle when Cathy’s sister-in-law, Isabella Linton, falls head over heels for the newly made “gentleman” that is Heathcliff. Cathy tries to dissuade Isabella from trying to be with Heatchliff because she knows Heathcliff is just using Isabella to punish her for being disloyal. Heathcliff eventually marries Isabella but still loves Cathy, and upon learning that Cathy is dying, he curses her even in death.

Having read the novel in high school and not liking it very much, I first saw the version starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, which I also hated. It wasn’t until I saw the 1939 version that I both fell in love with the film concept of Wuthering Heights and with Laurence Olivier. Many will agree that Olivier is the quintessential Heathcliff. He defines tall, dark and handsome, but the thing that I love most about his portrayal is his sensitivity and the emotion that he is able to convey from those deep, intense eyes. His voice is also wonderful–very powerful yet capable of being soft as well. This film launched Olivier as an international heartthrob, and deservedly, I think. He was nominated for his first Oscar for his role.

I like David Niven as Edgar (actually I like David Niven in just about anything) , and Merle Oberon made a decent Cathy, although I don’t think she was a huge talent and she falls flat during the end scene. Rounding out the cast are Flora Robson as Ellen, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella (in an Oscar-nominated performance),and Donald Crisp as Dr. Kenneth. Alfred Newman’s beautiful score and Gregg Toland’s wonderful cinematography help make Wuthering Heights a lasting classic and a four-kleenex weepie.

Sadly, it’s not available on DVD in the States but you can get it on import through Amazon.

Final Rating: 4 Stars.

~ by Kendra on January 2, 2008.