Wuthering Heights (1939)

7.5Approved99 minDirector: William Wyler

1939 film by William Wyler

Wuthering Heights is a 1939 American romantic period drama film directed by William Wyler, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, starring Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, and David Niven, and based on the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The film depicts only 16 of the novel's 34 chapters, eliminating the second generation of characters. The novel was adapted for the screen by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and John Huston (uncredited). The supporting cast features Flora Robson and Geraldine Fitzgerald.

The outdoor scenes were filmed in Thousand Oaks, California, with scenes shot in Wildwood Regional Park and at the current site of California Lutheran University.

The film won the 1939 New York Film Critics Award for Best Film. It earned eight nominations at the 12th Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. The 1940 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, black-and-white category, was awarded to Gregg Toland for his work. Alfred Newman's score, including the track "Cathy's Theme" was nominated for original score but lost to The Wizard of Oz.

In 2007, Wuthering Heights was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Wuthering Heights about?
Wuthering Heights (1939) — The story of unfortunate lovers Cathy (Merle Oberon) and Heathcliff (Sir Laurence Olivier) who, despite a deep affection for one another, are forced by circumstance and prejudice to live their lives apart. Heathcliff and Cathy first meet as children when her father, Mr. Earnshaw
Is Wuthering Heights based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Wuthering Heights scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.