Let me say up front that my wife is a big fan of the
original movie version of WUTHERING HEIGHTS that starred Merle Oberon and
Laurence Olivier. I know she’s watched it more than once and enjoyed it each
time she has. Apparently all of those times were when I wasn’t home because
I’ve yet to see that version. So this one, shot in 1970, is my first exposure
to the story of Cathy and Heathcliff.
The Earnshaw family in England isn’t the most posh of the
lot but they are well off. One night the master of the house (Harry Andrews)
returns home to Wuthering Heights with a young boy in tow. His wife eludes that
this is an illegitimate son but he insists that the boy is merely an orphan he
saved from the streets. The young boy, Heathcliff, grows up among the Earnshaw
children, favored by young Cathy and with contempt by her brother Hindley.
The children grow up, Hindley (Julian Glover) goes off to
school and Cathy and Heathcliff fall madly in love with one another. All of
this is under the watchful eye of servant Nellie (Judy Cornwell). Things change
when Mr. Earnshaw passes away. Hindley returns to take over things with a new
wife in tow. Immediately he has Nellie and Heathcliff move out of the house to
more suitable accommodations for their stature in life.
The bitterness between Heathcliff and Hindley continues.
Cathy and Heathcliff prank the nearby Linton house, the end result being Cathy
falling and injuring herself. The Linton’s take her in and son Edgar
immediately falls in love with her. Enjoying the attention Cathy gives back
what she receives and provokes Heathcliff when she sees him next. In a rage he
leaves all behind at sets out on his own.
Three years pass and Cathy has forgotten Heathcliff. She’s
now married to Edgar. Hindley has lost his wife when she was giving birth and
has fallen into being an alcoholic who is in the midst of gambling away
Wuthering Heights. At this time Heathcliff chooses to return, polished and
refined and no longer the dirty farm hand he appeared to be when he left.
Cathy and Heathcliff once again fall hopelessly in love and
meet behind the scenes. She doesn’t intend to leave Edgar though and
Heathcliff, now more vengeful than romantic, begins to seduce Edgar’s sister
Isabella. A pregnant Cathy seems to want her cake and eat it too remaining
married and longing for her ex-love while he sets out to destroy those who
thought themselves better than him.
I won’t go on so as to not spoil the ending for those who’ve
never seen it. Suffice to say that I wasn’t thrilled with much of this movie. I
found few characters to sympathize with, especially the two star crossed lovers
at the center of it all. Both seem narcissistic as if all others should cater
to them only. Their romance revolves around cheating on their respective
spouses, of talking adoration for one another while doing as much mental harm
to one another at the same time. Talk about confused.
The movie was made by AIP, American International Pictures,
which was synonymous with drive in fare at the time. This was an attempt to
make a more artistic costume drama on their part and it does look great. But
the plotting is slow, the jumps in time unexplained and the overwrought
emotions of characters off-putting. Fans of the story may enjoy it but my guess
is most won’t.
And yet Twilight Time has once more offered the film in
pristine condition. Their presentation here in blu-ray format looks great.
Would that the movie itself were as good as the efforts Twilight Time put into
it. Extras include an isolated music track, an audio commentary track with film
historian Justin Humphreys, the original theatrical trailer and writings by
film historian Julie Kirgo. As with all Twilight Time releases this is limited
to just 3,000 copies so if you’re a fan then make sure you buy your copy as soon
as possible.
Click here to order.
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