Wuthering Heights (1939)

Two angry sad jilted lovers being absolute insufferable monsters to everyone around them. That’s the whole movie. I was moved.

This first film adaptation of Wuthering Heights is absolutely beautiful - I watched a 4K restoration and it looked modern in its sensibilities and production value. These 1930s adaptations hit different. The craft, the lighting, the performances. Incredible.

It is a strange adaptation though. It only covers half the book and seems to significantly soften some of the rough edges on Heathcliff and Kathy’s characters. Even so, they’re still insufferable monsters in this. The softening only goes so far when your leads are this toxic.

I struggled a little with the second act, but the first act hooked me and the ending landed. A gothic forbidden romance between two people who absolutely deserve each other.

I’m not a purist by any standard. I read the book in college, didn’t remember much honestly. Watched this in preparation for the 2026 adaptation. Now I’m ready to be hurt again.

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