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Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights (1939)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 8,347

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Movie Info

William Wyler's Wuthering Heights is one of the earliest screen adaptations of the classic Emily Brontë novel. A traveler named Lockwood (Miles Mander) is caught in the snow and stays at the estate of Wuthering Heights, where the housekeeper, Ellen Dean (Flora Robson), sits down to tell him the story in flashback. In the early 19th century, the original owner of Wuthering Heights, Mr. Earnshaw (Leo G. Carroll), brings home an orphan from Liverpool named Heathcliff (Rex Downing). Though son

G,

Drama, Romance, Classics

Oct 28, 1997

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Critic Reviews for Wuthering Heights

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (1) | DVD (4)

Emily Bronte's novel tells a haunting tale of love and tragedy. Samuel Goldwyn's film version retains all of the grim drama of the book. It's heavy fare throughout.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The cast is faultless.

January 18, 2013 Full Review Source: The Nation
Franz Hoellering
The Nation

This is a first-class Hollywood production.

May 27, 2012 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Best version of the Gothic-romance revenge tale.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Charles Cassady
Common Sense Media

Ace cinematographer Gregg Toland deservedly won the Oscar for his moody b/w imagery in William Wyler's supremely mounted production of Bronte's tragic novel; the only mediocre element is Merle Oberon's performance.

March 16, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

The definitive version.

October 16, 2004
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

It's okay, but it's the kind of classic that puts people off classics.

March 1, 2004
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
View all critic reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for Wuthering Heights

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Wuthering Heights is the 1939 adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel by the same name. A lost stranger comes to the broken down estate of Wuthering Heights, lost in the moors. He's put up by the hostile Heathcliff, and during the night sees a ghost. He's then told the tale of the ghost, and how it came to be. Olivier's Heathcliff is filled with nothing but impotent rage as he lashes out at the upper class which he oh-so-briefly had a taste of. His beloved Cathy isn't interested in becoming a stable boy's wife, even if she does love Heathcliff. It's a story that starts off with the promise of romance but ends on a bitterly cynical note. I get the feeling the film doesn't do justice to the novel (even having never read the novel), with it's somewhat shallow performances and a lack of exposition or character development. I was surprised to learn the role of Heathcliff was performed by the venerable Sir Laurence Olivier, it was a performance that seemingly could've been done by any reasonably handsome actor of his day. The "film" aspect of the film however, is outstanding: lighting, sets, costumes, and direction are all top notch (and I really hate to mislead, the performances are great for their day), but it's the original material that makes this film so worthwhile, rather than any contributions the filmmakers make.
February 22, 2010
Mr Awesome
Devon Bott

Super Reviewer

my only excuse for having missed on this classic for sooo very many years is that i thought it only a "chick flick". whatta maroon, shame on me. with great writing, direction, and acting par excellence (olivier is to die for - and kathy does, merle oberon's death scene is stroke for stroke gloria swanson's last scene in "sunset boulevard", and flora robson finally gets some r-e-s-p-e-c-t in a movie!) by the entire cast, this old story hinged upon class warfare ("we're better than you!" "no you're not!" yah-hoo! ah luv it!) is as fresh as the day they thunk it.
January 31, 2009
UniversalDreamer
Universal Dreamer

Super Reviewer

Wuthering Heights Quotes

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    1. Heathcliff: I didn't break your heart, Cathy, you did. And mine.
    – Submitted by Ron G (18 months ago)
    1. Catherine Earnshaw: No matter what I ever do or say, Heathcliff, this is me -- now -- standing on this hill with you. This is me, forever.
    – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Wuthering Heights (1939) (DE)
  • Wuthering Heights (1939) (CA)
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