Wuthering Heights (1970)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writers:

Emily Brontë (novel) and
Patrick Tilley (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 June 1970 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The power, the passion, the terror of Emily Bronte's immortal story of young love.

Plot:

The Earnshaws are Yorkshire farmers during the early 19th Century. One day, Mr. Earnshaw returns from a trip to the city...

Plot Keywords:

Yorkshire | Moors | Manor | Vision | Adoption

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Anna Calder-Marshall	...	Cathy Earnshaw
Timothy Dalton	...	Heathcliff
Harry Andrews	...	Mr. Earnshaw
Pamela Brown	...	Mrs. Linton
Judy Cornwell	...	Nellie
James Cossins	...	Mr. Linton
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Earnshaw
Hilary Heath	...	Isabella Linton (as Hilary Dwyer)
Julian Glover	...	Hindley Earnshaw
Hugh Griffith	...	Dr. Kenneth
Morag Hood	...	Frances Earnshaw
Ian Ogilvy	...	Edgar Linton
Peter Sallis	...	Mr. Shielders
Aubrey Woods	...	Joseph
Wendy Allnutt

Runtime:

104 min | Germany:100 min (TV)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:A (1971) | UK:PG (2004) | UK:U (1987) (edited version) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Patrick Mower was the first choice for Heathcliff but was unavailable due to his filming of Cry of the Banshee (1970).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Heathcliff learns of Cathy's death, he cries out in anguish. When his mouth is open, silver-colored fillings (amalgam) are visible in his back teeth. During the time period the movie was set in, this 1970s type of dental procedure was not in existence.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: Big Crane on Campus (#7.14)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

I Was Born in Love With You

American International Pictures Best Movie

I remember reading the review of this version of "Wuthering Heights" in VARIETY in 1970. The reviewer said, "While suffering only in comparison to the 1939 classic ...". Well, I recently saw the 1939 version and this version is in every way superior. From the haunting, soulful score to the sensitive acting, to the realistic countryside, this "Wuthering Heights" is more passionate, more brooding, more obsessive. Anna Calder-Marshall did not possess the stunning beauty of Merle Oberon, but she hits all the right notes essaying the social-climbing Kathy. Those only familiar with Timothy Dalton's sour work as James Bond will be astonished at his sensitive, magnetic Heathcliff. The dowdy Flora Robson has been replaced by the buxom, nurturing Judy Cornwell. Cornwell's "milkmaid dresses" almost overflow, and she is so nurturing one almost expects her to "pop one out" and feed Heathcliff or Cathy at some critical moment. Nonetheless, Cornwell's expressive face and body language at times nearly steals the movie, but, by no means throws it off balance.

Other fine performances include Ian Ogilvy as Edgar, Harry Andrews and father and Hillary Dwyer as Isabella.

Even the photography, editing, and, most important, directing by Robert Fuest is superior to the 1939 version. It's especially amazing, given AIP's product at the time, that this masterpiece could be made. I don't like costumers particularly, but I watch this "Wuthering Heights" about once every two years. It's worth my time because it's THAT good.

I give Wuthering Heights (1970) a "10".