Wuthering Heights (1970)

I have an enduring memory of the scene with Heathcliffe standing in the doorway listening to Cathy talking to Nelly - dark and brooding - I immediately became a fan of Timothy Dalton! And also the scene where Heathcliffe tries to dig up Cathy's grave with his bare hands. Dalton was the perfect Heathcliffe and no other version of this novel has come close, notably the Juliette Binoche version (why a French actress for a quintessentially Yorkshire role?). Almost 40 years later and I still remember. I've only given it 9 out of 10 because the movie ends halfway though the novel completely omitting the 2nd half about Cathy's daughter and the older Heathcliffe. There should have been a sequel (unless I missed something).

I read Wuthering Heights as a teenager. I just loved it so, after being sadly let-down by the Merle Oberon film version - it seemed to make Heathcliff into some sort of romantic hero rather than the totally unpleasant type that he was - I was overjoyed that it was finally being remade.I had great expectations for this film. What a pity I went to see it. It was just a rehash of the first part of the book. If I'd wanted that I'd have sat through the original another time.And an apology to all of you who find Timothy Dalton soooo sexy. He reminds me too much of a ferret to get my pulses racing.Well at least someone did a pretty good mini-series for TV in 1978 but my advice is READ THE BOOK!

Having seen this movie some years ago on video, I'm very excited that it is available on DVD. While Sir Laurence Olivier and Ralph Fiennes have both done respectable turns as Heathcliff, Timothy Dalton is just glorious. He embodies the character's passion, ambivalence and consuming torment and longing for Cathy splendidly. Anna Calder-Marshall, while perhaps not one would think would make an ideal Cathy, is wonderful as the Yorkshire lass. Oh, how these two sizzle! Whenever Dalton speaks, or broods, the room temperature just seemed to skyrocket! The ill-fated lovers find themselves separated and bound by circumstance and other people, leading to tragic results.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 score by Michel Legrand 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.Like some other viewers, I was disappointed that the second generation were not featured and that the ending seemed tacked on. Also, I seem to remember a few other scenes from the VHS (there is a still from one of them on the DVD jacket) that are not included on the disc. Those are the only things that stop me from giving this movie 10 stars. But this version captured the passion and intensity between Heathcliff and Cathy.The DVD transfer has been wonderfully restored, a big improvement over the VHS print. A few specks and scratches show from time to time, and other than that, aside from the hairstyles (which indicate the decade in which it was made), you wouldn't think the movie is 40 years old.Make sure you've got a fan going, as well as ice cold drinks, because the heat will go way up!

I guess I will just say "ditto" to the review by sphynx7-- that review echoes what my feelings are for the film- especially that Timothy Dalton IS Heathcliff-- looks, voice, attitude, awkwardness, inability to express his deep and passionate feelings and touch of tenderness.... an extremely hard character to capture, and Timothy got it all. And those green eyes................(sigh) One of my all time favorite movies (and books) Just figured out that I must enter 10 lines of text, so I must add that 2 of my favorite instrumental pieces I like to listen to are both by Michel Legrand, and both from movies-- the score to Wuthering Heights, and the one from Summer of '42.