Gone With Innocence.

Rating: 9/10 (19 March 2016)

Gone With the Wind (1939): Dir: Victor Fleming / Cast: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Hattie McDaniel: Gone is love. Gone is passion. Gone is humanity. Set during the Civil War with Vivien Leigh playing Scarlett O'Hara, who lives on a plantation and is targeted by every guy. She seeks marriage with Ashley Wilkes, played by Leslie Howard, but he is announcing his engagement to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton, played by Olivia de Havilland. O'Hara catches the eye of a sly playboy Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable, whom she detests, but he aims to marry her. Director Victor Fleming was blessed this year having also made The Wizard of Oz. Great moments include an exhilarating fire of |Atlantic and the getaway by horse and wagon. Flawed by a corny reoccurring death between two character generations, as well as layered negativity leading to its concluding payoff. Leigh plays O'Hara, widowed after two marriages, yet her pining for Ashley determines her downfall. As Rhett, Gable is charming until he is unable to sustain the love of this woman even when their daughter dies after being thrown from a horse. Howard plays the frustrated and worn Ashley, and de Havilland plays the ill yet gentle spirit of Melanie. Hattie McDaniel comically steals scenes as Mammy the maid. Extraordinary vision of war and passions drained yet the promise of "tomorrow being another day." Score: 9 / 10