Gone with the Wind (1939)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Victor Fleming
(more)

Writers:

Margaret Mitchell (novel)
Sidney Howard (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

17 January 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

Now in 70mm. wide screen and full stereophonic sound! [reissue]

Plot:

American classic in which a manipulative woman and a roguish man carry on a turbulent love affair in the American south during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Civil War | American South | Epic | American Civil War

Awards:

Won 8 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Thomas Mitchell	...	Gerald O'Hara
Barbara O'Neil	...	Ellen O'Hara - His Wife (as Barbara O'Neill)
Vivien Leigh	...	Scarlett - Their Daughter
Evelyn Keyes	...	Suellen - Their Daughter
Ann Rutherford	...	Carreen - Their Daughter
George Reeves	...	Brent Tarleton - Scarlett's Beau
Fred Crane	...	Stuart Tarleton - Scarlett's Beau
Hattie McDaniel	...	Mammy - House Servant
Oscar Polk	...	Pork - House Servant
Butterfly McQueen	...	Prissy - House Servant
Victor Jory	...	Jonas Wilkerson - Field Overseer
Everett Brown	...	Big Sam - Field Foreman
Howard C. Hickman	...	John Wilkes (as Howard Hickman)
Alicia Rhett	...	India - His Daughter
Leslie Howard	...	Ashley - His Son
Olivia de Havilland	...	Melanie Hamilton - Their Cousin
Rand Brooks	...	Charles Hamilton - Her Brother
Carroll Nye	...	Frank Kennedy - Guest
Clark Gable	...	Rhett Butler - Visitor from Charleston
Laura Hope Crews	...	Aunt 'Pittypat' Hamilton
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Uncle Peter - Her Coachman (as Eddie Anderson)
Harry Davenport	...	Dr. Meade
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Meade
Jane Darwell	...	Mrs. Merriwether
Ona Munson	...	Belle Watling
Paul Hurst	...	Yankee Deserter
Isabel Jewell	...	Emmy Slattery
Cammie King	...	Bonnie Blue Butler
Eric Linden	...	Amputation Case
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Johnny Gallagher
Ward Bond	...	Tom - Yankee Captain
Jackie Moran	...	Phil Meade
Cliff Edwards	...	Reminiscent Soldier
Lillian Kemble-Cooper	...	Bonnie's Nurse in London (as L. Kemble-Cooper)
Yakima Canutt	...	Renegade
Marcella Martin	...	Cathleen Calvert
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Hungry Soldier Holding Beau Wilkes
Mickey Kuhn	...	Beau Wilkes
Olin Howland	...	A Carpetbagger Businessman
Irving Bacon	...	Corporal
Robert Elliott	...	Yankee Major
William Bakewell	...	Mounted Officer
Mary Anderson	...	Maybelle Merriwether
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric Alden	...	Rafe Calvert (uncredited)
John Arledge	...	Dying Soldier (uncredited)
Roscoe Ates	...	Convalescent Soldier (uncredited)
Trevor Bardette	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Gentleman at Twelve Oaks Barbecue (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford	...	Housemaid at Evening Prayers (uncredited)
Ann Bupp	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
James Bush	...	Gentleman (uncredited)
Ruth Byers	...	Housemaid at Evening Prayers (uncredited)
Gary Carlson	...	Beau Wilkes (uncredited)
Louise Carter	...	Bandleader's Wife (uncredited)
Shirley Chambers	...	Belle's Girl (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Sergeant at Hospital (uncredited)
Wallis Clark	...	Poker-Playing Captain (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Collapsing Soldier (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Martina Cortina	...	Housemaid at Twelve Oaks (uncredited)
Luke Cosgrave	...	Bandleader (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps	...	Yankee Soldier in Shantytown (uncredited)
Ned Davenport	...	Jewel Collector at Bazaar (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril	...	Belle's Girl (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Phyllis Douglas	...	Bonnie Blue Butler - Age 2 (uncredited)
Joan Drake	...	Hospital Nurse (uncredited)
F. Driver	...	Housemaid at Evening Prayers (uncredited)
Edythe Elliott	...	General's Wife (uncredited)
Susan Falligant	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Frank Faylen	...	Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
Kelly Griffin	...	Bonnie Blue Butler as Newborn (uncredited)
George Hackathorne	...	Wounded Soldier in Pain (uncredited)
C. Hamilton	...	Yankee Soldier in Shantytown (uncredited)
Evelyn Harding	...	Cancan Girl (uncredited)
Inez Hatchett	...	Housemaid at Twelve Oaks (uncredited)
Jean Heker	...	Hospital Nurse (uncredited)
Ricky Holt	...	Melanie's Son (uncredited)
Shep Houghton	...	Southern Dandy (uncredited)
Si Jenks	...	Yankee on Street (uncredited)
Tommy Kelly	...	Boy in Band (uncredited)
W. Kirby	...	Yankee Soldier in Shantytown (uncredited)
Margaret Mann	...	Woman writing letter at Atlanta church hospital (uncredited)
William McClain	...	Old Levi (uncredited)
George Meeker	...	Poker-Playing Captain (uncredited)
Charles Middleton	...	Townsperson with stove pipe hat (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Alberto Morin	...	Rene Picard (uncredited)
Adrian Morris	...	Carpetbagger Orator (uncredited)
Lee Murray	...	Drummerboy (uncredited)
H. Nellman	...	Yankee Soldier in Shantytown (uncredited)
David Newell	...	Cade Calvert (uncredited)
Naomi Pharr	...	Housemaid at Evening Prayers (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Jolane Reynolds	...	Cancan Girl (uncredited)
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Guest at Twelve Oaks (uncredited)
Suzanne Ridgeway	...	Cancan Girl (uncredited)
Louisa Robert	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Azarene Rogers	...	Housemaid at Twelve Oaks (uncredited)
Tom Seidel	...	Tony Fontaine (uncredited)
William Stack	...	Minister (uncredited)
William Stelling	...	Returning Veteran (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Tom's Aide (uncredited)
Dirk Wayne Summers	...	Youngest Boy in Band (uncredited)
Emerson Treacy	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Phillip Trent	...	Gentleman / Bearded Confederate on Steps of Tara (uncredited)
Julia Ann Tuck	...	Bonnie at Six Months (uncredited)
Tom Tyler	...	Commanding Officer During Evacuation (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Gentleman at Twelve Oaks Barbecue (uncredited)
E. Alyn Warren	...	Frank Kennedy's Clerk (uncredited)
Blue Washington	...	Renegade's Companion (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
Sarah Whitley	...	Housemaid at Twelve Oaks (uncredited)
Ernest Whitman	...	Carpetbagger's Friend (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson	...	Wounded Card Player (uncredited)
Zack Williams	...	Elijah (uncredited)
John Wray	...	Prison Gang Overseer (uncredited)

