David Selznick's Film Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (25 July 2011)

Irene Mayer Selznick wrote when the titles of this film appeared on the screen during the sneak preview of this great film she wept and could not stop crying. Deeply Mrs. Selznick knew that David Selznick bet all on this film, that he was obsessed with the film and that in a way He loved it more than David Selznick loved his wife. When one thinks of 1939 and the way this Film advanced film, that Selznick took a civil war story and made it the most famous and possibly one of the greatest films of all time, perhaps the American screen has regressed since 1939. Nowadays all we get is too much Special Effects.
Casting Scarlett O Hara, Selznick built up a PR frenzy among the public as great stars such as Norma Shearer, Katharine Hepburn, Jean Arthur were mentioned as well as then newcomers Susan Hayward and Lana Turner. Bette Davis went to her grave wishing she had been cast as Scarlett. Other stars tested were Lucille Ball, Joan Benneet and Paulette Goddard who looked like the likely selection until one night Vivien Leigh appeared on the Selznick back lot. From then on Vivien Leigh 'became' Scarlett O Hara and gave one of the screen's greatest performances and won the Academy Award.
Superbly produced by David Selznick at Selznick International and released thru then mighty MGM, and directed by Vincent Flemming, Gone With The Wind is one of the greatest films of all time and indexed for inflation, the biggest moneymaker of all time. George Cukor had been Director but Selznick fired Cukor. In retrospect a wise move as I do not think Cukor could have directed the action and Civil War battle scenes as Flemming did.
Clark Gable is a dashing and great Rhett Butler, and splendid support by Olivia De Havilland Leslie Howard with a peerless performance by Hattie McDaniel who infuses soul into her great performance and justly won the Oscar. Costumes, Set and Art Direction, Cinematography are all tops with a thrilling score. This movie advanced the picture making into a modern era.
David Selznick ever the gambler won his gamble, but would soon lose his wife due to his affair with Jennifer Jones. And ironically while creating the second greatest female star of her era (after the great Garbo), Vivien Leigh and David Selznick never made another movie together. Irene Selznick's powerful tears were momentous not only for the success of this film, the impending failure of her marriage and Selznick's eventual decline.
Film scholars should read "Memo From David O Selznick" -one of the most intensive books ever on the life of DOS and "Showman" by David Thomson for more info on Gone With The Wind