5/7/2001
United States. English. Black-and-white. 103 minutes. Available: VCR and DVD.
Crew
Director: William Wyler
Assistant Director:
Walter Mayo
Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn
Original Music by: Alfred
Newman
Cinematography by: Gregg Toland
Film Editing by: Daniel
Mandell
Art Direction: James Basevi
Sound: Paul Neal
Screenplay: Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur
Costume Design: Omar Kiam
Set Decoration:
Julia Heron
Cast
Merle Oberon (Cathy Linton)
Laurence Olivier
(Heathcliff)
David Niven (Edgar Linton)
Flora Robson (Ellen
Dean)
Donald Crisp (Dr. Kenneth)
Geraldine Fitzgerald (Isabella
Linton)
Hugh Williams (Hindley)
Leo G. Carroll (Joseph Earnshaw)
Miles
Mander (Mr. Lockwood)
Cecil Kellaway (Earnshaw)
Cecil Humphreys (Judge
Linton)
Sarita Wooton (Cathy)-younger
Rex Downing
(Heathcliff)-younger
Douglas Scott (Hindley)-younger
Alice Ahlers (Frau
Johann, harpsichord)
Frank Benson (Heathcliff servant)
Romaine Callender
(Robert)
Vernon Downing (Giles)
Harold Entwistle (Beadle)
Helena Grant
(Miss Hudkins)
Sam Harris (Wedding Guest)
Susanne Leach (Guest)
Tommy
Martin (Little Boy)
Schuyler Standish (Little Boy)
William Stelling
(Dancer)
Eric Wilton (Linton Servant)
The Linton's dogs chase down the pair and injure Cathy. She is taken into the house, while Heathcliff is sent away. This leads to a separation between the two. Eventually, Cathy visits her home and comes face to face with Heathcliff, realizing that she loves him, yet she is torn between him and Edgar Linton. A fight breaks out and Cathy insults Heathcliff for his appearance. Soon after, Edgar asks Cathy to marry him. Heathcliff overhears her telling her servant, Ellen, of the proposal, and he runs away. Cathy chases him to no avail, collapses, and is eventually found by the Lintons, who take her home with them. Cathy decides to marry Edgar Linton. Years later, Heathcliff returns and pays Cathy a visit at her home. He has bought Wuthering Heights from Linton. A relationship develops between Heathcliff and Isabella Linton, Edgar's sister, and he asks her to marry him. A conflict between Isabella and Cathy takes place; Cathy attempts to tell Isabella that Heathcliff does not love her. Isabella rebels, runs away with Heathcliff, and marries him, but as Cathy predicted, Heathcliff does not love her and he acts cold toward her. Ellen visits Wuthering Heights to report that Cathy has fallen ill, and Heathcliff rushes to her bedside, where they kiss and forgive one another. Cathy soon passes away, and we are brought back to reality, the beginning of the story, where Ellen is telling a man who is staying at Wuthering Heights the story of Cathy and Heathcliff.
Hoellering, Franz. "Wuthering Heights". Rev. of Wuthering Heights, dir. William Wyler. With Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. Nation 22 Apr. 1939: 148:478.
Hoellering begins his review by stating that Wuthering Heights (1939) is the "best picture of the year" so far. In Hoellering's opinion, the film shows the viewer that Heathcliff is not crazy, he is simply a good character whom eventually "saves" Cathy's soul. He mentions the idea that the tragedies that take place within the film are actually negotiated, instead of covered over and unresolved. The author talks positively of the director, William Wyler, who avoids "superficial effects" and tells his story in a simple, understated manner. One example of Wyler's simple filming techniques takes place when Heathcliff and Cathy peek into the mansion where the ball is taking place. Heathcliff stands in the shadows while Cathy's face is illuminated in the light, setting a mood. Hoellerings sole objection is the scene at the end of the movie in which Heathcliff and Cathy stroll toward their "castle", which "does not aid but rather suppresses the imagination". The author also discusses the cast; he believes that they are flawless, yet does not go into detail as to why he has this opinion. He mentions Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier's looks and how they fit into the film, but ceases to explain exactly why they are well cast.
Ferguson, Otis. "For a Picture" Rev. of Wuthering Heights, dir. William Wyler. With Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. The New Republic 26 Apr. 1939: 98:336.
