Did You Know There’s a 1956 Egyptian Adaptation of Wuthering Heights?

Another Wuthering Heights adaptation is coming on February 13, 2026. English filmmaker, actor, and producer behind Saltburn (2023), Emerald Fennell takes on Emily Brontë’s gothic classic, with Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff

But this isn’t the first time the gothic tragedy has been reimagined, and Egyptian cinema was actually among the first to take it to the big screen.

Since its publication in 1847, Wuthering Heights has inspired countless adaptations across the world. This includes Laurence Olivier’s 1939 Hollywood version and Japan’s 1988 Arashi ga Oka.

In 1956, Egyptian cinema offered its own take with Al Gharib (The Stranger), directed by Kamal El Sheikh. You can actually watch the entire film here:

Starring Yehia Chahine as Gharib (Heathcliff), Magda as Yasmine (Catherine), and Kamal El Shinnawi as Anwar (Edgar), the film sets the story in Egypt. It explores themes of love, jealousy, and revenge while weaving in local cultural values like family honor and social expectations.

In the film, an orphaned Gharib is raised alongside Hajj Kamel’s children, Yasmine and Mahrez. As they grow up, Mahrez’s jealousy clashes with Yasmine’s love for Gharib, and tragedy strikes amid the pressures of wealth, marriage, and social hierarchy.

Many critics still say Egypt’s Al Gharib is among the most faithful adaptations of Wuthering Heights. It captured the same raw intensity Brontë wrote into the Yorkshire moors, but through a uniquely Egyptian lens.

So while the 2026 version will no doubt put a modern spin on the story (especially with Fennell’s daring vision), it’s worth remembering: Egyptians brought Wuthering Heights to the screen nearly 70 years ago.

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