Rating: 
Summary: The best romantic film!
Review: This version of, "Wuthering Heights," will always be my favorite. I have to admit that I liked it better then the book. Laurence Olivier shows such love and feeling. Merle Oberon is perfet as Cathy, a girl who is snobbish, but good at heart.Laurence Olivier is wonderful, romantic as Heathcliff. I think Merle Oberon and he make such a great screen couple. I'd recommend it to anyone, especially a romantic. I think it's the best verion and will always be true classic, there are many great and romantic lines, but one of my favorites is, "I can not live without my life, I can not die without my soul. So very moving and and poignent. I've never seen a movie as beautiful and tale with such unending love, that death can not seperate.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story, Good Film, and Fantastic Acting
Review: I decided to watch this movie several years ago after I had been warned about it by several crotchety, prim-and-proper English teachers. One of them actually referred to it as a "prostitution of literature" because it sticks to the novel rather loosely and stops the story before the book's actual ending. I threw caution to the wind and dismissed their caveats; I'm glad that I did. The basic plot of the film will already be familiar to most everyone reading these reviews. Cathy (Merle Oberon) and her brother Hindley (Hugh Williams) have been indulged in a pretty good life. Things change suddenly when their father brings home a peasant boy named Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and tells the children that he will now be part of the family. Cathy bonds to him almost instantly and, conversely, Hindley fosters a quick hatred for him. As they grow, few things change regarding their relationships. Cathy and Heathcliff retreat to the moors to share their moments of love (or obsession or infatuation, call it whatever you like). Hindley becomes the man of the house after his father dies and he relegates Heathcliff to servitude as a stable boy. Heathcliff overhears the first half of a conversation in which Cathy is debasing him and leaves Wuthering Heights. Cathy chases after him, unsuccessfully, and falls ill after she does not find him. She is nursed back to health by her well-to-do society beau, Edgar Linton (David Niven), and chooses to marry him after her recovery. Lo and behold Heathcliff comes back to town later as a handsome and distinguished fellow and pays a visit to the Lintons. He announces that he has bought Wuthering Heights and thus turned the tables on the alcoholic, gambling-addicted Hindley. Isabella (Geraldine Fitzgerald), is appalled by how cold Cathy acts toward Heathcliff and invites him to one of their soirées. The two marry against the wishes of Edgar and Cathy and all of the ends of the two families' lives begin to unravel. Although some may disagree, I found Laurence Olivier to be a fantastic Heathcliff and he looked much as I imagined Heathcliff while I was reading the book-- handsome, dark and brooding. I thought Merle Oberon made a good version of a spoiled Cathy and David Niven was a good Edgar, playing the oh-so-suave society fop to the hilt. Moreover, the film does tackle a number of situations that still plague people-- Cathy's predicament, for example, on whether to marry Heathcliff and be a stable boy's wife or marry Edgar and be welcomed into high society. But I would certainly recommend, as other reviewers have, that any prospective viewer consider the film a separate unit from the book. Don't even have the novel in your mind when you watch the movie, just enjoy it for its own sake.
Rating:
Summary: "Wuthering Heights" Hits High "Heights"
Review: When I was in high school we were required to read Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights". It was around this time I was starting to read more actively. When I finished the book I thought to myself, this is one of the greatest loves stories ever told behind "Romeo & Juliet". I was completely swept away by these characters. I became so involved in their lives and felt such sorrow from the tragic outcome of Heathcliff and Cathy's lives. And amazingly all those feelings that I had after I read the book had resurfaced while I was watching this movie. William Wyler has agruably made the best film version of Bronte's novel. It was made in the year "Hollywood got it right", 1939, and if films like "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" hadn't been released that year I bet this would of walked away with the gold. It did actually win the New York Film Critics Award! Although this film starts at chapther 17 in the book, the film version "Wuthering Heights" hits all the right notes. It carries a literary quality to it. The movie does not go for cheap sentimental tears. Its emotions seem real, just like in the book. William Wyler, who would go on to direct two Oscar winners, and perhaps two of the best films of the 1940s, "Mrs. Miniver" and "The Best Years of Our Lives" displays his talents as one fo the major film directors of his time. I rarely hear people speak of him. We mostly hear the names Frank Capra, Orson Welles, John Ford, heck even Preston Sturges seems to be named more often when we think of great dictors of the period, but Wyler was one of the best. He brings so much out of Merle Oberon, Lawrence Olivier and David Niven. We believe them to be the characters they are playing. "Wuthering Heights" when released was nominated for 8 Oscars, ssome people were even rooting for it to beat "Gone With The Wind". Is this movie better? I wouldn't dare answer that question. I will say this though, this is a classic movie. Bottom-line: Perhaps one of the all time great Hollywood films. Considered by many as the best film adaptation of Bronte's novel. Emotion and heartwarming William Wyler has directed yet another masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Olivier at his BEST.
Review: Perhaps I'm biased...I'm absolutely in love with Laurence Olivier's performance in any given role--defintely my favourite actour. But along with Max DeWinter in Rebecca, this is his greatest role. After a string of unsuccessful Hollywood pictures, he lands as Heathcliff in Emily Bronte's classic pre-victorian novel. As I got from reading the book, the story is creepy + drawn out, yet a superb portrait of everything I believe it intended to be--the "unrequited love" between Cathy and Heathcliff. It's definetely my most favourite love story in literature, surpassing even that of Rhett + Scarlett. Olivier's performance is genius. Nothing short of that. The cinematography is a perfect capture as every frame captures the tale to perfection. I shudder to think of Vivien Leigh as Cathy...yes, Vivien would have to be my favourite actress, but I worry that it would've become trapped in the "Larry + Vivien" slot of time..tsk. No less, I enjoy Merle Oberon's performance, however it's not what makes this the grand film that it is. Watch this, if for nothing else, to see the greatest cinematic performance from the greatest actour of the century, and for haunting cinematography. The b/w photography only captures the mood moreso.