In Ferguson's opinion, "Sam Goldwyn's version of the novel turns out to be among the best pictures made anywhere." Although films based on novels are often atrocious, this picture has a well-written script, making all the difference. The author credits the moving camera, which "tells a story" in that it is moved closer to and further from the action, giving the viewer many different outlooks on the film. The film also has an element of suspense, and avoids using "trick effects". Ferguson cites two factors that are considered drawbacks within the film. The first is the fact that the picture does not boast enjoyable music. The second is the actions of the characters: they do things that are quite obsessive and twisted, yet they appear to be "normal" people; therefore, we do not expect them to act the way that they do. Finally, Ferguson complements the cast as a group who was "near perfection", including the Great Danes. My only question is how, exactly, was the cast so perfect? If they were not convincing enough in their roles to show us that they are, in actuality, dark characters, how are they flawless?
Time 17 Apr. 1939: 33:49.
At first, it seems as though the author dislikes the film version of Wuthering Heights, yet the reader comes to find that the author does, in fact, think highly of the film. He calls it "one of the season's distinguished pictures". The actual story, he explains, is very improbable, filled with darkness and possible incest. He compliments the script, saying that it turned out magnificently, and that Olivier's role as Heathcliff is a "speaking tribute to the efficacy of the profit motive". Goldwyn, the director, is complemented for his success in recreating the details of a Yorkshire moor and for using British actors for their accents. The only "oversight", says the author, is that Goldwyn did not send for Emily Brontė (author of Wuthering Heights), who could not have enhanced the quality of the film herself.
In the summer of 1938, Lawrence Olivier (who played Heathcliff in the film) was vacationing in Europe with his girlfriend, Vivian Leigh, when he received a telegram which said: "Are you interested Goldwyn idea for September first for Vivien yourself and Oberon in Wuthering Heights stop answer as soon as possible stop"(Cottrell, 136). Not long after, the couple received a script by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Olivier declined the movie offer; he did not want to work in Hollywood any longer and did not believe that the part Leigh was offered, that of Isabella, an inferior role, was suitable for her. Olivier did say that he would consider taking the role if Leigh was offered the lead female role, which had already been given to Merle Oberon (Cottrell, 136). Olivier was obviously bothered by the fact that Leigh was not offered the role of Cathy. He mentioned this later in his life, in his autobiography Confessions of an Actor: "I was blind with misery at being parted from Vivien, who would have been the perfect Cathy, and I was sure that Merle was lacking in the essential passionate qualities" (Olivier, 107).
In London, Olivier was encountered again, at this point by the director, William Wyler. Wyler offered Olivier $75,000 dollars to reconsider the role of Heathcliff (Kiernan, 167) and offered Leigh the role of Isabella. Leigh responded by saying: "I will play Cathy or nothing" (Cottrell, 137). "Goldwyn's earlier plan was to team Olivier romantically with his Divorce of Lady X costar Merle Oberon as Cathy" (Murphy).
Olivier began working on a film entitled Q Planes. During the filming, he was approached by Wyler again for the role of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, which he rejected. At this point, Vivien Leigh "realized that he was particularly attracted by this role and that he was rejecting it solely because he did not want them to be kept apart . . . so ultimately Olivier agreed" (Cottrell, 137).
Leigh was also reluctant to leave because of her daughter, Suzanne, who was four years old at the time. She was "beginning to feel like a great-aunt to Suzanne, rather than a mother" (Kiernan, 167). Olivier became angry; if Leigh spent more time with Suzanne, she may have reconciled with her ex-husband [the father of Suzanne]. Olivier thought that Leigh would get back together with her ex while he was working on Wuthering Heights. This caused an argument between the couple: "It was partly their argument that prodded Olivier into accepting the Wuthering Heights role" (Kiernan, 168).
Since Olivier had accepted the role of Heathcliff, it seemed as though the casting problems were solved. This was not exactly true . . . Olivier arrived at the set hoping Merle Oberon would be replaced with Vivien, and found that this was no longer a possibility. "Heathcliff" and "Cathy" did not get along very well while making the movie. They once quarreled during a scene in which Olivier had to deliver his lines with Oberon face-to-face, and she became angry, crying: "Please don't spit at me!" (Cottrell, 138). The scene was repeated, and, according to Oberon, Olivier spat again. They became angry and each stormed off the set. Interestingly, Merle Oberon pursued Olivier romantically behind the scenes: "At some point during the preproduction on Heights, she made a pass at him. She used the excuse that since they were both alone in LA . . . it would be all right . . . they ended up as enemies on Wuthering Heights." (Kiernan, 170). In his autobiography entitled On Acting, Laurence Olivier contradicted these statements when he stated: "Wuthering Heights was a success. I experienced my catharsis; Merle and Willie [director William Wyler] and I became friends . . ." (Olivier, 261). These differing sides to the story make it difficult to tell whether the pair actually disliked each other.
