Wuthering Heights (1978 TV serial)

Wuthering Heights is a 1978 British film adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights, starring Ken Hutchison, Kay Adshead, Pat Heywood, and John Duttine,[1] originally broadcast on BBC Two as a 5-part mini-series, beginning 24 September 1978.[2] Location filming took place on the Yorkshire Moors.[3][4][5][6] This BBC version is regarded as being the one most faithful to the original novel because it does not end with Cathy's death but continues into the next generation, with Heathcliff seeking revenge against those he felt had wronged him.[7]

Wuthering Heights
Based on	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Written by	Hugh Leonard (2 episodes) David Snodin (3 episodes)
Directed by	Peter Hammond
Starring	Ken Hutchison Kay Adshead
Composer	Carl Davis
Country of origin	UK
Original language	English
No. of episodes	5
Production
Producer	Jonathan Powell
Running time	60 minutes (per episode)
Release
Original network	BBC Two

Cast

• Heathcliff – Ken Hutchison
• Cathy – Kay Adshead
• Joseph – Brian Wilde
• Ellen Dean – Pat Heywood
• Hindley – John Duttine
• Frances – Maggie Wilkinson
• Mr Linton – Dennis Burgess
• Mrs Linton – Wendy Williams
• Lockwood – Richard Kay
• Mr Earnshaw – John Collin
• Mrs Earnshaw – Patricia Healey
• Servant Girl – Judith Byfield
• Dr Kenneth – John Golightly
• Edgar – David Robb
• Reverend Graham – Paul Dawkins
• Isabella – Caroline Langrishe
• Mr Green – Norman Rutherford
• Zillah – Barbara Keogh
• Catherine Linton – Cathryn Harrison
• Hareton – David Wilkinson
• Linton – Andrew Burleigh
• Mary – Kate David
• Robert – Barry Hart
• Sexton – Charles Turner
• Small Boy – Richard Usher
• Heathcliff (as child) – Dale Tarry
• Cathy (as child) – Maria Swailes
• Hindley (as child) – Mitchell Varnam
• Edgar (as child) – Grant Bardsley
• Isabella (as child) – Julia Stark
• Hareton (as child) – Elliot Moss
• Hareton (as child) – Simon Massey

Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "Irish playwright Hugh Leonard handles the adaptation, deftly juggling the many characters and subplots without the slightest sense of strain";[7] and the BFI described the adaptation as "embracing the hysteria and savagery of its source novel."[5] However, in a contemporary review Clive James called it "[t]he latest but not the best of the Beeb's long line of classic serials", and "the blithering pits".[8]

References

1. "Wuthering Heights Episode 1". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015.
2. "BBC Two – Wuthering Heights – Episode guide". BBC.
3. ""Emily Bronte" Wuthering Heights (DVD) at BBC Shop". BBC Shop.
4. "Wuthering Heights (1978) DVD". MovieMail.
5. "Gothic: Love is a Devil". British Film Institute.
6. "Some TV and movie adaptations of Wuthering Heights".
7. "Wuthering Heights (1978) – Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast – AllMovie". AllMovie.
8. James, Clive (1982). The Crystal Bucket. London: Pan. p. 130. ISBN 0330267450.

External links

• Wuthering Heights at BBC Programmes
• Wuthering Heights at the Internet Movie Database