Wuthering Heights 

Foundling Heathcliff is raised by the wealthy Earnshaws in Yorkshire but in later life launches a vendetta against the family.

Stars:

Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Andrew Lincoln

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Tom Hardy	...	Heathcliff 2 episodes, 2009
Charlotte Riley	...	Cathy 2 episodes, 2009
Andrew Lincoln	...	Edgar 2 episodes, 2009
Sarah Lancashire	...	Nelly 2 episodes, 2009
Burn Gorman	...	Hindley 2 episodes, 2009
Rosalind Halstead	...	Isabella 2 episodes, 2009
Rebecca Night	...	Catherine 2 episodes, 2009
Tom Payne	...	Linton 2 episodes, 2009
Andrew Hawley	...	Hareton 2 episodes, 2009
Kevin McNally	...	Mr. Earnshaw 2 episodes, 2009
Des McAleer	...	Joseph 2 episodes, 2009
Shaughan Seymour	...	Doctor Kenneth 2 episodes, 2009
Sia Berkeley	...	Frances 2 episodes, 2009
James Harper	...	Vicar 2 episodes, 2009
Barnaby Kay	...	Saul 2 episodes, 2009
Jack O'Connell	...	Shepherd Lad 2 episodes, 2009
Simon Kassianides	...	Gypsy Horse Trader 2 episodes, 2009
John Hollingworth	...	Robert 2 episodes, 2009
Declan Wheeldon	...	Young Heathcliff 2 episodes, 2009
Alexandra Pearson	...	Young Cathy 2 episodes, 2009
Joseph Taylor	...	Young Hindley 2 episodes, 2009

Storyline

[PART I] Braving her father Edgar Linton's warning not to cross the estate border, young Catherine discovers her charming, but sickly cousin and the manly Hareton are the heartlessly scorned and abused sons of wealthy Heatcliff on the Earnshaw estate. This launches a flashback how Heathcliff was raised as Cathy's best friend by her kind father, Mr. Earnshaw. After his death, the son and heir returns from boarding school, married, and reduces Heathcliff to the rank of stable boy, enduring constant abuse in order to remain with Cathy. After an accidental meeting with elegant gentleman Edgar Linton, she falls in love. To Hindley's delight, this drives Heathcliff away. [PART II] Three years later, Heathcliff returns wealthy enough to buy the estate, a day after Cathy married Edgar. He takes revenge, which instead of satisfaction brings misery to all. After Cathy and later Edgar's death, his scorn includes the next generation, which nevertheless finds each-other striving for nobler values.

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Plot Keywords:

male protagonist | revenge | love | abuse | pregnancy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

ITV [UK] PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wuthering Heights

Filming Locations:

Bramham Park, Bramham, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mammoth Screen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min (2 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two actors in this film later play in TV series "The Walking Dead ". Andrew Lincoln plays Rick Grimes and Tom Payne plays Jesus.

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Goofs

Hymn anachronisms are very common in many British TV historical dramas. In this film, a church congregation sing the hymn 'Holy, Holy, Holy' by Reginald Heber, but use the tune 'Nicaea' by J. B. Dykes, which would not be written until 1861; over 30 years after Cathy's death in 1830 (as listed on her tombstone in episode one).

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Quotes

Cathy: Perhaps your fortune has changed you.
Heathcliff: Oh, my fortune has changed me in every regard. Except one. And if I could change that too, I would do so.

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Connections

Version of BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Wuthering Heights (1953)

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Soundtracks

Holy, Holy, Holy
(uncredited)
Music by John B. Dykes
Lyrics by Reginald Heber

User Reviews

Beautifully done adaptation of a very complicated book.

True, it doesn't always follow the overall structure of the novel by Emily Bronte, and there are one or two slow moments. But it is beautifully done, and does a competent job of adapting a truly complicated book to screen. I don't think it is the best adaptation of the book, but it definitely not the worst. The adaptation was lovingly designed with stunning locations and exquisite costumes, and the photography was excellent. The performances were excellent, the two leads Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley were both superb as Heathcliff and Cathy, and Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Lancashire give able support. The scriptwriter Peter Bowker, who wrote the script for the wonderful BBC drama Occupation, does a good job with the dialogue, which was in general well written and well crafted. All in all, as an adaptation it is beautifully done, not always faithful to the novel, but the performances and the visual design compensates. 8/10 Bethany Cox