The Epic Of All Epics-The Brilliant Gone With The Wind

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2006)

Producer David O. Selznick wanted "Gone With The Wind" to be somehow more than a movie,a film that would broaden the very idea of what a film could do and look like. In many respects he got what he worked so hard to achieve in this grand 1939 magnificent spectacule which went on the become to all-time box office champ in terms of tickets sold,and in some far beyond the goal that it have went onward to achieve. The results were astounding. The movie went on to received a boatload full of Oscars--ten Oscars in all,including Best Picture of 1939. The primary results were historical as well,and a first in motion pictures. Actress Hattie McDaniel,became the first African-American in the history of the American cinema to received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress,a feat that went beyond expectations and open doors for other astounding black actors later on. The film itself is a cinematic classic,and it still is the top attraction to see,even if those individuals who have never seen this movie before,it is worth seeing,especially in a movie theatre projected onto a huge screen in front of a capacity audience. Any with good reason. It is no wonder that "Gone With The Wind" became MGM's biggest and most fiscally successful film not only in the history of motion pictures,but within the studio itself,making MGM a perennial powerhouse in Hollywood. In all,cinematic achievement which is right up there with two other MGM hits as well...The Charlton Heston spectacle of 1959's "Ben-Hur",and also the 1968 science-fiction masterpiece of Stanley Kubrick's "2001".
Getting back to "Gone With The Wind",based on the Margaret Mitchell's grand scale novel,the story is based on the tale of the Old South and the coming of the Civil War. While the first half of the Civil War is taut and suspenseful as well as nostalgic,the second half is ramshackle and arbitrary. But there is no question that the film is an emormous achievement is terms of its every resource--art director,color,sound,cimematopgraphy-being pushed to new limits for the greater glory of telling an American story as fully as possible. Vivian Leigh's character of Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most magnificently narcissistic performances in the history of the cinema. Her performance here stands out. Olivia de Havilland's character as the angelic and lovely as Melanie Hamliton,and Leslie Howard's reckless and aristocratic Ashley Wilkes are one of the key elements that make the film come full circle. But the main reason and the performance that will stand out is Clark Gable's character of Rhett Butler. He gives one of the most vital,masculine,commanding performances ever committed to film. His one-liner ensemble is one of the greatest in screen history.
"Frankly my dear,I don't give a damn."
Produced by Selznick Productions and MGM-Running Time of 222 minutes which was restored for the re-release in 1999(for its golden 50th anniversary and later in the extended DVD version in its original run of 238 minutes). MGM has re-released this film numerous times between its release from 1939 and today(which is shown in selected theatres restored to its original Technicolor glory and re-mastered from its original 70MM print) for all audiences to enjoy.