AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 89


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

No. 89: Wuthering Heights (1939)
Original List Ranking: 73
Starring: Laurence Olivier, David Niven, and Merle Oberon
Director: William Wyler
About: On paper, this film checks a lot of boxes. It's based on a classic piece of literature. It's a very difficult but iconic and endearing story. It features a star in Olivier, and it's directed by a decorated filmmaker in Wyler. We've seen this story told many times on screen, including a new version released this Valentine's Day. And yet, this version endures. It won Olivier an Oscar and was a Best Picture nominee. I think it has some merits in the way it lays out the story. It's also fairly contained, clocking in at just 105 minutes. But it's not a shock it didn't make the list when it was revised a decade later. Still, for fans of the genre, this is worth seeking out.

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