"Wuthering Heights" tonight !

Sorry everybody, it starts at 8:00pm; there is an encore at 12:30pm too.

Ok, I watched and someone needs to explain this to me. I've never read the book or anything, but I've always had the impression that Heathcliff was this larger than life romantic figure. Well, he's a bully and a brute! I love Ralph Fiennes and would watch him in anything, but I was actually swearing at him when Isabella showed up all bruised and battered! I don't care how badly his heart was broken, nothing excuses his cruel behaviour towards everyone who comes near him! So there! Harumph!

Besides Austen, I love the Brontes, but they are as different as day and night, Cheryl. Austen is the sparkling light of rational wit and relatively happy endings, whereas Emily and Charlotte Bronte are the shadowy moonlight of melancholy passion with troubling death/depth before union. Having said as much, and despite liking the photography, settings, and Fienes and Binoche in general, I was disappointed in the lack of passional intensity in Fiennes & Binoche acting style. Compared to reading the book, or even seeing the old Olivier film (where he really got into the part and frankly had the more authentic dark eyes, hair, voice power etc.), this version had all the vitality of a consumptive victim trying to run a marathon. Sorry, but there it is! The book has incredible power and of course all the descriptions, thoughts, and feelings are completely presented there for the reader, instead of just the tidbits of dialogue pulled out for the film. Heathcliff's cruelty seems less inexplicable when shown in context of his abominable treatment by the Earnshaws, etc., and his and Catherine's love seems much more consuming and intense.

p.s. On the other hand, the actor playing Hareton did have the right "wild thing" look and acting!

It wasn't just the Earnshaws that treated him badly. It was everyone including Cathy and her brother. The brother I can understand the resentment in away but WH would be his so why bother being so resentful and to make Heathcliff himself more resentful and hateful. I don't understand were all this resentment/hate comes from. The only thing is that the father loved Heathcliff more but he didn't leave him WH. I am I wrong or was it just the fact that Heathcliff invaded his turf. I have not read the book. Ca hy to me was a selfish little brat. If she couldn't have him no one else would either. Yes, you are right Cheryl he was obessesed and took it out on everyone and nothing justifies such brutallty. I don't even think he cared when his son died. He used his own child to seek his revenge.If you ask me they are all with a few exceptions{Edgar} nasty people. The one thing I did notcie was when Linton first met young Cathy was his "eyes" I know I have seen "The Eyes" somewhere before.;}

With a few exceptions; I think that Hareton turned out well. Lacking backbone though to stand-up to Heathcliff. Heathclif hated Hareton's father.It seemed he was civil to Hareton at times. I have not read the book.

Can you say RACISM! Heathcliff is a Gypsy, which is enough of a reason for many to hate him. Gypsies face discrimination to this day. Most of the orphans in Romania that we have all heard so much about are Gypsies, who no one is willing to adopt. There was a great film about the Gypsies--they prefer the term Romany--a year or two ago, unfortunately I can't remember the name of it.

I'm glad to hear that others shared my opinion on this. I had expected this passionate romance, where you'd be rooting for Heathcliff. Instead, he turned out to be an abusive, horrible person for whom I felt only disgust. Not at all the story I expected. I'm sure that the book makes his motivations clearer, but I was disappointed with the film (except, of course, for Hindley Earnshaw, who looked remarkable handsome ).

Right, Kaff...I now have a new appreciation for Hindley... Actually, I liked this adaptation. A lot. And I hated the book. I strongly dislike the whole Bronte style. I think maybe I needed to see Cathy and Heathcliff for the incredibly disturbed freaks that they were! ;) Yeah, Ann...gypsies get a bad rap sometimes. BTW, my dad's friend Walter is one and he prefers the term "gypsy." Most American gypsies do, I think. I think that they might also resent your implication that they are not "white." ;)

Some who have been called also gypsies roamed in continental Europe originate from the Nile. They, if I remember correctly, traveled from the Mhagreb through Gibraltar, into Spain and then in France as early as the Maures around the IXth century. Incidently, they are mentioned in the Advocated, which takes place in XVth century.

the Advocate oops

Kali, I didn't imply they weren't white. As far as I can tell Hispanics/Latinos etc. are white (Caucasian), but they also face racism. If Racism is only defined as discrimination against Caucasians, Negros, or Mongoloids (a very unfortunate term), the three defined races, what would we call anti-Irish, anti-Latino, or anti-Jewish descrimination? The movie on the Romany that I saw took place in Spain, and the Gypsies seemed to have been of Indian (east) descent.