Directed by
Victor Fleming
George Cukor		(uncredited)
Sam Wood		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Margaret Mitchell		(novel)
Sidney Howard		(screenplay)
Oliver H.P. Garrett		contributing writer (uncredited)
Ben Hecht		contributing writer (uncredited)
Jo Swerling		contributing writer (uncredited)
John Van Druten		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
David O. Selznick	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Ernest Haller		(photographed by)
Lee Garmes		(photographed by) (uncredited)

Casting by
Charles Richards		(uncredited)
Fred Schuessler		(uncredited)

Production Design by
William Cameron Menzies

Art Direction by
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist: Miss Leigh (uncredited)
Ben Nye	....	associate hair stylist (uncredited)
Ben Nye	....	associate makeup artist (uncredited)
Hazel Rogers	....	associate hair stylist (uncredited)
Hazel Rogers	....	associate makeup artist (uncredited)
Monte Westmore	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Monte Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Raymond A. Klune	....	production manager
William J. Scully	....	unit manager (uncredited)
Daniel T. Shea	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Stacey	....	assistant director (as Eric G. Stacey)
Peter Ballbusch	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Ridgeway Callow	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
B. Reeves Eason	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Arthur Fellows	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)
James A. FitzPatrick	....	second unit director: Southern backgrounds (uncredited)
Harve Foster	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Chester M. Franklin	....	second unit director: Chico unit (uncredited)
William Cameron Menzies	....	second unit director (uncredited)
John Sherwood	....	second second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Ralph Slosser	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Edward G. Boyle	....	interior decorator
Joseph B. Platt	....	interiors
Harold Coles	....	property manager (uncredited)
Arden Cripe	....	on-set propmaster (uncredited)
Hobe Erwin	....	set designer (uncredited) (replaced)
Harold Fenton	....	construction superintendent (uncredited)
James Forney	....	drapes (uncredited)
Dorothea Holt	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Ross B. Jackman	....	propmaker (uncredited)
J. McMillan Johnson	....	production illustrator (uncredited)
Roy McLaughlin	....	greensman (uncredited)
Joseph B. Platt	....	set designer (uncredited)
George Rule	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Henry J. Stahl	....	art department supervisor (uncredited)
Florence Yoch	....	landscaping: Tara (uncredited)

