Deserves its Legendary Status

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2005)

This film is a complicated tale of two intertwined families against the backdrop of the Civil War. Having recently read Margaret Mitchell's original novel, I believe that the film is a loyal attempt to cover her legendary work. While GWTW clocks in at about 4 hours in length, the movie necessarily leaves out many characters (Dilcie, Uncle Henry Hamilton, Will Benteen, Wade & Ella-Scarlett's first two children) who were important in the book. It is understandable why David O Selznick et al had to pick and choose what to include. Wade and Ella in the novel made Scarlett seem like an unfit mother, and that would lessen sympathy and support for Vivien Leigh with the public. Commerical success could not be risked.
The Oscars for the movie proved interesting. According to my research, that awful (unattractive) Bette Davis almost beat our Vivien Leigh for the "Best Actress" trophy in 1939. Clark Gable apparently didn't want to be Rhett Butler and did not lobby for an Oscar enough, having one earlier in the 1930's. Gable came in at least third behind Robert Donat (winner-Mr Chips) and Jimmy Stewart. The Rhett Butler in the book was more severe, dangerous, jealous, and frankly more appealing.
It is interesting that little info survives about relations between Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland. Miss de Havilland, now retired to Paris, is apparently a class act and grants few interviews. She has outlived her other major costars by almost 40 years at this point.
Every American should study this film.