Blind Spot 116: Wuthering Heights (1939)

Another month has come and gone and that means another blind spot. I’m super sorry I’ve been so neglectful of my written reviews but it’s just been the result of being so busy with my podcasts and KSL Movie Show. The support I have received on the show has been amazing and I’m beyond grateful for it. I am still writing my regular theatre reviews so make sure to take a look at that site.

This month the blind spot was the 1939 classic adaptation of Wuthering Heights. I have seen other adaptations but as I’m not the biggest fan of the book I hadn’t seen this one, and I’m glad I checked it off of my blind spot list. It’s still not my favorite story because Catherine and Heatcliff are both so unlikable but I do appreciate the melodrama in the script as well as the clear animosity between the actors.

This is certainly a beautifully made movie with one of the most memorable scores in a drama in film. Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier evidently hated each other which is just the dynamic you need for Catherine and Heathcliff. The more hate the better! It’s going to be interesting to see how Emerald Fennell’s version turns out next year. It looks like it is going to be a lose adaptation (unlike this one aside from the ending) but will a new interpretation work?

It was interesting to learn in preparation for the podcast about director William Wyler and what he put the actors through. One scene he asked Olivier for 72 takes with little to no feedback of what he needed to do differently. I can’t imagine what that would have been like but that exasperated emotion probably helped Olivier capture Heathcliff’s frustrations and anger so well in the film.

I personally prefer Olivier in Pride and Prejudice the next year but that comes down to story preference more than anything else. What about you? What do you think of Wuthering Heights and this version from 1939? Check out the podcast! I think you’ll really enjoy it.