I also watched WH last night, and must admit I prefer the Olivier-Oberon version. Ralph Fiennes may be a great actor, but to me he is the same in everything I've seen him - Schindler's List, TEP, and now this. He seems cold, cruel, and selfish; even in Quiz Show he wasn't much better. I thought I'd like Binoche, but I found her giggles infuriating. Jeremy Northam was good as Hindley as was the actress who played Ellen. But then, this has never been my favorite story - I prefer Jane Eyre any day if we re talking Bronte novels. I don't think there was any intentional Racism, though. I think the brother only used the term Gypsy as a derogatory "nobody" rather than an actual fact. After all, the brother's son, Hinton, looked as much a "Gypsy" later on as Heathcliff ever did.

I think the reason their books have a sense of eerieness, betrayal, and death in them is for 2 reasons. 1 thier mother died when they were very young. 2 Emily and Charlotte and thier 2 sisters were sent to Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge. It was a dismal charity schol for the daughters of clergymen too poor to go elsewhere, and conditions where such that many of the students became seriously ill. Maria and Elizabeth both died of a combo. of turberculosis and typhoid fever. Emily spent most h r life after school in seclusion.

The one Bronte brother- Branwell- was a prototype of Heathcliff apparently. He was dark, brooding, talented, substance-abusing, yet extremely close to Emily. She only lived a few months after his early death. Emily was a solitary but intense woman, loved walking with the family hounds on the stormy moors, etc. (She might have found more of her kind in our century.)

I think perhaps "ethnic discrimination" is a better term, Ann. "Race" is a highly ambiguous and oftentimes invidious term.

I read an article about the time Quiz Show came out that Ralph Feinnes HATED his performance in WH. I don't think his performance was bad but this versions Heathcliff was a SOB. My memory from the novel was revenge of the mental type rather than physical abuse. He took what he could from Hindley because he abused him physically (hitting him) as well as making him live in the stables. He mentally tormented Cathy because of what he overheard. He loved her, but there is such a thing as a dysfunctional love. e hated and did what it took for revenge, but I don't recall him physically abusing Isabella in the book. He was blunt: I am using you to get what I want. Then when he had her he ignored her and physically restricted her (as was a man's option in those days), but I don't think he hit her. I think that is a little too much license, especially with the problems we have in this day and age. I also believe this movie is not available on video. With RF recent emergence I am sure all kinds of "bad" movies will surface. There certainly are a lot of people in this: RF, Binoche, Capt. Wentworth's brother-in-law (Cathy's father), The guy from Middlemarch (Heathcliff's son), Jeremy Northam (not looking as dashing as he did in Emma). I must agree, Hinton was rather smoldering. I don't think anyone can beat Olivier's Heathcliff; first time I ever saw him in something where I actually thought he was at ractive. Dina

The guy from Middlemarch is Colin Firth's brother Jonathan Firth. Very handsome and looks a lot like his brother.

The Eyes Laura, The Eyes.

I know exactly what you mean. I watched Circle of Friends yesterday and even though CF played a not so nice character, oh boy did he look good. Even with the mustache. The "oh Nan, Oh Simon, Oh Nan" I almost spilled my wine in anticipation. Also for those of you who have Showtime 6:15 A Month in the Country is on so set your VCRS. I know mine is already programmed. "Oh Colin, Oh Laura, Oh Colin, Oh Laura you are wubbulous........" In a perfect world I guess

If I order Showtime tonight will I be able to see "A Month in the Country" at 6:15.

] If I order Showtime tonight will I be able to see "A Month in the Country" at 6:15. It would be worth a little groveling, Donna.