Heathcliffian news

The Stamford Advocate devotes a much-deserved article to William Wyler. One of those film directors that were well-considered some decades ago and now are almost ignored. Wuthering Heights 1939 is discussed like this:

I cannot overlook one of the director's finest works, 1939's "Wuthering Heights," just because (incomprehensibly) it is unavailable on DVD (beware the Korean imports!). Wyler's adaptation of Emily Bronte's novel remains one our great tear-jerkers, and made a star (in America) out of Laurence Olivier, whose then wife, Vivien Leigh, was simultaneously shooting a little feature called "Gone With The Wind." Niven, who had third billing behind Olivier and the stunning Merle Oberon (as Cathy), relates in his memoir, "The Moon's a Balloon," why the director was known as "Once More Wyler": He would habitually insist on endless re-takes, often while reading a newspaper, which drove actors mad. On "Heights," Olivier finally complained he'd tried a certain scene 100 different ways, and needed more direction on how to play it. From behind the paper came the quiet but steady reply: "Just do it better." (John Farr)

The Herald publishes an article describing different marriage proposals:

[I]t was in that elemental setting, one wind-howling Wuthering Heights evening, that I proposed marriage in a brooding, Heathcliffian sort of way. Cristine said yes, falsely believing she was marrying into money. A-ha, too late!(Ron Ferguson)

We hope that a Heathcliffian proposal doesn't turn into a Heathcliffian marriage :P

Now a couple of Jane Eyre appearances:

Newsday reviews Nature's Engraver A Life of Thomas Bewick by Jenny Uglow and, of course, the Brontë reference is there:

Upon its release, 'A General History of Quadrupeds' was an immediate success, as was its follow-up, 'A History of British Birds.' (For the latter, many armchair naturalists were keen to assist, and Bewick regularly received dead birds from around the country.) Over the next century, Bewick's prints became a British institution. His work was appreciated by Wordsworth, whose poetry also brought attention to the overlooked lives of rural people. Charlotte Bronte's heroine, Jane Eyre, found solace in his books, and Virginia Woolf read him on her father's knee. As a child, Beatrix Potter made copies of his animals. (Peter Terzian)

The Baltimore Sun publishes a reminder the ongoing exhibition Eyre Apparent at the George Peabody Library, Baltimore that we presented some days ago.

On the blogosphere: Idiots_array and heather_house talk about Jane Eyre 2006. Tantalize Fans Unite! recommends Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood. Finally Frank's corner and wolrab49 post about their recent trips to Haworth.

Categories: Books, Haworth, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV, Wuthering Heights