A classic: sure, a masterpiece : NO!!!

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 2003)

Gone with the Wind is probably the most overrated film ever made, right next to Citizen Kane. Don't get me wrong, the film was excellent in look and design. Put the two together, along with story and characterization and the outcome isn't quite the same. This whole movie is basically the life of Scarlett O'Hara before and after the Civil War and her sick and twisted many loves of Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler and other men. There is just way too much of Scarlett and her stubborness and greedy self included in this movie and so little of everyone else. Clark Gable is the top billed star in this movie, but if you add up everybody else scenes compared to his, he's about the tenth star. The film looks great in the beginning and also all throughout the entire picture. Magnificent directing, well structured and detailed art direction, and great costume design. Some great scenes are featured, the burning of Atlanta, the massive amount of extras of wounded Civil War solders and the errie and stomach churning scene of the war vet getting is leg amputated, by the use of shadows of the man's leg and tortured screams. Cleverly directed by the three directors who lent a hand in making this classic film. The problems this movie has that I think doesn't make it a masterpiece, is like I said before this is a film about Scarlett O' Hara, not Rhett Butler. I think love story's make good for classic's, but not masterpiece's. A masterpiece in my opinion are film's that aren't love stories, films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Psycho. I wonder if Gone with the Wind was filmed in black and white, featured a lower budget and had no Clark Gable, would people still look at the film as great as they think it is now. I don't think so. Gone with the Wind has a great cast who did an extordinary job in bringing these characters to life. The ones who really catch your eye are Vivian Liegh and Clark Gable. Both do great jobs in portraying these complicated characters, especially Vivian Leigh. She defeintly deserved the oscar she recieved, but it's a shame Clark Gable didn't get one. He was snubbed. The person who played Mammie should of gave her oscar to him. I wonder how Errol Flynn would of done if he was chosen to play Rhett Butler, I think he would of played him probably more dashing, kinder and cooler. To sum it all up, a film for everyone to enjoy who are into classic's and love stories. **1/2 out of ****.