Dated in some ways, timeless in others

Rating: 8/10 (19 August 2014)

There is no doubt that some aspects of this mammoth 1939 production of Gone with the Wind have dated badly. The portrayal of black Americans is rubbish and the second half of the film is less dramatically compelling than the first, going into full Victorian melodrama mode.
Yet it cannot be denied that this film's popularity has not waned much in the seventy-plus years since its release. It remains the highest grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation and even young people like my preteen sister (who insists she dislikes old movies) have become big fans. What's the appeal? Well, the beautiful Technicolor photography and the sheer size of the production figure big time, as do the tempestuous central romance and themes of strength in the face of adversary and calamity.
However, the most enduring thing about GWTW is its heroine, the immortal Scarlett O'Hara. Love her or loathe her, she is a fascinating creature and no one could ever deny she is a strong female character. Vivien Leigh is perfect in the role; while some 1930s performances come off as too affected for the taste of modern audiences, Leigh is natural and truly seems to be channeling the character from the book. I'd say her portrayal is my second favorite movie performance ever, after Maria Falconetti in The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928).
While the problematic elements have made my love for this movie more reserved than they would be otherwise, I still check it out every fall. It's beautiful and anytime someone insists strong movie heroines did not exist until the 1970s, give the poor soul a referral to Miss O'Hara.