Gone with the wind (1939) Directed by Victor Flemming is a motion picture classic unknown at least in name to very few. It’s a sprawling epic running at over 200 minutes and has garnered much accolade including multiple Oscars (Best Picture as well).
Here, we begin in the old south, romantically portrayed, and on the verge of war. The story revolves around Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) who despite being beautiful enough to have any man she pleases, chooses to invest her heart into Mr. Ashley Wilkes(Leslie Howard) who himself is deeply in love with someone else.
Enter Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), an honest but rough around the edges type that doesn’t seem to make a good first impression. It turns out however that he has feelings for Scarlett. Love is complicated isn’t it?
The drama unfolds over a vast period of time through which the old south falls and a new era begins. As the times change, so to do the personages... but only a little. Still, at its core is a tangled and deepening unreturned love.
Though some would baulk at the picture quality, I must say that there is still some impressive aspects to it. In particularly the silhouette type shot against the sunset that time in the garden around the middle of the film where Scarlett swears, “...I’ll never be hungry again”. “Gone with the Winds” main theme song is as grand and sweeping as the movie. Clark Gable’s performance, though a little intense by today’s standards was excellent. As well, the sets are very lavish and quite impressive.
I would say that the classic does suffer being a little too poetic but is fairly deep and still appealing. I did find the end to be a little uneven, with it being a little heavy on the tragedy. All the same, it ends with a clever one two type punch with Clark Gable’s famous, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Followed shortly thereafter with Scarlett’s optimistic “After all... tomorrow is another day” which must have inspired more than just a viewer or two.
In all, I give it an 8/10 on scale. “Gone with the Wind” is a classic to watch, even if it’s just a rent or you are catching it on T.V.
Here, we begin in the old south, romantically portrayed, and on the verge of war. The story revolves around Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) who despite being beautiful enough to have any man she pleases, chooses to invest her heart into Mr. Ashley Wilkes(Leslie Howard) who himself is deeply in love with someone else.
Enter Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), an honest but rough around the edges type that doesn’t seem to make a good first impression. It turns out however that he has feelings for Scarlett. Love is complicated isn’t it?
The drama unfolds over a vast period of time through which the old south falls and a new era begins. As the times change, so to do the personages... but only a little. Still, at its core is a tangled and deepening unreturned love.
Though some would baulk at the picture quality, I must say that there is still some impressive aspects to it. In particularly the silhouette type shot against the sunset that time in the garden around the middle of the film where Scarlett swears, “...I’ll never be hungry again”. “Gone with the Winds” main theme song is as grand and sweeping as the movie. Clark Gable’s performance, though a little intense by today’s standards was excellent. As well, the sets are very lavish and quite impressive.
I would say that the classic does suffer being a little too poetic but is fairly deep and still appealing. I did find the end to be a little uneven, with it being a little heavy on the tragedy. All the same, it ends with a clever one two type punch with Clark Gable’s famous, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Followed shortly thereafter with Scarlett’s optimistic “After all... tomorrow is another day” which must have inspired more than just a viewer or two.
In all, I give it an 8/10 on scale. “Gone with the Wind” is a classic to watch, even if it’s just a rent or you are catching it on T.V.
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