During filming, Oberon and Olivier both had medical difficulties. At one point, Oberon sprained her ankle while filming a love scene in which she dashes through the "heather" in the "moors" (Cottrell, 138). Shooting was put off for four days while she recovered. Olivier contracted athlete's foot by wearing a pair of clogs that were second hand, given to him by the wardrobe department (Cottrell, 138). His condition worsened, and his foot swelled. Olivier was forced to do his close-ups while sitting on a stool.
An actor named David Niven played the role of Edgar Linton, the man whom Cathy marries in the movie. He "hated the crybaby role of the dull and effeminate and virtuous Edgar Linton . . . and he hated the idea of working with Wyler a second time" (Cottrell, 140). Niven had worked with Wyler on the film Dodsworth, and recalled that, "No one was spared by Willie. The girls were reduced to tears on several occasions" (Cottrell, 140). When Niven first met Olivier, he "warned Olivier of Wyler: 'The man's an absolute tyrant" (Kiernan, 169). Niven explained: "Off the set he is perfectly charming. But once shooting gets under way-well, consider yourself warned. You're in for the experience of your life" (Kiernan, 169). Eventually, Olivier did become angry with Wyler: "Toward the end of the picture, Larry lost all interest. He was so fed up with Wyler that he just did whatever he was asked and spent the rest of his time joking around with the cast" (Kiernan, 179).
An interesting fact about the film concerns the setting. In Bronte's novel, Wuthering Heights is in the Yorkshire moors, in the film, the "Yorkshire moors" are fifty miles from Hollywood, in the Conejo Hills. Five hundred acres of hills were covered with tumbleweeds that were dusted with purple sawdust to make them look like heather (Cottrell, 138).
In one scene during the film, Heathcliff puts his hand through a window and cuts it. The "window" was actually made of sugar, and his hand covered with "gashes" and "blood" (Cottrell, 140).
Wuthering Heights won several Oscars at the Academy Awards: Geraldine Fitzgerald, who played Isabella Linton, won Best Supporting Actress, Laurence Olivier, as Heathcliff, won Best Actor, and the film itself won Best Picture, (Dirks).
In conclusion, I believe that this film has quite an interesting background, especially because one of the lead roles did not want to act in the film. The behind-the-scenes scenarios are humorous and dramatic, yet the situations obviously paid off; the film has been an enormous success.
Cottrell, John. Laurence Olivier. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1975.
Dirks, Tim. Academy Awards Winners and History. Retrieved 3 April 2001 http://www.filmsite.org/oscars30.html.
Kiernan, Thomas. Sir Larry: The Life Of Laurence Olivier. New York: Times Books, 1981.
Murphy, Mary. Murph's Place. Last updated 2000. http://www.murphsplace.com/.
Olivier, Laurence. Confessions of an Actor: An Autobiography. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982.
Olivier, Laurence. On Acting. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986.
In the film Wuthering Heights, Cathy, one of the main characters, is expected to act in a certain manner so that she is able to fit into the demands of society.
From the beginning of the film, we can see that Cathy and her brother, Hindley, come from a wealthy family and expect people to be like them, well dressed and nice looking. When their father brings Heathcliff, an orphan, into their home, Cathy and Hindley are outraged. The boy is dirty, wearing torn clothing, and he obviously does not have the social status that they possess. They have obviously never been exposed to a person who is unfortunate, and they do not know how to welcome him.
Eventually, Cathy is able to accept Heathcliff. Once he is bathed and wearing clean clothes, she allows herself to see him as a person. She realizes that Heathcliff is not just a dirty boy from the streets; he is a person with feelings. He is playful, imaginative, and a good friend to her. Conversely, Hindley refuses to accept Heathcliff for who he is, and torments him physically and mentally throughout the film. When the children's father passes away, Hindley takes over Wuthering Heights, leaving Heathcliff to become a servant. He is once again ragged, he has no money, and he has a very low social status. Even so, Cathy allows her relationship with Heathcliff to evolve, and they let their relationship become romantic, although it is very secretive. Heathcliff and Hindley never become friendly with one another; Hindley never attempts to understand Heathcliff or look past his social status.
