The epic is about Scarlett
O’Hara, a Southern belle who will do just about whatever it takes to survive
the Civil War and come out on top, including carrying on a love affair with the
roguish Rhett Butler.
Directed by Victor Fleming and produced by David O. Selznick, the film was
a grand undertaking. Many aspects of the film are iconic, from the performances
to Max Steiner’s score and Ernest Haller’s cinematography
(which is phenomenal – especially considering that this is one of the early
color films). William Cameron
Menzies’s production design is also brilliant as it captures the war torn
South.
Vivien Leigh stars, with Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard co-starring. Hattie McDaniel (the first
African American to be nominated and win an Oscar) and Thomas Mitchell are also fantastic
in support.
The film won eight Oscars,
including Best Picture. Gone with the Wind is not only one of the great
achievements in cinema history, it also holds up as a wonderfully acted romance
epic. Epics (like this and Lawrence
of Arabia, among others) are just not made anymore, which is too bad. I
recommend this for anyone looking to have a working knowledge of film history,
as this is truly one of Hollywood’s masterpieces.
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