Charity's Place

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

REVIEWED BY CARISSA HORTON

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements

Rated:

Young Heathcliffe (Rex Downing) is a child completely alone in the world, no family or friends, and no one who cares whether he lives or dies. That is until a kindly old gentleman takes pity on the lad, and brings him home to Wuthering Heights manor as an extended member of the family. The gentleman’s only son and heir, Hindley (Douglas Scott) is a spoiled and selfish youngster with no regard for others not even his own sister, Cathy (Sarita Wooton). He immediately assumes Heathcliffe desires to take his heritage and birthright from him, though the thought would have never entered Heathcliffe’s mind.

As children, Heathcliffe and Mistress Cathy become swift friends, even more so with Heathcliffe loving her in spite of his young age. One particular area of the moors became a favorite place for them, a place they called their castle, with Heathcliffe as king and Cathy as queen. Here they swore they would forever be friends. Sadly, things did not continue in this happy, enjoyable way for young Heathcliffe. The children’s father finally died of an illness, leaving Hindley as the new master. His fury with Heathcliffe had not lessened, so in dark revenge Hindley forces the boy who had been raised as one of the family to become a servant in what was once a bright household.

The years pass with the children maturing into adults, and Hindley (Hugh Williams) not suspecting the continued friendship shared between Heathcliffe (Laurence Olivier) and Cathy (Merle Oberon), nor the growing love which expands with time. Heathcliffe can think of no other except his beloved Cathy, and for a time Cathy feels the same, loving Heathcliffe with a passionate desire. Yet Cathy has always had a yearning for a better life, to have a revered and respected position, and Heathcliffe cannot give it to her, as she slowly comes to realize. With her emotions bouncing continually between loving Heathcliffe and despising him, he falls more and more into a desperate despair.

He finally reaches his emotional limit when he overhears Cathy discussing a marriage proposal she received from a neighboring lord, Edgar Linton (David Niven). In an uncontrollable rage, Heathcliffe can no longer bear the torment Cathy has laid upon him and he flees into the night, sailing for America on the first available ship, never to know Cathy arrived at the conclusion herself that she could not marry Linton because her heart truly belonged to Heathcliffe. Once Heathcliffe has gone from her life, Cathy over time forgets her lost love and does agree to marry Edgar who truly adores her. Their life is tranquil, happy, and contented, until Heathcliffe reappears several years later, purchasing Wuthering Heights from Cathy’s now penniless brother, Hindley.

Emotions come swirling back into Cathy’s heart, memories of the passion shared with Heathcliffe so very long ago, and the desire is reawakened though she fights it was all her strength. Heathcliffe is now extremely cold toward Cathy, deliberately staying so she will never find contentment, seeing him nearly every day, and knowing his home was once hers. Heathcliffe’s desires have not faded toward Cathy though they are now tinged with bitterness. These two young people have made so very many mistakes in their lives, taken the wrong path, and turned against one another when needed most, yet could it all be made right in the end. The decision is yours to make.

The violence in this film, though not much, can be disconcerting. Heathcliffe shoves his hands through a window in an effort to purge the dirt from his skin, which he believes has come between him and Cathy due to his low position. Young Hindley throws a rock at Heathcliffe and actually knocks the boy out. Cathy, as a child, takes her riding crop and whips her brother a few times, though she makes almost no impression. Then there are the romantic undertones throughout the film. Even as a boy, Heathcliffe is in love with Cathy, and his emotions only grow when he becomes a man. He and Cathy share several kisses, one before he leaves and some after he returns and she is already married. However, it is never implied they slept together or even would have given the chance.

This film has definite adulterous undertones, yet I could not help but love it. If only Cathy had realized before she made her choice that Heathcliffe was the one she truly loved, if only he had heard the complete conversation instead of only half, if only she had waited for his return instead of marrying immediately after his departure. So much pain, sadness, and despair, all because of Cathy’s behavior and slight snobbier. It’s difficult to comprehend and yet you will find that the film is worth viewing, because of this very reason. You don’t ever want to find yourself in the position of Cathy and Heathcliffe, passionately in love, yet not able to express it freely and openly.

Laurence Olivier utterly astounded me in his role as Heathcliffe. He plays a lover to perfection, his eyes revealing depths of emotion, and yet his manner so very melancholy. Merle Oberon was stunning as Cathy, beautiful and kind, aloof and cruel, two different characters combined into one. As for the storyline, I am not at all certain how accurate it is to the Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, but I can tell you, this version is well worth watching. Beautiful, haunting, joyous, and agonizing, it will have you in tears and laughter.