Let me say up front that my wife is a big fan of the original movie version of WUTHERING HEIGHTS that starred Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. I know she's watched it more than once and enjoyed it each time she has. Apparently all of those times were when I wasn't home because I've yet to see that version. So this one, shot in 1970, is my first exposure to the story of Cathy and Heathcliff.The Earnshaw family in England isn't the most posh of the lot but they are well off. One night the master of the house (Harry Andrews) returns home to Wuthering Heights with a young boy in tow. His wife eludes that this is an illegitimate son but he insists that the boy is merely an orphan he saved from the streets. The young boy, Heathcliff, grows up among the Earnshaw children, favored by young Cathy and with contempt by her brother Hindley.The children grow up, Hindley (Julian Glover) goes off to school and Cathy and Heathcliff fall madly in love with one another. All of this is under the watchful eye of servant Nellie (Judy Cornwell). Things change when Mr. Earnshaw passes away. Hindley returns to take over things with a new wife in tow. Immediately he has Nellie and Heathcliff move out of the house to more suitable accommodations for their stature in life.The bitterness between Heathcliff and Hindley continues. Cathy and Heathcliff prank the nearby Linton house, the end result being Cathy falling and injuring herself. The Linton's take her in and son Edgar immediately falls in love with her. Enjoying the attention Cathy gives back what she receives and provokes Heathcliff when she sees him next. In a rage he leaves all behind at sets out on his own.Three years pass and Cathy has forgotten Heathcliff. She's now married to Edgar. Hindley has lost his wife when she was giving birth and has fallen into being an alcoholic who is in the midst of gambling away Wuthering Heights. At this time Heathcliff chooses to return, polished and refined and no longer the dirty farm hand he appeared to be when he left.Cathy and Heathcliff once again fall hopelessly in love and meet behind the scenes. She doesn't intend to leave Edgar though and Heathcliff, now more vengeful than romantic, begins to seduce Edgar's sister Isabella. A pregnant Cathy seems to want her cake and eat it too remaining married and longing for her ex-love while he sets out to destroy those who thought themselves better than him.I won't go on so as to not spoil the ending for those who've never seen it. Suffice to say that I wasn't thrilled with much of this movie. I found few characters to sympathize with, especially the two star crossed lovers at the center of it all. Both seem narcissistic as if all others should cater to them only. Their romance revolves around cheating on their respective spouses, of talking adoration for one another while doing as much mental harm to one another at the same time. Talk about confused.The movie was made by AIP, American International Pictures, which was synonymous with drive in fare at the time. This was an attempt to make a more artistic costume drama on their part and it does look great. But the plotting is slow, the jumps in time unexplained and the overwrought emotions of characters off-putting. Fans of the story may enjoy it but my guess is most won't.And yet Twilight Time has once more offered the film in pristine condition. Their presentation here in blu-ray format looks great. Would that the movie itself were as good as the efforts Twilight Time put into it. Extras include an isolated music track, an audio commentary track with film historian Justin Humphreys, the original theatrical trailer and writings by film historian Julie Kirgo. As with all Twilight Time releases this is limited to just 3,000 copies so if you're a fan then make sure you buy your copy as soon as possible.

On the whole, I agree fully with Bob-45's excellent review above, and there is little to add, except that all are perfect in their parts, definitely excelling the classic 1939 version with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. Particularly outstanding are Julian Glover as Hindley and the overwhelmingly beautiful music by Michel Legrand. I must agree with Bob on the full score of 10, although the end of the novel is missing. Instead, there is an another end to it which actually rather completes the picture than robs anything from it. Filmed on location in the right surroundings, giving the right time feeling and using film technique for haunting dramaturgy, as a film version, it couldn't be better, dwarfing all later versions.

I read Wuthering Heights as a teenager. I just loved it so, after being sadly let-down by the Merle Oberon film version - it seemed to make Heathcliff into some sort of romantic hero rather than the totally unpleasant type that he was - I was overjoyed that it was finally being remade.I had great expectations for this film. What a pity I went to see it. It was just a rehash of the first part of the book. If I'd wanted that I'd have sat through the original another time.And an apology to all of you who find Timothy Dalton soooo sexy. He reminds me too much of a ferret to get my pulses racing.Well at least someone did a pretty good mini-series for TV in 1978 but my advice is READ THE BOOK!

I remember reading the review of this version of "Wuthering Heights" in VARIETY in 1970. The reviewer said, "While suffering only in comparison to the 1939 classic ...". Well, I recently saw the 1939 version and this version is in every way superior. From the haunting, soulful score to the sensitive acting, to the realistic countryside, this "Wuthering Heights" is more passionate, more brooding, more obsessive. Anna Calder-Marshall did not possess the stunning beauty of Merle Oberon, but she hits all the right notes essaying the social-climbing Kathy. Those only familiar with Timothy Dalton's sour work as James Bond will be astonished at his sensitive, magnetic Heathcliff. The dowdy Flora Robson has been replaced by the buxom, nurturing Judy Cornwell. Cornwell's "milkmaid dresses" almost overflow, and she is so nurturing one almost expects her to "pop one out" and feed Heathcliff or Cathy at some critical moment. Nonetheless, Cornwell's expressive face and body language at times nearly steals the movie, but, by no means throws it off balance.Other fine performances include Ian Ogilvy as Edgar, Harry Andrews and father and Hillary Dwyer as Isabella.Even the photography, editing, and, most important, directing by Robert Fuest is superior to the 1939 version. It's especially amazing, given AIP's product at the time, that this masterpiece could be made. I don't like costumers particularly, but I watch this "Wuthering Heights" about once every two years. It's worth my time because it's THAT good.I give Wuthering Heights (1970) a "10".