Compelling characters enrich great film of the Old South.

Rating: 9/10 (14 February 2001)

Gone With The Wind is a hopelessly romantic film that has exquisite photography, breath-taking beauty, and a fast moving pace. We follow the central character, Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) from her days just prior to the civil war, when she's a vain and spoiled girl, to the reconstruction years, when she is at last forged into a resolute woman with nerves of steel and tremendous drive to succeed in a world where despair and broken dreams are everywhere.
Scarlett relentlessly pursues Ashley Wilkes, (Leslie Howard) and uses expediency, cunning, and total deception to either win him, be near him, or beguile him into betraying loving feelings for her. Scarlett is intelligent, but her wants and needs are all she thinks about. A cyclone could be whirling over her head and she wouldn't know it. When the war turns against the South after Gettysburg, Scarlett is always shocked to hear... the Yankees are getting closer ... Atlanta will soon fall ... and Lee is on the brink of defeat. You wonder if this woman ever picks up a newspaper. Callous and self absorbed, we wonder if there is a spark of good in her anywhere. But, she remains to help Melanie have her baby, even as the Yankee bombardment rains down all around. Yes, she did stay because of a promis she made to Ashley, but these days, how many people keep their promises?
Rhett Butler, (Clark Gable) falls in love with Scarlett, because she is just like him; strong and ruthless. He's one of the few characters that has Scarlett completely pegged, and he loves to tease her relentlessly. The script of this film is superb. It is full of sharp witt, and classic, rapid-fire exchanges. Butler and Scarlett eventually marry, but after she has a baby, Scarlett closes her bedroom door on him. For all his savvy, Rhett should have been smart enough to pass it off as a mood, but he takes her words too seriously, as firm policy. Years later, when he swoops her off her feet and carries her up the stairs for passionate love-making, Scarlett is all smiles the next day. Real proof he should have done it long before.
Ashley Wilkes, (Leslie Howard) is the long suffering gentleman who has Scarlett stalking him relentlessly throughout the film. Even her "mammy" knows it, when she says, "Miss Scarlett, you're just going to that place because you know Mr. Wilkes will be there ... and you're going to sneak up on him like a spider!" Scarlett works him over thoroughly whenever she gets him alone, and usually milks him for at least one "I love you" and a kiss. But he keeps telling her over and over he's not the man for her, that he can't match her courage or strength. Scarlett just isn't listening or just can't accept that he maybe right. Wilkes knows what kind of man he is. He's gentle, kind, and a bit of a softy. But not a coward. He commands troops during the war as a Confederate officer and has the respect of his men. But he's right, he needs a woman like himself, and that woman is Melanie, who is kind and gentle just like he is.
Melanie, (Olivia de Havilland) is a wonderful person, and in some strange way, is as remarkable as Scarlett, but with different powers. She is completely unassuming, has no aires, thinks the best of everyone, and hasn't a vain drop of blood in her body. Scarlett tries to steal her husband thoughout the story, and most know it, but whenever Melanie sees Scarlett, she treats her with love, friendship and warmth every time. Of all the people in the world, Rhett Butler respects and admires Melanie more than anyone else. Even Scarlett cannot resist Melanie's good will. She may grumble against her on the side, but when face to face with Melanie she never ceases to be amazed at how well she is treated by her rival ... and can't help loving her and liking her in return.
There is tragedy throughout the film, but Scarlett and Rhett suffer greatly towards the end. There's so much heartbreak and harsh words, it's too much for their love to take. Butler is more introspective than Scarlett. He knows the war is a lost cause, knows it's foolish to get involved, but he has a conscience and joins up in the last year saying. "If I take a bullet I'll call myself a fool for getting into it ... but this is something I must do."
Scarlett is tough and strong, never more so than when she shoots a Yankee deserter at point-blank range on the staircase, with powder burns visible on the soldier's face. Even Melanie knew there was no other way, and backed her up. At the end, after getting knocked down with yet another disappointment, Scarlett won't quit. We know ... she'll never quit. "I can't think about this now," she'll pout. "I'll think about it tomorrow!" A good lesson for us all