Ruth Leon recommends… Wuthering Heights (1939) Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier

Ruth Leon recommends… Wuthering Heights (1939) Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier Ruth Leon recommendsnorman lebrecht July 30, 2026The anniversary of Emily Brontë’s birth on 30 July 1818 is just an excuse to take a look at all the film, TV and video adaptations of her only novel, Wuthering Heights, in a year when a new movie, this one starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, directed by Emerald Fennell, was released. So moving swiftly on to 1958 and the TV version with Richard Burton and Rosemary Harris, only recently rediscovered. Another TV version that survives is director Peter Sasdy’s series from 1967. The clothes are pure old Hollywood glamour, the moody cinematography is sublime, Merle Oberon’s Cathy is ethereal, Laurence Olivier’s Heathcliff is brooding. This is Wuthering Heights reimagined as a Thirties weepie and on its own terms, it is genius.