RESEARCH: Deconstruction of Wuthering Heights

Cert. U, 1939

Director: William Wyler

Genre: Period Drama

The film begins with the title over a still scene (in black and white). It shows a house and the sound is large and dramatic with a loud crash. This is an establishing shot, not just for the location, but also the mood of the film. Then, the music softens and becomes far more serene as the credits role over fading transitions between stills.

However, the music becomes more dramatic again, matching the image of trees thrashing in the snow storm. The introductory text appears, giving the film context - this was a common practice in film making from silent movies.

A man is seen struggling through the snow and the sound turns once more to become more sinister and eerie, creating tension and apprehension. Despite lack of dialogue and action, the audience is already involved in the film, purely through the film score.

Then there is a wide shot of the man as he tries to open a gate, a close-up of his anguished face and then back to a wide shot as he opens the gate. The house before him is dark, solitary and in need of repair. The character falls in the snow, and the music changes once more to be very quiet. Through Match On Action, the audience sees him enter the house and then a clear wide shot once he's inside shows how he's dressed in clothes associated with the 18th century.

Not long after he has entered, a large dog runs into the shot barking aggressively. The dog is unfriendly to visitors and this is reflected of the house - it is an unwelcoming house and the audience immediately worries for the traveller.

I believe that this is an incredibly effective opening. Even though the first two minutes are dominated by credits, Wyler still manages to set a very clear tone. It is a prime example of the significance of music in film and the connotations of particular sounds paired with even still images.