Watch Wuthering Heights

Set in the moors of Yorkshire, England, Wuthering Heights, released in 1939, is a movie adaptation of the novel by Emily Bronte. Directed by William Wyler, the movie has an all-star cast consisting of Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, and David Niven. The movie is a tale of love, social class, and revenge that spans generations. It begins with Mr. Earnshaw (Leo G. Carroll), a wealthy and kind landowner who brings home a young boy he has found wandering the streets of Liverpool. He names the boy Heathcliff (Rex Downing) and raises him as his own son, much to the chagrin of his daughter Hindley (Douglas Scott), who sees Heathcliff as a threat to her place in the family.

As the years pass, Heathcliff (now played by Olivier) and Mr. Earnshaw's daughter, Catherine (now played by Oberon), develop a deep and intense bond. However, their forbidden love is threatened by their different social classes as well as by Hindley, who grows increasingly jealous of Heathcliff.

When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley takes over the estate and immediately mistreats Heathcliff, turning him into a servant. Catherine, devastated by her father's death and the treatment of her beloved Heathcliff, decides to marry Edgar Linton (Niven), a wealthy and respectable man who can offer her a comfortable and socially acceptable life. Heathcliff is heartbroken and becomes consumed with revenge.

The movie then follows the lives of Catherine, Edgar, and Heathcliff as they struggle with their relationships and desires. Catherine is torn between her love for Heathcliff and her duty to her husband and their social status. Edgar, who is kind and caring, is often caught in the middle of the tension between Catherine and Heathcliff. And Heathcliff, consumed by his need for revenge, is willing to do anything to destroy those who have wronged him.

The movie is beautifully shot with stunning landscapes of the moors and hauntingly atmospheric scenes that perfectly capture the mood of the story. The performances of the cast are outstanding, with Olivier delivering a powerful and heartbreaking portrayal of Heathcliff, Oberon bringing a fierce and passionate energy to Catherine, and Niven providing a gentle and sympathetic portrayal of Edgar.

Overall, Wuthering Heights is a classic tale of love and revenge that has stood the test of time. Wyler's adaptation of Bronte's novel is a cinematic masterpiece that transports viewers to the wild and beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire moors and immerses them in the complex and intense relationships of its characters.

Wuthering Heights is a 1939 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.