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Actors: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Wuthering Heights (1939) |
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Heathcliff is an orphaned gypsy who Cathy's father brings home and treats as his own son, in some ways better than his own son Hindley. Hindley resents this and when his father dies, he puts Heathcliff to work as a servant. As Heathcliff and Cathy grow up they fall in love but keep their love hidden. As they grow older she shies away because of the social difference. Cathy tells Heathcliff that he needs to make a fortune and come back for her and then they can marry.
Edgar the "boy next door" begins to court Cathy and she likes it because of his social standing and what he can give her. Heathcliff is jealous and overhears Cathy tell Nell the maid that Edgar asked her to marry him. Heathcliff only hears Cathy say that she cannot marry Heathcliff because it would degrade her. He takes off before she finishes saying that she is actually in love with Heathcliff and could never love another like she loves him.
Heathcliff runs away and is not heard from for several years. In the meantime, Cathy marries Edgar and starts her life. Heathcliff shows up out of the blue and tells Cathy that he has made something of himself in America and has bought Wuthering Heights. He keeps Hindley there (who by now has become a drunk) out of revenge. Since Heathcliff cannot have Cathy he marries Isabel her sister-in-law and treats her cruelly to exact revenge on Cathy and Edgar.
When Cathy realizes that she cannot go on living without Heathcliff she ends up dying in Heathcliff's arms.
--Bridgett Fabian, Resident Scholar
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WUTHERING HEIGHTS is based on the Emily Brontė novel. This film was directed by William Wyler and won the 1939 award in the Best Cinematography category (Gregg Toland).
As a child, Heathcliff was brought to Wuthering Heights by Cathy's father who found him in the streets of Liverpool. Heathcliff and Cathy's love grow over the years until the day Cathy agrees to marry someone else--Edgar Linton, their wealthy neighbour. Heathcliff leaves for the U.S.A. and comes back a few years later after having made a fortune. With the idea of hurting Cathy's feelings, he marries Isabella Linton.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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Heathcliff and Cathy are wild children who fall in love, but when Cathy marries the wealthy Edgar, Heathcliff vows to get revenge on the one he loves.
--Megan Westley, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Wuthering Heights (1939) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- love triangle/polygon
- spurned lover goes for revenge
Lover is...
- of a different social class
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- servant
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- (man) muscular
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- not employed but independently wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- druggie/wino disease
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Mountains/Cliffs
Yes
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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