Wuthering Heights Movie Review 1939

The first screen adaptation of Emily Bronte's romantic novel about the doomed love between Heathcliff and Cathy on the Yorkshire moors. Dynamically captures the madness and ferocity of the classic novel, remaining possibly the greatest romance ever filmed. Excellent performances from Wyler's sure direction, particularly Olivier's, which made him a star, and Oberon in her finest hour as the exquisite but selfish Cathy. Remade twice, in 1953 (by Luis Bunuel) and in 1970.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 104 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Romantic Drama, Great Britain, Obsessive Love, Books to Film: The Brontes, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur

Cast

Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, David Niven, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Flora Robson, Donald Crisp, Cecil Kellaway, Leo G. Carroll, Miles Mander, Hugh Williams

Cinematography

Gregg Toland

Director

William Wyler

Music

Alfred Newman

Producer

Samuel Goldwyn, United Artists

Awards

Oscars 1939: B&W Cinematog.; AFI 1998: Top 100; N.Y. Film Critics 1939: Film.