The Magnificence of 1939

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2007)

I waited many years to see this. When it was restored, I saw it on the wide screen. I've become a bit jaded over the years, and it was hard to put aside my prejudices and look at it in a fresh light. It is a huge undertaking. When one looks at the year it was made, one would say "astounding." There are battle scenes, fires, big houses, romances, Scarlett, Rhett. So many of these are such a part of Americana, I found myself anticipating famous quotes and scenes. I never felt much empathy for Scarlett or for Rhett. There is a chemistry that can't be explained rationally. There's that incredible score that swells and moves and makes what would be much less magnificent into true events. The acting is a bit over the top at times. People are often caricatures. One needs to overlook that racism or you can't watch this movie. I think it is a valid observation to say "look when this was done." It is, after all, the Civil War, and it does take place in the South. I think as a film fan, we need to see the canon of films that impressed the world, even something like "Birth of a Nation." If they offend at times, we should know about them and be fair to them.