Still A Milestone Entertainment!!

Rating: 10/10 (27 August 2004)

Back in 76' (geeessh, that long ago?), this movie played to a packed theater in college (showtime @ 7pm & an intermission)...and ranked as one of my best movie going experiences. 80% of the audience was (probably) between 18-22, and this audience rocked. They cheered at the opening titles; they cheered at each of the 4 main character's intro scene; the 'scandalous' waltz; Melanie & Ashley's (cliched)reunion; Gable's return after a lengthy hiatus; Scarlett's smitten 'morning after' reaction to Rhett's drunken seduction (an especially loud cheer as Leigh awakens, then stretches and purrs with guilty satisfaction; it's hysterical!!), Rhett's exit line; and on and on...and on. The audience's reaction was contagious and their (my) attitude toward the film was treated with equal camp and respect. Ya just don't get that much fun at the movies with regular movie goers at regular theaters (unfortunately). 25 years later when the movie was restored and rereleased at the theaters (98 or 99), it played at some colleges and the reaction was...the same. Now that's a testament to the durable and indestructible power that this film will always have. (Note: this experience was in upstate New York, not down south)
There's no allusions to the fact that this is a self-centered southern (and very outdated...sometime insulting) fantasy soap opera. Scarlett is mostly a despicable character that has strength fueled by her selfish ambitions. So is Rhett! (but at least with half a heart). The fact that we still care about the characters is the real power of this film as our emotions are jerked between rooting for them and despising their actions at the same time. What this film reveals the most is...the viewer!!! If the viewer defends Scarlett's actions, is repulsed by her antics, or tries to maintain some clarity of the type of person Scarlett really is...that, in itself, can be as revealing about just what type of person the viewer is as about the characters themselves.
This movie has color! It has scope! It has a big story to tell in its (short) 4 hour running time. The direction is tight, it moves quick. There's no time for an actor's ego of "hey, let the camera linger and linger...and linger on ME to show the world what a great talent I (think I) have". Especially nowadays when so many performances are obsessed with (hollow) Oscar ambitions. This is a film where the story comes and is served first...the way a film's story should be.
All the actors (it seems) were born to play these roles. They come off with conviction (if not in reality). But, then again, this isn't a reality movie. It just wants to tell its story and move the story along in the same spirit as the story is told in the book. You don't have to agree with its philosophies or its perceptions to deprive yourself of its entertainment. And 65 years later, entertains it does!
And contrary to popular belief: Vivien Leigh was chosen by David O. Selznick as early as 37' (revealed by his many memos). His masterminded scheme of conducting a bogus 'free publicity' casting search for Scarlett was brilliant! After all these years, many people are gullible enough to still believe he started filming the 'burning of Atlanta' scene without securing the star of a massive, expensive 4 hour flick. But as one of director John Ford's movie character once said; "When the legend becomes fact...print the legend".
Still a 10!