Rating:
Summary: How Can You NOT Like This Movie?!
Review: You can never compare the movie to the book since a movie can't possibly incorporate ALL of the text from the author! William Wyler put together an excellent cast, fantastic, dark, moody scenes and beautiful music to turn out this brilliant film. The handsome and brooding Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier), the ravishing and haughty Cathy (Merle Oberon) along with the stoic, dull Edgar (David Niven)and the rebellious and pathetic Isabel (Geraldine Fitzgerald) turn this into one of the most romantic, haunting love stories ever. This movie will forever be considered, for me, the epitome of the romantic film. When Heathcliff carries Cathy to the window to look upon the moors one last time as she's dying, my heart swells and tears fill my eyes. It's simply stunning!
Rating:
Summary: Love Denied
Review: This film is based on the Emily Bronte novel, but it is not the word-for-word adaption as seen with some modern Shakespeare movies. This movie focuses on the denied love between Heathcliff and Cathy. The revenge is there in force, but that is not the main idea here. If you watch this film as a substitute for reading the book, I would note that not all the characters from the book are present and the use of the homes as metaphor is not emphasized here. In this movie, there are no offspring. The movie flashbacks end with the death of Cathy. Although the movie won an Oscar for cinematography, I found the work of Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon to be top notch. Comparing the book with their work, I believe that they are Heathcliff and Cathy. I would watch this just for their performances. I would recommend seeing this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great cast, great movie
Review: Wuthering Heights had the misfortune to be released the same year as Gone With The Wind, so was probably not given the attention at the time it deserved. The movie is only adapted from part of the book, focusing on the story of Heathcliff and Cathy. Of course creating a flawless movie from such great literature is almost impossible; there will always be critics who insist the book should be followed to the letter. But the movie is quite overwhelming; the acting is first-rate. Olivier makes a perfect Heathcliff, perhaps a little prettier than Emily Bronte imagined him, but it isn't Olivier's fault he was born beautiful. It's hard to believe this movie wasn't actually filmed in England, the scenery is quite authentic. Anyone who has ever loved someone they felt was a little out of their league can relate to this tale of love, jealousy and revenge.
Rating:
Summary: "Wuthering Heights" Hits High "Heights"
Review: When I was in high school we were required to read Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights". It was around this time I was starting to read more actively. When I finished the book I thought to myself, this is one of the greatest loves stories ever told behind "Romeo & Juliet". I was completely swept away by these characters. I became so involved in their lives and felt such sorrow from the tragic outcome of Heathcliff and Cathy's lives. And amazingly all those feelings that I had after I read the book had resurfaced while I was watching this movie. William Wyler has agruably made the best film version of Bronte's novel. It was made in the year "Hollywood got it right", 1939, and if films like "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" hadn't been released that year I bet this would of walked away with the gold. It did actually win the New York Film Critics Award! Although this film starts at chapther 17 in the book, the film version "Wuthering Heights" hits all the right notes. It carries a literary quality to it. The movie does not go for cheap sentimental tears. Its emotions seem real, just like in the book. William Wyler, who would go on to direct two Oscar winners, and perhaps two of the best films of the 1940s, "Mrs. Miniver" and "The Best Years of Our Lives" displays his talents as one fo the major film directors of his time. I rarely hear people speak of him. We mostly hear the names Frank Capra, Orson Welles, John Ford, heck even Preston Sturges seems to be named more often when we think of great dictors of the period, but Wyler was one of the best. He brings so much out of Merle Oberon, Lawrence Olivier and David Niven. We believe them to be the characters they are playing. "Wuthering Heights" when released was nominated for 8 Oscars, ssome people were even rooting for it to beat "Gone With The Wind". Is this movie better? I wouldn't dare answer that question. I will say this though, this is a classic movie. Bottom-line: Perhaps one of the all time great Hollywood films. Considered by many as the best film adaptation of Bronte's novel. Emotion and heartwarming William Wyler has directed yet another masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Wuthering Heights is being re-released on DVD this year!!!
Review: At last! Collectors can now stop buying those foreign imports from China. I recently purchased another newly released DVD (not "Wuthering Heights") on the MGM label, and as a part of the Special Features was a list of new and upcoming releases, which included the Olivier-Oberon version. I immediately checked the MGM site for further details, but it's still not showing up yet. Still, if MGM is starting to advertise, then hopefully it will be soon. I just wanted to share this information with others, like myself, who are still in disbelief that this classic was ever out of release in the first place.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the book?
Review: Some people get so caught up comparing the likenesses between two works of art, in this case the movie and the novel, that they completely disregard the separate and unique beauty that each work possesses. Wuthering Heights was filmed almost 65 years ago. The screenwriting itself is on its way to becoming as ancient as the novel was, back in 1939, when it was made into a film! That said, the movie is very much of its time. And I definitely mean that in a good way. The 1930s and 40s were really the height of artistic Hollywood....We are dealing with an era that stressed wistful idealism and not cynical realism. Can we really blame the writers and artists involved with this movie for idealising Heathcliff and Cathy? They took away Heathcliff's rough edges and made him a romantic, not so bent on finding revenge as finding love in Cathy. Honestly, I like this character better than the one in the novel. And anyone who says the love between Cathy and Heathcliff is just infatuation or lust....well they aren't romantics and they should stick to the cynical 90s version. We really can't live in a better world unless we expect and work to make it better..and stress our ideals through art...instead of exposing the problems and implying they can't be changed.
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