Sloopbillyb skewers "Gone with the Wind"

Rating: 5/10 (15 October 2001)

Gone with the Wind is just about the most overrated film I have ever seen. Now, let me tell you why: 1. Scarlett O'Hara is the most dislikable protagonist created in American fiction, not counting Jar Jar Binks. She is pushy and always wants her way. She is an immature brat. And this movie makes her out to be some kind of heroine!? 2. Clark Gable has little acting talent in this movie, which disappointed me after seeing him in the hilarious "It Happened One Night". He pretty much smiles and charms his way through the picture, and by the end of the movie you wonder who he is, really. The movie could have built a kind of mysterious aura about him, like in "Citizen Kane," but nope. It pretty much assumes you already know him. 3. Every character is a stereotype. Every single one. I know this is a common criticism, but just look at it again. Don't think I'm criticizing Hattie McDaniel, though. She did wonderful with what little she was offered. In fact, her performance is the best in the film. 4. Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland practically sleepwalk through their parts. 5. The story is nothing more than a soap opera. Now mind you, soap operas at least have the decency to have more than one corny, stupid story line so that there's some variety. In "Gone with the Wind," there is only one story: Scarlet. Her relationship with Rhett is quite flexible; no more than five minutes pass in the movie when they love each other. After five minutes, they hate each other. Another five minutes, they're in love. With a movie 234 minutes long, that means there is a monotonous love story with, oh let's see, 46.8 twists and turns. We'll say about 40. Oh my, isn't that exciting?
Actually, there are three redeeming qualities: Hattie McDaniel, a moment where Scarlet shoots the phony Union soldier with a pistol (the entire theater cheered), and the performance of Butterfly McQueen. Her performance was witty and mature. Here are some poignant quotes: "Miss Melanie, Miss Melanie, I doesn't know nothin' about birthin'!" "Put a knife under 'da pillow and cut 'da pain in two." How sad yet how true.