Featured Audience Ratings

• Devon B

  
  Wuthering Heights is the 1939 adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel by the same name. A lost stranger comes to the broken down estate of Wuthering Heights, lost in the moors. He's put up by the hostile Heathcliff, and during the night sees a ghost. He's then told the tale… More
  Wuthering Heights is the 1939 adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel by the same name. A lost stranger comes to the broken down estate of Wuthering Heights, lost in the moors. He's put up by the hostile Heathcliff, and during the night sees a ghost. He's then told the tale of the ghost, and how it came to be. Olivier's Heathcliff is filled with nothing but impotent rage as he lashes out at the upper class which he oh-so-briefly had a taste of. His beloved Cathy isn't interested in becoming a stable boy's wife, even if she does love Heathcliff. It's a story that starts off with the promise of romance but ends on a bitterly cynical note. I get the feeling the film doesn't do justice to the novel (even having never read the novel), with it's somewhat shallow performances and a lack of exposition or character development. I was surprised to learn the role of Heathcliff was performed by the venerable Sir Laurence Olivier, it was a performance that seemingly could've been done by any reasonably handsome actor of his day. The "film" aspect of the film however, is outstanding: lighting, sets, costumes, and direction are all top notch (and I really hate to mislead, the performances are great for their day), but it's the original material that makes this film so worthwhile, rather than any contributions the filmmakers make.

• Universal D

  
  my only excuse for having missed on this classic for sooo very many years is that i thought it only a "chick flick". whatta maroon, shame on me. with great writing, direction, and acting par excellence (olivier is to die for - and kathy does, merle oberon's death… More
  my only excuse for having missed on this classic for sooo very many years is that i thought it only a "chick flick". whatta maroon, shame on me. with great writing, direction, and acting par excellence (olivier is to die for - and kathy does, merle oberon's death scene is stroke for stroke gloria swanson's last scene in "sunset boulevard", and flora robson finally gets some r-e-s-p-e-c-t in a movie!) by the entire cast, this old story hinged upon class warfare ("we're better than you!" "no you're not!" yah-hoo! ah luv it!) is as fresh as the day they thunk it.

• Luke B

  
  Wuthering Heights tells the story of two people destined to be together, however they do nothing but hurt each other. It's a fantastic romance and a wonderful adaptation, despite only covering half of the actual book. Olivier is cold, strong and sophisticated in a very impressive… More
  Wuthering Heights tells the story of two people destined to be together, however they do nothing but hurt each other. It's a fantastic romance and a wonderful adaptation, despite only covering half of the actual book. Olivier is cold, strong and sophisticated in a very impressive role. Despite his constant facial expression his eyes and words display a vast array of feelings. Oberon is also a class act. She is spoilt, selfish and downright mean, though often sweet and confused. Everybody gets a moment to shine, especially against the wonderfully created sets. At its core Wuthering Heights is a tale of revenge, but in the most subtle of ways. Sly conversational digs, the odd shifty look. Could have been better if they had played the Kate Bush classic at some point.

• Kylie B

  
  As a stand alone film, it is enjoyable and rather well executed. As an adaptation of the novel, frankly, it's not up to scratch. It is primarily this film which is the culprit for modern popular culture assuming Wuthering Heights to be a great and tragic love story. If you read… More
  As a stand alone film, it is enjoyable and rather well executed. As an adaptation of the novel, frankly, it's not up to scratch. It is primarily this film which is the culprit for modern popular culture assuming Wuthering Heights to be a great and tragic love story. If you read the book, it's not. Especially as Heathcliff is a bit too much of an asshole to be considered a 'classic' romantic hero (a bit Byronic maybe, but that's debatable). The fact that this film cuts out just over half of the novel's plot to make out that it's a romance should give you some idea of how bad it is by adaptation standards. But as I said, if you watch it with no knowledge of the novel, it's a good film. There's nothing wrong with enjoying it that way, but sadly I just can't.

• danny d

  
  the original version of a movie that has been remade as much as any in history. it seems someone takes a crack at remaking films based on bronte's novel every few years. sold as a great love story, i found it to be very unconvincing. i just didnt believe what they were trying… More
  the original version of a movie that has been remade as much as any in history. it seems someone takes a crack at remaking films based on bronte's novel every few years. sold as a great love story, i found it to be very unconvincing. i just didnt believe what they were trying to portray on screen which made for a difficult watch.

• Jennifer X

  
  doesn't capture the essence and wildness of the book. skip over this and watch the juliette binoche version.

• jay n

  
  wonderfully atmospheric

• Byron B

  
  I recently read the novel by Emily Bronte. Of course, like nearly every book to film adaptation the film is greatly condensed. Merle Oberon portrays Cathy Earnshaw, torn between two loves, in a very tragic manner. David Niven looks very young as the stiff upper crust husband of… More
  I recently read the novel by Emily Bronte. Of course, like nearly every book to film adaptation the film is greatly condensed. Merle Oberon portrays Cathy Earnshaw, torn between two loves, in a very tragic manner. David Niven looks very young as the stiff upper crust husband of Cathy, Edgar Linton. Laurence Olivier is brooding and romantic as Heathcliff. The basic parts of the story are present: like Lockwood being told the story by housekeeper Ellen Dean, young Hindley and Catherine being unwelcoming to the adopted gypsy boy Heathcliff, Hindley becoming a useless drunk while Cathy and Heathcliff fall in love, then Cathy preferring the acceptance of high society that Edgar gives to her while Heathcliff schemes to undo both the Earnshaw and Linton families and makes Edgar's sister Isabella falsely believe he loves her. I think that there is a lot more depth and darkness in Heathcliff's character in the book than Olivier shows here. The crags as a fantasy castle that young Cathy and Heathcliff romantically rule over is given much more prominence. The swooning love of the doomed lovers is favored over the cruelty and damage caused in the name of revenge in this version. Also the second generation of the Earnshaw and Linton clans, which go through another sort of love triangle in the final third (?) of the book, do not come into play at all in this simplified movie. A good atmosphere and good performances, though both could have been better. And I am now interested in seeing one of the longer more complete movie adaptations.

• Matthew Y

  
  Gloomy and Gothic, Wuthering Heights is a fantastic mood piece that manages to be creepy and uncomfortable all the while telling an incredibly romanticized tale of love and betrayal. Shockingly I made it through my entire High School and College career without being forced to read… More
  Gloomy and Gothic, Wuthering Heights is a fantastic mood piece that manages to be creepy and uncomfortable all the while telling an incredibly romanticized tale of love and betrayal. Shockingly I made it through my entire High School and College career without being forced to read the novel, so I can't attest to the films accuracy to the book, however I've heard its fairly faithful. Well acted with impressive set designs the film was one of the first adaptations and to this day still the very best.

• Marion R

  
  I liked it, but everything is the girls fault. It's a messed up story.

• Janice :

  
  A classic tale of obsessional love and revenge... that's all you need to know! I don't wanna get picky but the book is much better *sorry* But then again, you gotta love Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon - together -who both fit in perfectly with their roles. Excellent… More
  A classic tale of obsessional love and revenge... that's all you need to know! I don't wanna get picky but the book is much better *sorry* But then again, you gotta love Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon - together -who both fit in perfectly with their roles. Excellent excellent excellent! Haven't seen the more recent versions yet this remains a must-see!

Read all 11 featured audience ratings