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Wuthering Heights

Play trailer Poster for Wuthering Heights 1939 1h 43m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel set in 19th-century England, wealthy young Cathy Earnshaw (Merle Oberon) shares a loving bond with Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier), a poor childhood friend who now works in her stables. Unfortunately, things become complicated when the affluent Edgar Linton (David Niven) decides to pursue Cathy, and Heathcliff leaves out of resentment. Though Heathcliff returns with a self-made fortune, he realizes he may have lost Cathy in his absence.
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Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

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Critics Consensus

Sumptuous design and perfect casting makes Wuthering Heights an exemplar of old Hollywood studio filmmaking, even if to a fault.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 02/13/2001
Emily Bronte's novel tells a haunting tale of love and tragedy. Samuel Goldwyn's film version retains all of the grim drama of the book. It's heavy fare throughout. Go to Full Review
Zita Short InSession Film 02/01/2023
Gregg Toland’s extraordinary black and white cinematography creates a haunting, poignant effect. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 06/09/2021
7/10
As a period melodrama I find it quite moving because of the way Wyler makes notes on prejudice, social class and impossible love, with great performances and a very luminous visual style from Toland. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/01/2020
10/10
Destined for immediate success due to a stellar cast and a powerful story based on the lauded novel. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 02/26/2020
This tells this story about as well as you can with great chemistry and beautiful music Go to Full Review
Peter Freedman Radio Times 05/08/2018
5/5
Had there also been an Oscar for best smouldering, Olivier would have walked it. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Julian S. @akajulianscott Oct 8 Wyler turns Brontë’s turbulence inward, creating a film that’s as much about repression as romance. The result is quietly devastating, not for what it shows, but for what it withholds. See more Paul E Mar 23 Great story but not a great movie due largely to the limitations of being made in 1939. See more Rare T Dec 12 Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier’s chemistry is so strong that not only do they meticulously convey the feeling of being in love, but they also make it feel as realistic as if it were in real life, even as if the audience was feeling it. Only Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer had come close to a chemistry like this in History Is Made at Night (1937). Once that feeling is established, that’s where the magic of the rest of the movie happens. So one has to feel it to understand the strength of the story, regardless of having had read the book or not. And it’s no surprise that above all, Wuthering Heights won an Academy Award for its cinematography. See more Leaburn O 12/08/2024 Never read the book but damned that’s actually a decent plot for a period piece and the film was excellent with a stellar cast all putting in good turns. Watched on Amazon Prime. See more acsdoug D @acsdoug 05/03/2023 Bronte's story is not one of my favorites, but this is an excellent production, although because they cut out the second half of the book the ending feels rather rushed. See more Kyle M 10/12/2022 A romantic classic that intrigues unconventionally, and subtly mysteriously in post-thought realization within the connective theming that was narratively forewarned, as director William Wyler sympathizes with the source material than just adapting a timeless tale of wealth soulful corruption imprinting cursedly and haunted love resisting the truest notion by mutual guilt. Unique, unexpected resonance from this picture that defies expectations thanks to the cast's exceptional performances bringing the brilliantly written script to something inspirationally Shakespearean by tonal deliverance. (B+) See more Read all reviews
Wuthering Heights

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel set in 19th-century England, wealthy young Cathy Earnshaw (Merle Oberon) shares a loving bond with Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier), a poor childhood friend who now works in her stables. Unfortunately, things become complicated when the affluent Edgar Linton (David Niven) decides to pursue Cathy, and Heathcliff leaves out of resentment. Though Heathcliff returns with a self-made fortune, he realizes he may have lost Cathy in his absence.
Director
William Wyler
Producer
Samuel Goldwyn
Screenwriter
Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists, Samuel Goldwyn Production
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 13, 1939, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$593.9K
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround
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