Saturday, June 6, 2009

I'm Coming Home to Wuthering, Wuthering, Wuthering Heights

I'd never read it before--never seen a film version. And then I saw that a new Masterpiece Theatre version has just come out on DVD with Tom Hardy (Robert Dudley in my favorite "Virgin Queen"). Got it from Netflix a week ago and was quite taken with it. What a dark and twisted story. Ghosts, bitterness, revenge, and a fair chance that Heathcliff and Cathy are half-brother and -sister through their father. That's messed up. I watched it two nights in a row. The lead actress, Charlotte Riley, is lovely. Then got the Timothy Dalton version from 1970 (bad). He stomps around like a muddy Frankenstein's monster. I wasn't feelin' it. Then Netflixed the Ralph Fiennes/Juliet Binoche one from 1992. Two great actors, but a bad screenplay. My favorite thing about that one is Sinead O'Connor bookending the film as Emily Bronte. Now, I want to check out the older Masterpiece Theatre one (1998) and end with the Olivier one from 1939. Oh, and I'm reading the book. And playing the song a lot.

3 comments:

Don said...

Ooooo, Kate Bush reference!

insomniac said...

Kate Bush is OK unless you watch her. The she makes me cringe.

Christine I didn't know there was a new movie. I'll have to check it out. I haven't read the book but the Olivier movie version always leaves me feeling so utterly saddened.

Christine said...

Yes, the Olivier one is bleak looking. I've watched Part 1 of 11 on YouTube. Spooky. Do check out the new Masterpiece Theatre one. They are just getting everything right!