The fans of the story WUTHERING HEIGHTS are legion. The
book, written by Emily Bronte, remains in print to this day and numerous
versions have been filmed, most notable in 1939 starring Laurence Olivier and
Merle Oberon as the star crossed lovers Heathcliff and Cathy. What many may not
realize is that the story was turned into a TV drama in 1958 for THE DUPONT
SHOW OF THE MONTH. Early television was rampant with single dramas and
anthology shows as well as series TV. This is one of those.
If you are completely unaware of the story it tells the tale
of the Earnshaw family living at Wuthering Heights. The father of the group
brings home an orphan he found in the streets and names him Heathcliff. Adored
by daughter Cathy and hated by jealous son Hindley, Heathcliff takes care of
the stables in return for living with the family. When his father passes away
Hindley allows Heathcliff to stay but only as a servant. What he doesn’t know
is that Heathcliff and Cathy have fallen in love as time has passed.
One day Heathcliff and Cathy sneak over to the home of the
Linton family to spy on them. Injured as she falls from the wall where they
were watching, the Lintons take her in and insist she remains until she is well
again, sending Heathcliff home. When Cathy does finally return she seems to
have lost interest in Heathcliff and now has eyes for Edgar Linton. When a
fight breaks out between Heathcliff and Hindley, he leaves Wuthering Heights
swearing revenge.
Cathy and Edgar marry and eventually Heathcliff does return,
now educated and wealthier than when he left. The stable boy is now a man of
means. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of Hindley who has let Wuthering
Heights fall into disarray. It isn’t long before he gambles the property away
to Heathcliff.
Calling upon the Lintons Heathcliff catches the eye of
Edgar’s sister Isabella. Against her brother’s wishes she marries Heathcliff
who makes her life hell at Wuthering Heights. Cathy still pines for Heathcliff,
eventually wearing herself away to nothing. Before she dies he returns to her
and forgives her proclaiming his love.
The story is familiar but bits and pieces were changed to
bring it into the format of live television drama. What makes it stand out is
the stars of this version, Richard Burton and Rosemary Harris. This was just as
Burton’s star was rising making him an actor that TV would not be able to
afford later on. Even with these two notable actors the TV play shows the
limitations placed on actors more familiar with the stage.
With broadly sweeping displays of emotion that would be
needed to reach an audience from the stage they seem a bit over the top here.
The same holds true for the loudness of proclamations of love and endearment
that bellow rather than whisper. While watching you can imagine how well it
would have appeared from an audience point of view rather than as a viewer of
TV. But then again at the time it was new, it was fresh and this might have
been a high mark at the time.
The DVD offers the show in its entirety including
commercials from the time. Sponsored by Dupont (you did catch the title of the
series didn’t you?) they are front and center, starting with a rather lengthy
commercial about themselves and how there is “better living through chemistry”.
I’m not sure how environmentalists today would take that. Other commercials are
briefer helping to pay the costs of the series.
The quality of the show is like many from the time period
with the blurry look so many of these classics have. But that’s to be expected
given the source material. In the end it makes for an interesting look at the
story and an interesting look at TV from that time period. If you enjoy both
then make sure to pick this one up.
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