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:

SINISTER SHADOWS & BURNING LOVE (original print ad - all caps)

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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

Producer Samuel Goldwyn felt that script was too dark for a romance movie, so he asked several writers to do a rewrite on the script, including a young John Huston, who said that the script needed no rewrite, it was perfect as it was.

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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: Go on, Heathcliff. Run away. Bring me back the world.
Judge Linton: Pack this fellow off.
Heathcliff: I'm going. I'm going from here and from this cursed country both.
Judge Linton: Throw him out!
Heathcliff: But I'll be back in this house one day, Judge Linton and I'll pay you out. I'll bring this house down in ruins about your heads. That's my curse on you!
[spits on the floor]
Heathcliff: On all of you!

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Connections

Version of The DuPont Show of the Month: Wuthering Heights (1958)

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Soundtracks

"Piano Sonata in A major, K.331: Rondo alla Turca"
(1778) (uncredited)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Played by Alice Ehlers on harpsichord

User Reviews

Wuthering Heights

First rate cast delivers the exciting Victorian novel by Emily Bronte in true style and grace. Olivier masterfully plays the strange Heathcliff and Oberon is luminous as Cathy. The film won the Oscar for its brilliant cinematoraphy, thanks to the touch of Gregg Toland. This great love story never falters, especially under the direction of William Wyler and with a supporting cast that features Niven, Fitzgerald and Donald Crisp.