Wuthering Heights (1939)

A servant in the house of Wuthering Heights tells a traveler the unfortunate tale of lovers Cathy and Heathcliff.

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Charles MacArthur (screenplay), Ben Hecht (screenplay),

Stars:

Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, David Niven

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Merle Oberon	...	Cathy Earnshaw
Laurence Olivier	...	Heathcliff
David Niven	...	Edgar Linton
Flora Robson	...	Ellen
Donald Crisp	...	Dr. Kenneth
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Isabella Linton
Hugh Williams	...	Hindley Earnshaw
Leo G. Carroll	...	Joseph
Miles Mander	...	Lockwood
Cecil Kellaway	...	Earnshaw
Cecil Humphreys	...	Judge Linton
Sarita Wooton	...	Cathy - as a Child (as Sarita Wooten)
Rex Downing	...	Heathcliff - as a Child
Douglas Scott	...	Hindley - as a Child

Storyline

The story of unfortunate lovers Heathcliff and Cathy who, despite a deep affection for one another, are forced by circumstance and prejudice to live their apart. Heathcliff and Cathy first meet as children when her father brings the abandoned boy to live with them. When the old man dies several years later Cathy's brother, now the master of the estate, turns Heathcliff out forcing him to live with the servants and working as a stable boy. The barrier of class comes between them and she eventually marries a rich neighbor, Mr. Edgar Linton, at which point Heathcliff disappears. He returns several years later, now a rich man but little can be done.

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Plot Keywords:

servant | moors | children | pneumonia | class differences | 

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Taglines:

A Story of Vengeful Thwarted Love

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cumbres borrascosas

Filming Locations:

Janss Conejo Ranch, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Real heather was imported from England and re-planted in California to help simulate the look of the moors.

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Goofs

During the deathbed scene, Heathcliff places Cathy's lifeless body on the bed. As Dr. Kenneth speaks, the supposedly dead Cathy reaches up with her right hand and tugs on Healthcliff's lapel. He takes her hand and we can see her fingers close around his while he speaks.

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Quotes

Cathy, as a child: Oh, it's a wonderful castle! Heathcliff, let's never leave it.
Heathcliff, as a child: Never in our lives! Let all the world confess, that there is not in all the world a more beautiful damsel than the Princess Catherine of Yorkshire.
Cathy, as a child: But I - I'm still your slave.
Heathcliff, as a child: No, Cathy. I now make you my queen. Whatever happens out there, here you will always be my queen.

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Connections

Referenced in Cold Mountain (2003)

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Soundtracks

"The Wedding March"
(1843) (uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
Written by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
In the score after the wedding

User Reviews

No one has ever said "Cathy!" like Olivier!

With Olivier, Oberon and Niven for stars, a Hecht/MacArthur screenplay and William Wyler direction; it would be hard to miss. Some scenes, however, are devastatingly powerful in there simplicity.When Heathcliff returns after a long absence he looks at Cathy and Linton and says " It occurs to me that I have not congratulated you upon your marriage (pause)I've often thought of it." Cathy's eyes drop. We all know what he was thinking of and so does Cathy. It needn't be said. The most understated(and perhaps finest) performance is given by Hugh Williams as Hinley. His portrayal of a man broken by inner weakness and failure, to me, has always been a film highlight. Add to this a score by Alfred Newman as haunting as the moors themselves and Wuthering Heights is forever in your heart.