Just one heck of a good film

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2001)

OK, ignore the happy slaves and the lies about reconstruction and the dedication of southerners to the war. If you ignore the historical blunders, this is one heck of a good movie. The plot of the beautiful but headstrong Scarlett O'Hara lusting after the handsome young Ashley Wilkes, even after he marries, would be interesting on its own. Throw in the chaos caused by the war and you have one rip-roaring story. Turn Scarlett's real personal tragedy into a justification for treating everyone else like dirt and you have one of the best movies of all time, with the famous ending just being the coup de grace for Scarlett ignoring her own feelings all along in favour of avarice. If you've never seen this film, do yourself a favour and put aside the three and a half hours - you won't regret it. Maybe a double feature with "Judgment at Nuremberg" the next time you have to stay up all night.