Gone with the Wind (A+ or 4/4 stars)
When I was a young boy, I would go to my Nana's house & she would sit me down to watch her favorite movie of all-time, this film ... 'Gone with the Wind' (adapted from Margaret Mitchell's sprawling novel, directed by Victor Fleming, & produced by the great David O. Selznick). She told me it was the best movie ever made -- and she could quote it. For years, she'd make me watch it over & over until even I started to quote it. Now in adulthood, I fully understand that it is one of the most ambitious, epic, & lavish motion pictures ever made; filmed during the height of Hollywood's Golden Age.
It is, perhaps, the best loved movie spectacle ever. And I can certainly understand why -- it's incredible. 'GWTW' is divided in 2 halves by a much-needed intermission (the film is nearly 4 hours long). The 1st half, which is superb & wildly captivating, covers the Civil War & the end of slavery. The 2nd half morphs into one, big, sumptuous melodrama; picking up at the end of the Civil War & ending roughly 8 yrs. afterwards. It's a testament to the power of the film that this 1/2 of 'Gone with the Wind', while becoming a straight up melodrama, still retains its high appeal & broad narrative interest. But let me backtrack, a bit.
The film opens in April of 1861, at the palatial southern estate of Tara, in Atlanta, Georgia, where spoiled, manipulative, but beautiful Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) learns that the self-satisfied gentleman she loves, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), plans to marry his genteel, demure cousin Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). Despite warnings from her stern Irish plantation owner father (Thomas Mitchell) & her loyal house servant Mammy (Hattie McDaniel), Scarlett plans to beg & plead for dashing Ashley to change his mind about the marriage at an upcoming barbecue at the similarly palatial "Twelve Oaks". When alone with Ashley, she is told that he is definitely attracted to her but also loves Melanie & feels that she would be the better choice as a wife.
This is witnessed by the bold, brash, & roguish Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), who is accused of being a wartime profiteer & the black sheep of a wealthy Charleston family. He instantaneously falls for the sexy, spirited Scarlett, as he recognizes in her some similar qualities as himself: "we're bad lots, both of us". When Scarlett remarks, "You, Sir, are no gentleman," Rhett's quick response ... "And you are no lady". They can't stand each other, and yet, there's also a carnal chemistry btwn. them. Scarlett remains in love with Ashley, but he won't leave his wife. Melanie loves Ashley madly, yet befriends Scarlett, who improbably becomes her best friend.
Rhett hangs around for all the major events in Scarlett's life (including war, poverty, death, business ventures, 2 of her marriages), until he finally has a crack at Scarlett & marries her. They fall madly in love. Tragedy strikes. And their contemptuous love/hate relationship takes a turn. After the war, Capt. Rhett Butler returns to the ruined South with some choice words to express to Scarlett. After she asks him what he's supposed to do without him, Rhett replies (in iconic fashion): "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".
'GWTW' is absolutely glorious -- an epic tale of love, loss, honor & strength in the midst of America's most brutal war. The film shows Scarlett's arc from a vain, selfish youth into a caring young woman, & ultimately into a hardened, determined woman who you just know will have to fight for the rest of her life. Her relationship with Rhett Butler is classic. Even her relationships with the black people in her life change. Vivien Leigh gives one of the most powerful movie performances of all-time. Leigh was a relative unknown who was discovered after a historic & wildly exhaustive casting period (1,400 auditions!). Clark Gable had the part from the beginning. Scarlett is a cunning manipulator with a lethal charm. Rhett is intelligent, self-assured, yet still falls prey to Scarlett's whims. Throughout the film, their exchanges are clever, funny, and/or biting (thanks to the superb script).
As brave Ashley & virtuous Melanie, Leslie Howard & Olivia de Havilland portray these low-key so believably that they earn our deepest sympathy when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan for them. And though they are quieter characters, they imbue their roles with elegant line deliveries, agile body language, & warm, knowing eyes that say more than any dialogue can. De Havilland, in particular, is exceptional. For as dynamic as Vivian Leigh is, Olivia de Havilland is opposite, and no less effective. Another standout is Hattie McDaniel, who steals scenes as the Mammy - the fast-talking, no-nonsense, but exceedingly loving house servant. She was the 1st African-American to win an Academy Award for her portrayal as Mammy in this film. And another African-American actress, Butterfly McQueen, makes a splash as the meek Prissy, who will always be known for her famous line, "I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies!". Her performance is very engaging.