When Heathcliff is with Cathy, he is a happy person with hopes and dreams, despite his miserable life at Wuthering Heights. Cathy, too, is miserable in her home; she seems to despise her brother and longs for Heathcliff to take her away from the situation. This is where conflict arises: Heathcliff can do no such thing. He is poor and is stuck under Hindley's authority.
The plot thickens when Cathy begins to notice her wealthy, upper-class neighbors, the Lintons. She longs to be like them: rich and well-dressed, living in a beautiful, large home and having dances with other people of their rank. Cathy begins spending time with the elder Linton, a man named Edgar. Personality-wise, he is not comparable to Heathcliff. He is not imaginative and loving, and although he is very polite, he is cold in comparison to Heathcliff. At the same time, Edgar has quite a bit to offer Cathy. He is able to give her a home, possessions, and he can take her away from Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff, on the other hand, cannot. He hasn't the money or the status to "save" her. Cathy's feelings drift away from Heathcliff, she forgets about the person that he is inside and can only see that he is inferior to Edgar Linton. At one point in the film, Cathy prepares to attend a ball at the Linton's mansion, and she is dressed in a gown, looking very glamorous. She has an encounter with Heathcliff when he confronts her in her bedroom, and it is easy to notice that he is shabby in comparison to her. Surprisingly, Cathy does not attempt to talk to Heathcliff. At this point, she acts as if their relationship is nonexistent. She never tries to console him about the fact that she is about to spend a night flirting with their rich neighbor, and she acts completely cold and unloving. Cathy proceeds to make a rude comment about Heathcliff's "dirty hands", and leaves him to go to the party. Upon returning, Cathy confesses to another servant at Wuthering Heights, a woman named Ellen, that Edgar has asked her to marry him. She is considering his offer; he has so much to give her and it excites her; she gushes over his wealth and popularity. Unfortunately, Heathcliff has overheard the entire conversation, and he leaves Wuthering Heights in a fury. Cathy attempts to save their relationship by chasing after Heathcliff through a raging storm, but he is already gone. Cathy becomes sick while going after Heathcliff, and is taken to the Linton's home to recover. Eventually, she reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal from Edgar.
At this point, it is easy to believe that Cathy is over Heathcliff and ready to spend her life with Edgar, living in luxury and looking upper-class and important in the eyes of other people. There is a touch of foreshadowing in the film directly after Cathy and Edgar are married: as they climb into their carriage, Cathy mentions a cold feeling in her heart. Then it supposedly passes, and they are "happily" married for quite some time.
One day, out of nowhere, Heathcliff visits Edgar and Cathy at their home. He shows up looking handsome, and he is well dressed and groomed. Heathcliff makes it obvious that he has come into money, he mentions the fact that he has bought Wuthering Heights from Hindley and paid off Hindley's drinking and gambling debts. It is obvious that Cathy is still not over him; she acts very jumpy and nervous around Heathcliff. It seems as if Cathy realizes that she could have had a much more interesting marriage if she was with Heathcliff. If she had waited for him just a bit longer, he may have been able to fulfill her dreams. He could have offered her a nice home and possessions, along with his personality and love for her. This does not mean that her relationship with Edgar is unpleasant or unloving, yet Edgar cannot offer Cathy the passion and imagination that Heathcliff can.
Through a series of events, Heathcliff runs off to marry Edgar's younger sister, Isabella. Cathy discovers this after reading a note Isabella left in their home, and she breaks down in front of Edgar, making it obvious that she is still in love with Heathcliff. She pleads with Edgar to stop them from marrying; obviously because she still loves him herself and cannot bear to see him with anyone else.
Near the end of the film, Cathy is terminally ill. When Heathcliff hears this, he rushes to her bedside to console her. One of the last scenes of the film shows the couple standing in front of a window, with Cathy draped in Heathcliff's arms. The film depicts the image of the couple "together" in the afterlife, showing that they were meant to be together.
Wuthering Heights shows us that money and a high social status are not as important as love. Cathy felt that she could not be with Heathcliff because of who he was, but found out that it did not matter. In the end, their relationship was more important, and they did end up together, somewhere.