Though very soapy at times, otherwise thorughly engrossing and wonderfully filmed and acted

Rating: 8/10 (15 September 1999)

Yes, there are too many suds in the second part. Perhaps the view of the Old South is too idealistic, but keep in mind that Margaret Mitchell based the book on stories her parents and grandparents had told her. She was born in 1900, well after the Civil War, and grew up hearing this stuff. Of course they were going to paint themselves as righteous, gallant, wonderful people so horribly wronged by the Yankees just because they owned darkies like cattle, and who was little Peggy to argue with them? That said, the movie is pretty good.
Alas, I've only seen it on T.V. and VHS, so I haven't seen the full power of the scope, but I've gotten a hefty dose of it, I think. Many of the shots really are gorgeous, and some are quite powerful, too. The first time I saw ut, for some reason I was so affected by the scene where Scarlett is driving Melanie, Prissy, and baby horugh a field right after the rain storm. A rainbow is out and the sun is shining, but the field is bare and here and there are bloody corpses. "The devestation!" I thought that first time I saw it; I really haven't thought otherwise in the 5 or so times I've seen it since. While of course it was Selznick's picture and no one has ever argued with that, due credit must be given to the four directors (probably more) who worked on it for doing such a wonderful job in keeping the interest up through the whole four hours and doing such a great job at it, with only a few flagging-attention spots. Then there's the acting. Vivien Leigh is great; now I simply can't imagine anyone else as Scarlett. Bette Davis? Joan Crawford?? Norma Shearer??? Lucille Ball???? I just can't imagine any of them in the role when Leigh was so good. To be able to be flirtatious, sexy, bitchy, strong-willed, and a cry-baby, all equally well! She really brightens up the picture, and thank God for that; she's in every scene! Clark Gable is wonderfully wry and provides a light touch, welcomely recieved, to the more sudsy, cheesy parts. He and Leigh have marvelous chemistry, and he's very brave to be able to think he can tame her! He plays it wonderfully cool in the last scene, while Leigh, in a very rare low spot, resorts to surprsingly annoying and cheesy histrionics, though she probably was so sick of the long hours/months spent on this that she was just taking out her frustration the only way she knew how. Olivia De Havilland quietly plays the part of Melanie wonderfully; without calling attention to herself, she provides a solid anchor for Scarlett and just acts the part wonderfully. Leslie Howard is just dull as Ashley, but then maybe that was supposed to be the point, that Scarlett somehow was so convinced he was perfect that she failed to realize how wrong he was for her. Hattie McDaniel as Mammy is funny, but not in a demeaning way. She must have worked very ahrd not to appear to be your average, "Yes, mas'r, I'se here" black maid as they were being portrayed at the time, and succeeds wnderfully. Her performance was good enough to get an Oscar nomination, let alone the award, so that should say something! Prissy, on the other hand, is pretty demeaning, because all she does is wail and act stupid. No wonder Butterfly McQueen was ashamed of the role! If I were her, I'd become a recluse and never think of leaving my house. Yes, the view of slavery is over-simplified, but Peggy Mitchell's family's accounts of it probably were, too, as they didn't see anything wrong with it at all.
Masterful performances for the most part, masterful direction, script, music, (Oh, the music!), cinemetography, scenery, and everything else is entirely masterful. No, it's not the greatest movie of all time, but it sure is close! Definitly recommended.