An American Classic

Rating: 10/10 (29 February 2004)

I completely and totally disagree with the previous reviewers comments regarding "Gone With The Wind." This is a film which beautifully portrays a time in our history of great selfishness and over-indulgence. Isn't that what the Civil War was all about? A war fought by Americans that sought to curb the abhorrent, but selfish nature of slavery. The screenplay is replete with scene after scene of clever and witty banter amongst characters which were written to be overblown, caricatures of the Southerners they represented. But the actors soften their edges and bring them to a fully realized persona. Mammy, as portrayed by Hattie McDaniel, is funny, clever, brave, and utterly believable. Vivian Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara is absolutely delightful as she takes the character from her late teens through late 30's. She is coy/sassy/brave/dependent/independent on demand, throughout the movie. Olivia DeHaviland, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Butterfly McQueen, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, Ona Munson, and Laura Hope Crews as Aunt Pittypat are all completely enjoyable and believable in their characters. "Gone With The Wind," directed by Victor Fleming, is an absolutely delightful movie that brings to life a long forgotten America. It is an absolute "10" and will continue to 'play well' for decades and decades to follow.