Friday, January 30, 2009

Further Disappointment

PBS via associated pressCharlotte Riley plays Cathy and Tom Hardy is Heathcliff in the PBS production of ''Wuthering Heights.''

I was not going to watch the second part of Wuthering Heights on PBS last Sunday but curiosity prevailed. As in the novel, the division in Catherine's soul destroys her; she dies giving birth, so tormented that not even the love for her child gives her any peace or hope. I must say that the portrayal of the younger generation was interesting and well-done. Why, however, was it necessary to have Heathcliff die at his own hand, blowing out his brains in Catherine's bed? And did Edgar really threaten to throw Catherine out of the house? Sorry, unreasonable plot changes bother me. Elisa, a reader of this blog, wrote in to remind us that there is an earlier Masterpiece Theater version from the 90's, one which is said to be closer to the book. It can be ordered directly from BBC America. As for me, I will always be partial to the 1939 film. Share

4 comments:

May said...

Those certainly are strange and unnecessary changes to the plot; I have no patience with that sort of thing. It's a pity, given all the time and money that went into making the film, that it could not have been better done.

elena maria vidal said...

It really is a pity.

Cathy_of_Alex said...

I've yet to see any filmed version that has done justice to the complexity of Bronte's novel.

elena maria vidal said...

Maybe someday someone will make one; it will have to be a mini-series.