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Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Drama · Romance · 1939

Young orphan Heathcliff is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family and moves into their estate, Wuthering Heights. Soon, the new resident falls for his compassionate foster sister, Cathy. The two share a remarkable bond that seems unbreakable until Cathy, feeling the pressure of social convention, suppresses her feelings and marries Edgar Linton, a man of means who befits her stature. Heathcliff vows to win her back.

Movie details

Wuthering Heights

“I am torn with Desire… tortured by hate!”

1939 Drama · Romance 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Young orphan Heathcliff is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family and moves into their estate, Wuthering Heights. Soon, the new resident falls for his compassionate foster sister, Cathy. The two share a remarkable bond that seems unbreakable until Cathy, feeling the pressure of social convention, suppresses her feelings and marries Edgar Linton, a man of means who befits her stature. Heathcliff vows to win her back.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Wuthering Heights?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

William Wyler

Written by

Ben Hecht · Charles MacArthur

Merle Oberon

Merle Oberon

Catherine 'Cathy' Earnshaw Linton

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Heathcliff

David Niven

David Niven

Edgar Linton

Flora Robson

Flora Robson

Ellen Dean

Donald Crisp

Donald Crisp

Dr. Kenneth

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Isabella Linton

Hugh Williams

Hugh Williams

Hindley Earnshaw

Court is in session

Put Wuthering Heights on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.