An amazing performance, such a hopeless desire but not for one moment does it wane in that heartbreaking scene. Poor Isabella.

With apologies to my fellow "Windies", I truly believe that the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress should have gone to Miss Fitzgerald.
I'm sorry, but IMHO, Hattie McDaniel's performance seems today to be dated and stereotyped, while Geraldine's is as fresh today as it was in 1939.
That's my opinion.

Thank you for sharing that story. That must have been a rare privilege, indeed.

I had the pleasure of meeting Geraldine Fitzgerald st a 50th anniversary showing of Wuthering Heights here in Michigan (hosted by AMC). She was in her seventies and still a lovely lady. And gracious enough to chat with me for a while. And I concur that the scene discussed above was not only the saddest but possibly the most "real" scene in the film. A fine actress and a "class act."

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Yes, that line, and I think it was "if only you'd look deeper" was so touchingly delivered by Geraldine Fitzgerald.

You think it's sad in this movietry the book. In the movie, Heathcliff's treatment of Isabella seems to be no more than neglect and indifference, with her pain coming from the realization that he never loved her.
In the book, however, where Heathcliff's more of a villain and less of a brooding Byronic sort, Heathcliff flat-out abuses her, taking out his hatred of Edgar and the Linton family on her. The 1992 Ralph Fiennes version doesn't shy away from this, showing Isabella with a black eye and split lip.
What's more, in a BBC version that was shown on PBS sometime in the late nineties/early 00s, Heathcliff is shown RAPING Isabella on their wedding night.
Not that this makes the 1939 movie any easier on Isabella, but man

Too many sad scenes to pick a standout, IMO, but I will say this one is near the top, and Geraldine Fitzgerald's performance never ceases to astound meshe has so few scenes, but her interpretation of the character is very fleshed out and is the only one that doesn't seem the slightest bit "stagey." Mind you, there isn't a sub par performance in this picture, but hers is thoroughly modern. I watched this film again tonight and thought for the dozenth time, that woman's so
real
!

yes, I agree, poor Isabella!
at the begining of the film I couldn't believe she was that old woman who looked like a servant, not like the wife.

Excuse my English, I was born in a galaxy far, far away

Sure, definitely. This was a really well made film and still engaging more than 70 years after its release. But I do think it's dated and probably oversimplifies the novel. Cathy is such a bitch, and the film makes her reasons for not choosing Heathcliff, and continually rejecting him, seem very superficial.