An epic soap opera.

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2000)

Probably no other film in history will be as popular, or as melodramatic as Gone With The Wind. It's got everything that you could want in a soap opera. Lavish costumes, magnificent sets, a vicious love triangle and characters that are larger than life. Of course, with the characters, David O. Selznick scored big time. Vivian Leigh radiates confidence and sexuality as Scarlett O'Hara. Clark Gable is cool and charming as Rhett Butler. Oliva DeHaviland, as Melanie, is the perfect embodiment of a Southern woman. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the movie spans so much time and does it so well, you'll wonder what's happened to the previous three and half hours. For its' time, Gone With The Wind was a major milestone in movie making. The burning of Atlanta scene holds up pretty well, along with the massive crane shot that shows the thousands of soldiers laying on the ground. The score can never be topped. Max Steiner struck gold with the sweeping "Tara's Theme" and every time you hear it, you can't help but think about Scarlett and the troubles she endures in her life. Sure, some may say that the film amounts to about four hours of cheese, but it's got style to spare.