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Wuthering Heights
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Wuthering Heights (1939) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   5,578 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
William Wyler
Writers:
Charles MacArthur (screenplay) and
Ben Hecht (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Wuthering Heights on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 April 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
A Story of Vengeful Thwarted Love more
Plot:
The Earnshaws are Yorkshire farmers during the early 19th Century. One day, Mr. Earnshaw returns from a trip to the city... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
A nearly flawless classic more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
104 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Australia:PG | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 (1955) | UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #5104) | Germany:6

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Both of the leading players began work on the film miserable at having to leave their loved ones back in England. Olivier was missing his fiancée Vivien Leigh and Oberon had only recently fallen in love with film producer Alexander Korda. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As Cathy walks uphill to see Heathcliff, her entire costume changes. more
Quotes:
Cathy: Are you enjoying yourself, Heathcliff?
Heathcliff: I've had the pleasure of watching you.
Cathy: You're very grand, Heathcliff. So handsome. Looking at you tonight I could not help but remember how things used to be.
Heathcliff: They used to be better.
Cathy: Don't pretend life hasn't improved for you.
Heathcliff: Life has ended for me.
[they pause and look off the balcony in silence]
Heathcliff: How can you stand here beside me and pretend not to remember? Not to know that my heart is breaking for you? That your face is the wonderful light burning in all this darkness?
Cathy: Heathcliff, no. I forbid it.
Heathcliff: Do you forbid what your heart is saying to you now?
[...]
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Piano Sonata in A major, K.331: Rondo alla Turca more

FAQ

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23 out of 27 people found the following comment useful:-
A nearly flawless classic, 29 March 1999
Author: Oriel from Athens, Georgia

This classic version of the Bronte novel is probably familiar to most movie fans, and with good reason. Although the recent Ralph Fiennes version is also excellent, nothing can quite surpass the 1939 film's bleak black-and-white cinematography or the impassioned performance of Laurence Olivier. Some of us still mourn that his then-wife, Vivien Leigh, wasn't granted her wish to be cast as Catherine, but Merle Oberon is nonetheless excellent: her Catherine isn't quite likable, but then, she isn't supposed to be. Instead of sugar-coating the story as Hollywood is so wont to do, the filmmakers give us Cathy and Heathcliff as they should be: ruthless, selfish, destructive, and fascinating. The only major drawback is the saccharine musical score, which tries to make this wild, haunting story into a candy-box romance. Fortunately, all the other elements resist this tendency. Even though the film only covers half the novel, you'll find it satisfying and unforgettable.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Wuthering Heights (1939)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
the harpsicord music? jlskeen
who would you pick for Heathcliff and Catherine (besides the originals)? druid_princess
worst adaptation ever:bad script, acting, and ending, cinematography ok ho-aaron
This movie and story is laughable petelato
Notes on WUTHERING HEIGHTS JSlack3
Which film is best? laura-815
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