WUTHERING HEIGHTS
US, 1939, 105 minutes, Black and White.
Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Geraldine Fitzgerald, David Niven, Flora Robson, Hugh Williams, Donald Crisp.
Directed by William Wyler.
Wuthering Heights has become something of a classic in terms of Hollywood film-making and novels becoming films. Only part of the original novel is used. This was also the case in the colour remake by Robert Riest in 1970. William. Wyler, at one of the peaks of his career (at the time of Jezebel, The Letter, The Little Foxes and Mrs. Miniver) was the director and Merle Oberon very effective as Cathy. Laurence Olivier in his brooding style (as also in the next year with Rebecca) was Heathcliff. Geraldine Fitzgerald is very striking in a supporting role.
1. The status of this film as a classic of Hollywood in the 30s? Samuel Goldwyn Production, William Wyler's direction, Laurence Olivier starring as Heathcliff? Working with Merle Oberon? The recreation of England in the 19th century, themes, the world of Emily Bronte?
2. The particular aspects of the film in its style, black and white photography, musical score? Sets etc.?
3. The transition from Emily Bronte's novel? The creation of isolated 19th century atmosphere? Characters within this environment? Passion, repression, love and hatred, revenge? How good was the adaptation for the screen? Using part of the novel only? The ending?
4. The effectiveness of the structure: Lockwood's visit, Ellen Dean's memory and her narrative? The introduction to the mystery of Heathcliff, his behaviour and character? Seeing Isabella at the end and then seeing her within the flashbacks? The important elements of time and how much time had elapsed?
5. The flashbacks to childhood, the happiness of the family with the father, his kindness towards Heathcliff. Kathy's reaction to him, Hindley's jealous reaction? The wilful nature of the children?
6. The harsher aspects of childhood? The father's death and the transition to severity? Hindley as a coward and his victimisation of Heathcliff? Heathcliff's reaction? His sense of being an orphan and being put up with? How much did the childhood sequences affect the behaviour of the adults later?
7. Hindley's character, his becoming a victim of himself. the degradation with his drinking, cruelty, attitudes towards Cathy? Brutalising of Heathcliff? The motivation for Heathcliff's revenge and his victimising of Hindley? Taking his money house, pride?
8. The contrast with Cathy and the presentation of her wildness, the cliff and her Castle, her capacity for love, impetuosity? Her changing as she grew into a woman? The quality of her love for Heathcliff and its wild passionate nature? The irony of the injury and throwing her against Edgar? Her ambition and wanting to have wealth and position? The fickleness of her attitude towards Heathcliff and using Edgar?
9. The comparison of Heathcliff's wildness and passion with that of Cathy? The importance of the sequences on the mountain and the cliff and all that that meant? The symbols of nature and the wildness of the moors for the loving couple? Heathcliff's inferiority and sense of cruelty. revenge? The sequence at Edgar's house and the brutality with the dogs? The fact of his going off and return? Impulsive nature?
10. The passionate nature of the cliff sequence and their romantic nature? The words that Cathy used there as the place for her real self? The return to the cliff at the end?
11. How credible was Cathy's erratic behaviour, the importance of her talk in the kitchen and Heathcliff overhearing it, going out in the rain? Her lost opportunities and the repercussion for all?
12. Her love for Edgar, for position? Her married life? Fidelity and yet the impact of the return of Heathcliff? Her going on errands? Her life and her illness? Edgar's understanding?
13. The contrast of Cathy and Isabella? Isabella as repressed, overshadowed by Edgar? The atmosphere of the Linton household? Her throwing herself at Heathcliff, not listening to advice, especially that of Cathy?
14. What did the characterisation of Ellen with her memories and her presence in the house offer? Of Joseph and his constancy? Dr. Kenneth and his knowledge of the principal characters over so many years?
15. The importance of Heathcliff's departure on impulse and resentment towards Cathy, his acquiring of wealth, his return, his systematic revenge? What had he achieved by the time of Cathy's death? His cruelty towards Isabella?
16. The dramatic impact and feeling of Cathy's death? The end of the passion? The presence of Heathcliff, Edgar and the flower? The mystic type ending with the two lovers reunited? Cathy's mysterious return and taking Heathcliff to the cliff?
17. Men and women in the 19th century, the two aspects of women: Cathy and Isabella? Two aspects of men: Heathcliff and Edgar? Compatibility, flashes, love and hate? Means, circumstances changing people's life? Remoteness, 19th century repression? The dark side of human nature as explored by Emily Bronte?
