Evening star., 1939-12-16
Gone With The Wind
Hailed by 2,031 al
Atlanta Premiere
Miss Leigh, Portroyine
'ScorIett,' Impresses
$l0-u-Heud Customers
~ tie Associated Press.

~ tie Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Dec. Is. - Atlanta
threw a patent leather shoe at the
alarm clock this morning, reached
for an aspirin, tossed another kiss
at Gone With the Wind" and
started catching up on lost sleep.
Already hailed by Hollywood pre-
view critics as colossal
number, this 3-hour- -and-57- minute
movie was run off for the first
time in public and a poll of the
2,031 seat holders would have been
as one-sided as straw vote on
prohibition at w. C. T. U. con-
vention.
Two days of cheers for the West
Coast glamour girls and boys
brought here for the premiere gave
way to waves of handclapping for
the picture itself
Although the applause broke out
when each leading player first was
shown, when the band played
'Dixie," when the Confederate flag
waved. there were stretches when
the intent audience paid the deeper
tribute of silence.
Vivien Leigh Impressive.
The work of Vivien Leigh, rela-
lively obscure English actress chosen
for the back-breaking role of Scar
lett O'Hara, seemed to be the most
impressive feature, even after max
ing due allowance for the DOM
nance of her role.
Clark Gable apparently pleased
the $l0-a-head customers with his
dashing Rhett Butler and Hattie
Mcdaniel as the all-seeing nanny
made the most of her good scenes.
Chief deviation from the novel
was in the amputation of Scarlett's
first two children and in the al
tered sequence of episodes in the
1,0O0-page book. Dialogue closely
followed the original
Producer David Selznick didn't
spare the horses and did himself
and Hollywood proud in the spec
tacle scenes which dominate the
first half of the picture as the love
story of Scarlet and Rhett domi-
hates the second.
Margaret Mitchell Speaks.
Hollywood and Atlanta didn't let
the pop-eyed populace down in the
climax to this jamboree. The celebs
and the cash customers trouped into
Loew's Grand Theater between i'm
mense pillars raised over night and
supporting huge pediment with the
whole neatly draped with smilax and
wisteria.
While searchlights laced the clear
Sky and the flashbulb consumption
rushed toward three-day mark of
at least 100000, the stars and Author
Margaret Mitchell spoke briefly over
q Nationwide hookup on micro
phone set up in front Of the theater.
At the close of last nights show,
retiring Miss Mitchell broke care
fully-guarded public silence to ac-
knowledge the picture had been a
great emotional experience" and the
work Of the most perfect casts"
had left her with a dripping hand
kerchief''-and hers wasn't the only
one.
Gable Receives Ovation.
Mr.. Gable received a roaring ova-
ton, which quickly hushed as he
spoke into the microphones:
This is Margaret Mitchell's night
and Atlanta's night" he said. II
want to see the picture just as you
see it. Please, Atlanta, allow me to
see Gone With the Wind" tonight
Just as spectator"
Premiere attendants included Gov
Burnet Rhett Maybank of South
Carolina, Gov. Fred Cone of Florida
Gov. Prentice Cooper Of Tennessee,
Gov. Frank Dixon of Alabama, Gov.
E. D. Rivers of Georgia and their
wives.
Former Senator William G. Nc
Adoo of California. Golfers Bobby
Jones and Charlie Yates of Atlanta,
Senator Walter F. George of Geor-
gia, Herbert Bayard Swope of New
York, Novelists Julia Peterkin and
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings were
there, along with a corps of M-G-M
and Selznick international movie
offiria1S