Unit 2 project

Rating: 9/10 (25 October 2019)

Gone with the Wind is one of the many memorable films of Hollywood's Golden Age and illustrates the story written by Margaret Mitchell. The film has an outstanding cast and tells an entertaining story about the life of Scarlett O'Hara. The film was made in 1939 but gives a great insight into WW2 and views on african americans for the time period as well. The main actress Vivien Leigh was british and found the character Scarlett to be a real woman. Vivien wanted to portray the character as accurately as possible trying to learn southern gestures, cultures, and even asking advice from southern fans. At one point some southerners sent her locusts native to the south as she did not know what they were. Vivien's efforts paid off as she won her first Oscar for the leading role in this film. For an up and coming actress to land the lead role in one of the most historical epics is already a feat in itself but her accolades prove how she was able to really become the character and connect with the audience. The supporting actor playing Scarlette's lover Rhett is Clark Gable. Clark Gable had starred in a few other movies before this and played a very suave character in this film. He was nominated for an Oscar in a few different roles including the one in this movie however he did not receive an award for this film. However, as the audience watches the movie you never see Clark Gable but only the character Rhett Butler. Clark has the ability to engulf the audience in the story and draw people in because his acting seems almost too real to be fake. Together these two lead roles took the stage and portrayed the life of the stubborn and glamorous Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlett is a fascinating character with faults and a sense of realism that was a bit strange for this time period. At the beginning of the movie she is in love with a man named Ashley but he loves someone else, she then meets Rhett and their romance blossoms. Their romance is a main part of the film but it focuses mainly on Scarlett and her mix of good and bad decisions with the civil War going on in the background. Throughout the book you find Scarlett in different phases and attitudes of life as she continues to lose many of those she loves. No matter what happens Scarlett famously always moves on and will always be alright. 'Her motto was not just for her though; as the film is set in the civil war WW2 was on the horizon in the real world and had brought many concerns and fears with it. Many small words of wisdom and brave actions by Scarlett during the film, such as helping soldiers and having to be strong at losing her loved ones, set examples for people to follow and made them feel better about what their future entitled. Audience members found comfort in the idea that if stubborn scarlett could persist through war times they could too. Sentiments towards war were not the only projectiles towards the real world. Throughout the film scarlett always has trusted slaves to be there for her and they are happy to serve her. Gone With the Wind portrays African Americans as happy serving white masters but as most have larned slavery was not a joyous event. Part of the outlook on African Americans expressed is due to the book and that it was written during the civil war but the film also reflects how some people viewed African Americans as lesser people. Segregation was a strong force in the US and there was no sign of a Civil Rights Act till much later with the rise of Martin Luther King Jr. and when it was passed in 1964. The film advocates for the idea of scientific racism and a world where African Americans should be proud to be second class citizens. It's interesting to see how timeless films can express so much about the era they were made in and how much more people tend to find when they rewatch movies. Gone With the Wind was an outstanding epic with amazing acting and a strong story to help reflect how people of the time period viewed WW2 and African American Rights.