GONE
WITH THE WIND (COLOUR, 1939)
Director:
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
Cast:
Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O’Neil, Butterfly McQueen, Hattie McDaniel, Oscar Polk, Rand Brooks, Howard C. Hickman, Ann Rutherford, Evelyn Keyes and Ward Bond
Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O’Neil, Butterfly McQueen, Hattie McDaniel, Oscar Polk, Rand Brooks, Howard C. Hickman, Ann Rutherford, Evelyn Keyes and Ward Bond
Ages:
7 and up
7 and up
Plot:
Scarlett (Leigh) is a young spoilt girl living on the confederate side of America with her father (Mitchell), mother (O’Neil), sisters (Rutherford and Keyes), servants (McQueen, McDaniel and Polk) and cousins (Brooks and De Havilland). As the civil war starts, Rhett Butler (Gable) believes that the Confederates are sure to lose. Rhett meets Scarlett at the party of Ashley (Howard) and his father (Hickman). Soon they fall in love, but will they stay together happily ever after? As Scarlett loses hope in the war, she pools all her resources and picks herself up.
Scarlett (Leigh) is a young spoilt girl living on the confederate side of America with her father (Mitchell), mother (O’Neil), sisters (Rutherford and Keyes), servants (McQueen, McDaniel and Polk) and cousins (Brooks and De Havilland). As the civil war starts, Rhett Butler (Gable) believes that the Confederates are sure to lose. Rhett meets Scarlett at the party of Ashley (Howard) and his father (Hickman). Soon they fall in love, but will they stay together happily ever after? As Scarlett loses hope in the war, she pools all her resources and picks herself up.
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| Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind. |
Why it’s good:
An epic women’s film and melodrama about the American civil war. They first stand, fall, then pick themselves up. Scarlett, a rare personality, is a woman of iron who gets the most out of everyone she meets.
With the American civil war as the backdrop, this movie is a great history lesson where you can share with your children what life was like during that era. The movie is quite authentic as it also shows how slaves worked in the homes of the wealthy and the cotton fields during that period.
An epic women’s film and melodrama about the American civil war. They first stand, fall, then pick themselves up. Scarlett, a rare personality, is a woman of iron who gets the most out of everyone she meets.
With the American civil war as the backdrop, this movie is a great history lesson where you can share with your children what life was like during that era. The movie is quite authentic as it also shows how slaves worked in the homes of the wealthy and the cotton fields during that period.
Since females take up two-thirds of the film’s cast, the
film is perfect for mother-and-daughter bonding. It is amazing to see how the film
mesmerizes girls with its beautiful lead actress, stunning sets and dresses.
But if it is a woman’s film, what about the film's men -
Gable’s Rhett Butler, Leslie Howard’s Ashley Wilkes and Thomas Mitchell’s Gerald O'Hara? You will need to explain the ground
they cover as good actors. They’re purposeful characters - Rhett has a great
personality like Scarlett. Leslie Howard can never resist Scarlett, but in my view, Mitchell is quite unnecessary.
Parent’s guide:
Halfway through the film, Ashley and Scarlett kiss. There is also a kiss between Rhett and Scarlett. Some dead bodies lay on the floor. Scarlett shoots a Union soldier while the soldier is ascending a staircase.
Halfway through the film, Ashley and Scarlett kiss. There is also a kiss between Rhett and Scarlett. Some dead bodies lay on the floor. Scarlett shoots a Union soldier while the soldier is ascending a staircase.
Trivia:
The whole fire scene was done with the help of some old film sets which were burned in the studio. The fire provoked some people living near the studio to phone the firemen. The scene itself cost $25,000.
The whole fire scene was done with the help of some old film sets which were burned in the studio. The fire provoked some people living near the studio to phone the firemen. The scene itself cost $25,000.
If you like this…:
Waterloo Bridge (1943) is another Vivian Leigh war-drama.
Waterloo Bridge (1943) is another Vivian Leigh war-drama.
Someone on the IMDB forum commented on my GWTW review. The person said that:
ReplyDelete"I'm glad you added this and appreciate your review.
Just as a btw:
Mitchell's character is there so that we can understand why Scarlett is more headstrong like her father, rather than her cool mother. Her closeness to him was on par with a son/father relationship and gives her the autonomy she will need to survive in what was then especially considered a "man's world."
He also imparts to her the sense of home that will become important to her.
The true mother/daughter relationship in GWTW is the one Scarlett has with Mammy, who never is unaware of what motivates Scarlett."
I'm really thankful for this comment as it shows me another perspective of the relationship between Scarlett and her father Gerald O'Hara. I now understand why she is so strong, and is able to pick up the pieces and start life all over again.