A Wind for All times. ****

Rating: 10/10 (7 February 2006)

The memorable "Gone With the Wind" captures the south at its time of degradation.
Margaret Mitchell's outstanding novel was made into a memorable Oscar winning film in 1939.
Here we have the lovely Katie Scarlett O'Hara who will not allow the catastrophic civil war to wreck her life. We see her go through 3 husbands in record speed, while she still yearns for Ashley Wilkes, married to Melanie. (Olivia De Havilland) Despite fierce objections by Miss Mitchell, Leslie Howard was cast as Ashley. It was believed that Mitchell objected to Howard since the late actor was Jewish and she could not see him in that particular role. Whether anti-semitism played a part in her objection was unclear.
Hattie McDaniel, was the beloved, sly mammy, whose strong will kept a family going despite one tragedy after another. Both McDaniel and DeHavilland were nominated for best supporting actress; the former would win.
Scarlett loves Ashley but he is taken with Melanie. She marries his brother who dies of measles in the army. Frank, her 2nd husband, dies for her honor. Rhett, the real man of her dreams, becomes husband #3. Despite a wonderful life with him and bearing him a child, Scarlett can never stop thinking of her precious Mr. Wilkes.
There are fireworks from the actors as well as the great civil war scenes. Atlanta destroyed; the wounded crying out in agony is memorable.
We have carpetbaggers and scalawags ready to ravage an already ravaged south once the war ends.
Melanie's death, in childbirth, makes it very convenient for Scarlett. She can now divorce Rhett and have Ashley. Surprise!!!! Ashley professes never loving Scarlett who runs through the fog back to Rhett. She now realizes that she always loved him. Confusing? The confusion is worth it thanks to Vivien Leigh's forever memorable performance as Scarlett. She would win a well deserved Oscar.
As Rhett walks out on her, Scarlett declares that she will think about how to get him back tomorrow. This is one film to always think about. A way of life gone with the wind is an outstanding tribute to a way of life long gone but whose memories are forever etched in our minds.