The entire production of 'Gone with the Wind' is astonishing. Some of the individual shots still leave me breathless, no matter how many times I've seen the film. Some of these include: the burning of Atlanta (the way the flames are framed as a backdrop to Scarlett's departure in her carriage is exquisite), the dynamic journey back to Tara, & the film's most lingering shot; where Scarlett wanders into a hectic Atlanta street & the camera pulls back to see roughly thousands of Confederate soldiers lying broken, battered, & bleeding as far as the camera lens can reach.
The widescreen color cinematography is rich, varied, & simply gorgeous. Every single frame is like a painting (many breathtaking red sunset scenes). And the compositions within each scene are lush beyond words. I'm reminded of a sequence where Scarlett & her father discuss the power of owning land: "It's the only thing that lasts ... the only thing worth fighting for" - as they look out over the land, the camera pulls back, & we see their 2 figures + a huge tree held in black silhouette with the landscape behind them. It's probably one of the most well-known shots in cinema.
The sets are vast & historically potent. The costumes are to die for; I'm reminded of the dress a destitute Scarlett has made from green drapes & yellow tassels. The make-up (age, wounds) is exemplary. And Max Steiner's sweeping music score has one of the most memorable themes in the history of cinema. I can't speak highly enough about look, design, mood, & sound of this motion picture.
'Gone with the Wind' may not be a "perfect" film (what film is?). Some people may grumble about the length - and sure, maybe it could have been a bit shorter. But it's an undeniable classic. Facing STIFF competition at the Academy Awards (1939 is widely considered one of the greatest years from the old-school Hollywood era), this movie still won 10 Oscars (8 + 2 Special Achievement) & it deserved every single one. That said, even if it didn't win any, it would not tarnish its name. 'GWTW' didn't even need those Oscars to substantiate its quality.
You know, 'GWTW' is, first & foremost, about the trials & tribulations of Scarlett O'Hara. It shows the effects of the Civil War through her eyes. But most of all ... 'Gone with the Wind' is a love letter to the Old South; a romantic homage to a bygone era. The opening printed narration says it all: "There was a land of Cavaliers & Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights & their Ladies Fair, of Master & of Slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization … gone with the wind."
It is, perhaps, the best loved movie spectacle ever. And I can certainly understand why -- it's incredible. 'GWTW' is divided in 2 halves by a much-needed intermission (the film is nearly 4 hours long). The 1st half, which is superb & wildly captivating, covers the Civil War & the end of slavery. The 2nd half morphs into one, big, sumptuous melodrama; picking up at the end of the Civil War & ending roughly 8 yrs. afterwards. It's a testament to the power of the film that this 1/2 of 'Gone with the Wind', while becoming a straight up melodrama, still retains its high appeal & broad narrative interest. But let me backtrack, a bit.
The film opens in April of 1861, at the palatial southern estate of Tara, in Atlanta, Georgia, where spoiled, manipulative, but beautiful Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) learns that the self-satisfied gentleman she loves, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), plans to marry his genteel, demure cousin Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). Despite warnings from her stern Irish plantation owner father (Thomas Mitchell) & her loyal house servant Mammy (Hattie McDaniel), Scarlett plans to beg & plead for dashing Ashley to change his mind about the marriage at an upcoming barbecue at the similarly palatial "Twelve Oaks". When alone with Ashley, she is told that he is definitely attracted to her but also loves Melanie & feels that she would be the better choice as a wife.
This is witnessed by the bold, brash, & roguish Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), who is accused of being a wartime profiteer & the black sheep of a wealthy Charleston family. He instantaneously falls for the sexy, spirited Scarlett, as he recognizes in her some similar qualities as himself: "we're bad lots, both of us". When Scarlett remarks, "You, Sir, are no gentleman," Rhett's quick response ... "And you are no lady". They can't stand each other, and yet, there's also a carnal chemistry btwn. them. Scarlett remains in love with Ashley, but he won't leave his wife. Melanie loves Ashley madly, yet befriends Scarlett, who improbably becomes her best friend.
