Trivia / Wuthering Heights

The novel:

• One-Book Author: Withering Heights was the only book Emily Brontë ever published, as she died of tuberculosis a year after releasing it. Her only other published works were several poems that were published after her death.

The 1939 film:

Has its own page.

Other adaptations:

• Follow the Leader: AIP were not traditionally associated with Gothic romance but were inspired to make the 1970 film by the success of Romeo and Juliet (1968).
• Real-Life Relative: Real-life father and daughter Simon Ward and Sophie Ward portray father and daughter in the 1992 movie.
• Romance on the Set: Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley met during the 2009 production. They were engaged in 2010 and married in 2014.
• Star-Making Role: Ian McShane first came to major attention as Heathcliff in the 1967 miniseries.
• Stillborn Franchise: AIP had announced a sequel to the 1970 film, Return to Wuthering Heights, but it was not made.
• Wag the Director: Ralph Fiennes insisted on including a scene in the 1992 film where Heathcliff bangs his head against a tree, pining for Cathy.
• What Could Have Been:
  • 1970 version - Oliver Reed was considered for Heathcliff, while Helen Mirren was offered the role of Cathy.
  • 1992 version - Christopher Eccleston auditioned for Heathcliff and Uma Thurman auditioned for Cathy.
  • 2011 version - Michael Fassbender was originally cast Heathcliff. Natalie Portman was originally cast as Catherine Earnshaw. After her departure from the film, Lindsay Lohan campaigned for the role, but Abbie Cornish was eventually cast. As filming neared, Cornish was then replaced by Gemma Arterton. When Andrea Arnold was hired to direct, she replaced Arterton with Kaya Scodelario.
  • During the mid-1960s, Lindsay Anderson was desperately trying to persuade Richard Harris to star as Heathcliff, for his proposed retelling. Harris's reluctance, and the 1970 adaptation, put an end to his dream project.

---