Wuthering Heights (Widescreen/Full Screen)

Sure, the consummation of their relationship did not occur in the book, but with young hot actors like Timothy and Anna, how could the filmmakers not succumb to temptation? The locations (complete with windswept wild moors) and music are intoxicatingly gorgeous as well. I don't know how Emily Bronte would feel about this adaptation, but I'd like to think that this production would have done her proud.

Make sure you've got a fan going, as well as ice cold drinks, because the heat will go way up!


Haunting, Passionate--Timothy Dalton is Brilliant!   February 15, 2006
This movie version of Wuthering Heights is the best. Heathcliff comes to life in all his passion, mystery and evil, surely as Emily Bronte intended, in a young, upcoming Timothy Dalton. Who better to play the part? For those familiar with the book, you will note that this movie version omits Mr. Lockwood's visit and the atmospheric, tension-building first chapter of the novel. Instead, it dives directly into the story of Cathy and Heathcliff which, after all, is the REAL story that Emily Bronte wanted to tell. What it loses in setting the scene is gained in measured pace as the story unfolds--it is certainly not lacking in brooding, windswept moors, heartwrenching love and longing, and deep, dark forces of passion. Anna Calder Marshall is wonderful, as is Judy Cornwell. But Timothy Dalton is absolutely magnificent!


The enjoyable kind of awful. One spoiler at the very bottom   August 19, 2005
Firstly, I have only read Wuthering Heights twice so I am not one the many out there who adore the book almost to the point of religiousity. No, but I do know how the plot goes. Yes, there's a whole lot of changes- in fact, it's a totally different story from my point of view. This wouldn't be a problem if the changes made any sense, but they alas, do not. The revenge plot becomes totally pointless, and characters begin to act without motivation. In short, I laughed through the entire film. It was enjoyable but terrible. The acting is uneven- sometimes it is quite good but most of the time it's bad.

There's a love rock. It has lines on it. This is a very deep and totally serious symbol of abiding love, and ...rock collecting.

The music, and the landscape (Yorkshire, not France... as someone below had asserted) were excellent. I would say that the land is the best part of this film. It felt somewhat like it was a character in its own right... but... not with Cathy tripping girlishly over it yelling "Heeeeaaaathcliiiiiiff" every time there's a lull.

The result, over all, is a film which seems naive. I watched it with someone who had never heard of Wuthering Heights, and she was beginnig to think that the book must be 'simple' and cliche. (Need I mention all of the rough 'wooing' of Isabella: "You're hurting me!" "You like it!" ?) The best parts, were lines taken from the novel but these were too few to really counteract the trite filler.

SPOILER

...At the end, it appears that a mortally wounded Heathcliff crawls aross the moors to the crags, there to die (after being shot by Hindley). And then Cathy and Heathcliff skip off into the distance...


Not totally true to the book, but still good.   June 28, 2004
I saw this movie when it first came out and I was very young and impressionable. As someone else said in their review, the young should see it because it really will touch them in a unique, once in a lifetime way. I read a review complaining that it's not like the book. I hadn't read the book yet when I first saw it. Since then I've read the book many times and it is one of my favorites. I don't care that this movie takes license and makes it's own story. I think it still tells a great love story. And the music is beautiful and haunting, as it should be. I'm thrilled it's now on DVD because my old VHS copy is getting worn out! :)


CROSSED LOVERS ON THE MOORS   February 19, 2004
I SAW THIS IN 1970 WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT.. AND WAS TOTALLY STRICKEN... THE MUSIC BY MICHELE LEGRAND IS BREATHTAKING.. AND I HAVE YET TO SEE A FINER HEATHCLIFFE THAN A VERY YOUNG TIMOTHY DALTON.. THE TWO CHARACTERS OF CATHY AND HEATHCLIFFE KEPT ME SPELLBOUND AND I AM SOOOO LOOKING FOR THE SOUNDTRACK BUT HAVE YET HAD NO LUCK.. USED TO HAVE IT. AND PLAYED IT DEATH.. LOL... ANYWAY.. THIS IS A HAUNTINGLY BEATIFUL STORY AND DONE VERY VERY WELL..