Rhett hangs around for all the major events in Scarlett's life (including war, poverty, death, business ventures, 2 of her marriages), until he finally has a crack at Scarlett & marries her. They fall madly in love. Tragedy strikes. And their contemptuous love/hate relationship takes a turn. After the war, Capt. Rhett Butler returns to the ruined South with some choice words to express to Scarlett. After she asks him what he's supposed to do without him, Rhett replies (in iconic fashion): "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".
'GWTW' is absolutely glorious -- an epic tale of love, loss, honor & strength in the midst of America's most brutal war. The film shows Scarlett's arc from a vain, selfish youth into a caring young woman, & ultimately into a hardened, determined woman who you just know will have to fight for the rest of her life. Her relationship with Rhett Butler is classic. Even her relationships with the black people in her life change. Vivien Leigh gives one of the most powerful movie performances of all-time. Leigh was a relative unknown who was discovered after a historic & wildly exhaustive casting period (1,400 auditions!). Clark Gable had the part from the beginning. Scarlett is a cunning manipulator with a lethal charm. Rhett is intelligent, self-assured, yet still falls prey to Scarlett's whims. Throughout the film, their exchanges are clever, funny, and/or biting (thanks to the superb script).
As brave Ashley & virtuous Melanie, Leslie Howard & Olivia de Havilland portray these low-key so believably that they earn our deepest sympathy when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan for them. And though they are quieter characters, they imbue their roles with elegant line deliveries, agile body language, & warm, knowing eyes that say more than any dialogue can. De Havilland, in particular, is exceptional. For as dynamic as Vivian Leigh is, Olivia de Havilland is opposite, and no less effective. Another standout is Hattie McDaniel, who steals scenes as the Mammy - the fast-talking, no-nonsense, but exceedingly loving house servant. She was the 1st African-American to win an Academy Award for her portrayal as Mammy in this film. And another African-American actress, Butterfly McQueen, makes a splash as the meek Prissy, who will always be known for her famous line, "I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies!". Her performance is very engaging.
The entire production of 'Gone with the Wind' is astonishing. Some of the individual shots still leave me breathless, no matter how many times I've seen the film. Some of these include: the burning of Atlanta (the way the flames are framed as a backdrop to Scarlett's departure in her carriage is exquisite), the dynamic journey back to Tara, & the film's most lingering shot; where Scarlett wanders into a hectic Atlanta street & the camera pulls back to see roughly thousands of Confederate soldiers lying broken, battered, & bleeding as far as the camera lens can reach.
The widescreen color cinematography is rich, varied, & simply gorgeous. Every single frame is like a painting (many breathtaking red sunset scenes). And the compositions within each scene are lush beyond words. I'm reminded of a sequence where Scarlett & her father discuss the power of owning land: "It's the only thing that lasts ... the only thing worth fighting for" - as they look out over the land, the camera pulls back, & we see their 2 figures + a huge tree held in black silhouette with the landscape behind them. It's probably one of the most well-known shots in cinema.
The sets are vast & historically potent. The costumes are to die for; I'm reminded of the dress a destitute Scarlett has made from green drapes & yellow tassels. The make-up (age, wounds) is exemplary. And Max Steiner's sweeping music score has one of the most memorable themes in the history of cinema. I can't speak highly enough about look, design, mood, & sound of this motion picture.
'Gone with the Wind' may not be a "perfect" film (what film is?). Some people may grumble about the length - and sure, maybe it could have been a bit shorter. But it's an undeniable classic. Facing STIFF competition at the Academy Awards (1939 is widely considered one of the greatest years from the old-school Hollywood era), this movie still won 10 Oscars (8 + 2 Special Achievement) & it deserved every single one. That said, even if it didn't win any, it would not tarnish its name. 'GWTW' didn't even need those Oscars to substantiate its quality.
You know, 'GWTW' is, first & foremost, about the trials & tribulations of Scarlett O'Hara. It shows the effects of the Civil War through her eyes. But most of all ... 'Gone with the Wind' is a love letter to the Old South; a romantic homage to a bygone era. The opening printed narration says it all: "There was a land of Cavaliers & Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights & their Ladies Fair, of Master & of Slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization … gone with the wind."