The movie that won't be gone with the wind

Rating: 9/10 (29 February 2012)

This classic movie is set in the Civil War era, looking from the South's point of view.More than the war it concentrates on the troubled relationship between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.Gone with the Wind (1939) is David O. Selznick production.Victor Fleming is its director.Also George Cukor and Sam Wood worked briefly in the project.The movie is based on Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning novel from 1936.Selznick had troubles finding the female star.But eventually the right gal was found.The role of Scarlett O'Hara went to Vivien Leigh.Everybody knew Clark Gable would be the right man to play Rhett Butler.Leslie Howard had to be made look younger as Ashley Wilkes.My favorite character must be Melanie Hamilton, who is played by the lovely Olivia de Havilland.She is one of the few cast members to be still alive today.Olivia turned 95 last year.Thomas Mitchell plays Gerald O'Hara.Barbara O'Neil plays Ellen O'Hara.Evelyn Keyes is Suellen and Ann Rutherford is Carreen O'Hara.The latter one is 91 today.Hattie McDaniel portrays Mammy.She was the first black American to win an Oscar.It won nine more of those.Another black actress, Butterfly McQueen plays Prissy, a character quite the opposite of Mammy.Ward Bond is seen as Tom, Yankee Captain.Alicia Rhett plays India Wilkes.She is the oldest (b. 1915) surviving cast member.Other surviving members are Mary Anderson (Mary Merriweather) and Mickey Kuhn (Beau Wilkes).The movie has plenty of classic moments, like that "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn".They had some problems with using the word damn.Luckily they got away with it, because "Frankly my dear, I just don't care" would have sounded lame.This movie has a reputation as a chick flick.But there's also the war theme, so I can't see why us men can't enjoy the movie as well.Sure it's possible that women get more out of it, but no one can deny the movie's classic value.The year 1939 was a good year, movie-wise.This movie, that was made in glorious Technicolor, is one of the brightest classics from that year.