So I just finished watching 2 different versions of Wuthering Heights. One with Ralph Fiennes and the other with Laurence Olivier. I read the book once upon a time and can't remember it, so now I'm confused because they both had different endings. The new version has the characters kids riding off into the sunset together and the old version had no kids at all. I'm thinking that the new version is the closer to the book ending, but the old version seems like it would be closer to the book for all the rest. Does anyone know?

I think I've found my Edward though! The yummy Laurence Oliver, only younger of course. He's got this magnetic presence that just draws you in! And his acting is second to none!!

The 1939 version with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier left out all the stuff about Catherine's daughter, Cathy and Hereton but it ended, as the book did, with Heathcliff's death. I think they added the two of them riding off on the horses in the end of the '92 version to give it a bit of a happier ending?

I know this is just about the movies, but that's fine if it needs to be cut. I'm looking forward to reading the book again now that I've watched the movies!

Hold off - Just a sec or two more
- this is a great thread idea, but needs to be moved to the official WH section!

*starts to type and then stops* I'll hold the thought

Ok! Thread is in the right spot! Have at it!!

I just watched the 1939 version. Man, I don't think I can do the book. I could hardly sit through the movie. These characters are so not nice and the whole feel of the story is depressing! I am not sure I can wade my way thru the whole book. Hmmmm, maybe I am back to Cliff Notes.

Yeah, the movies are pretty dismal. A very depressing love story. I watched the newer version and then my husband asked how it was and I told him it was a depressing and sad love story. Then I was watching the old one, my husband asked what it was and I told him and he couldn't understand why I was watching that depressing movie again.
It's fun to watch movies made in the 1930's-1940's/ Their acting is almost all the same with the women and if it's a historical movie, all the costumes look like something from Gone with the Wind. Funny.

I'm going to get that version and watch it.. i love old movies... i love the black and white jane eyre

The 1939 version was made the same year as Gone with the Wind. In fact I think I heard that one of the Gw/W actors either wanted to be part of this movie, or had to give up a part in this movie b/c of Gw/W.

Okay, did a little research. One of the actors in WH, Laurence Olivier, left his fiance in London while filming. She eventually came to LA to be with him during filming, then did a film screen test for Gone w/ Wind. She won the part of Scarlet Ohara. It was Vivien Leigh of course! Here is a link if anyone is interested in other obscure movie trivia re: WH.

http://www.filmsite.org/wuth.html

Honey,

I watched the old version of w/h I feel like the old version left too much out of the book. I was not satisified.

As far as the actors are concerned your reference to all the actors at that time in the 30's and 40's being the same- I totally agree with you but for 1 exception. I always heard of people raving about Bette Davis and I now I know why. She was the only actress during that time that had some range. She was AWESOME in "All this and heaven too", acting skills way ahead of the times and other actresses.

As far as w/h films - as much as I initially disliked the book in the beginning- the book is better than the movies too me.

A little more trivia on the subject...

When Vivien Leigh came out to visit Laurence, they went to David O'Seznick's "burning of Atlanta" party (which was actually the burning of the set of Ben Hur). O'Selznick took one look at Vivien and told her she would make the perfect Scarlet and asked her to come for a screen test. That's all it took and she was hired, much to the chagrin of every Hollywood starlet who had tested for the role!

I watched the Wuthering Heights version that had Timothy Dalton (he was a James Bond and more recently played in the movie 'Beautician and the Beast'). I thought it was great-it ends the movie with Heathcliff and Catherine reunited after Heathcliffs death and running off through the moors-kindof a happy ending and how I like to remember it.

That is basically how the book ends. Except no ones knows for sure if their "ghosts" wander the moors or if is just the townfolk's active imaginations.