Sound Department
Frank Maher	....	sound recordist
Fred Albin	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Fred Albin	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Ellis Burman	....	sound restoration engineer (restored version) (uncredited)
T.A. Carman	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Arthur Johns	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Arthur Johns	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Thomas T. Moulton	....	sound director (uncredited)
Gordon Sawyer	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jack Cosgrove	....	special photographic effects
R.D. Musgrave	....	mechanical effects supervisor (uncredited)
Lee Zavitz	....	fire effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
F.R. Abbott	....	back projection (uncredited)
Haller Belt	....	back projection (uncredited)
Alan Cook	....	back projection (uncredited)
Byron L. Crabbe	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Fitch Fulton	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Jack Shaw	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Albert Simpson	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Clarence Slifer	....	special effects cinematographer (uncredited)

Stunts
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt double: Clark Gable (uncredited)
B. Reeves Eason	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Fawcett	....	stunt double: Paul Hurst (uncredited)
Lila Finn	....	stunt double: Vivien Leigh (uncredited)
Aline Goodwin	....	stunt double: Vivien Leigh (uncredited)
Carey Harrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Smith	....	stunt double: Cammie King (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hazel Warp	....	stunt double: Vivien Leigh (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Arthur E. Arling	....	camera operator (uncredited)
R.J. Campbell	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Roy Clark	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Vincent J. Farrar	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Paul Hill	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Ivano	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Wally Oettel	....	electrical superintendent (uncredited)
Roy F. Overbaugh	....	camera department head (uncredited)
Fred Parrish	....	still photographer (uncredited)
James Potevin	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Harold Rosson	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)
Karl Struss	....	director of photography: Technicolor tests (uncredited)
Arthur Williams	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Fred Williams	....	chief grip (uncredited)
Harry L. Wolf	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Harvey Clermont	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Charles Richards	....	casting manager (uncredited)
Fred Schuessler	....	casting manager (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marion Dabney	....	associate wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Elmer Ellsworth	....	associate wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
John Frederics	....	hat designer: Scarlett (uncredited)
Edward P. Lambert	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Edward Maeder	....	consultant: costumes (uncredited)
Michi Okubo	....	costumer (uncredited)
Eddie Schmidt	....	tailor: Mr. Gable (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Hal C. Kern	....	supervising editor
James E. Newcom	....	associate editor
Ernie Leadlay	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)
Richard L. Van Enger	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Louis Forbes	....	assistant musical director (as Lou Forbes)
William Axt	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
R.H. Bassett	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Adolph Deutsch	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Adolph Deutsch	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Hugo Friedhofer	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Stuart Frye	....	music editor (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Earl B. Mounce	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Joseph Nussbaum	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	conductor (uncredited)
Franz Waxman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joyce Allen	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)
George Doan	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Wilfred M. Cline	....	associate: Technicolor (as Wilfrid M. Cline)
Natalie Kalmus	....	supervisor: Technicolor Co.
Barbara Keon	....	scenario assistant
Wilbur G. Kurtz	....	historian
Susan Myrick	....	technical advisor
Will Price	....	technical advisor
Ray Rennahan	....	associate: Technicolor
Betty Baldwin	....	executive secretary: Mr. Selznick (uncredited)
Peter Ballbusch	....	montage director (uncredited)
Russell Birdwell	....	publicist (uncredited)
Katherine Brown	....	story editor: Eastern (uncredited)
William Clark	....	wrangler (uncredited)
Lillian K. Deighton	....	researcher (uncredited)
Howard Dietz	....	publicist: Atlanta and New York premieres (uncredited)
Connie Earl	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Frank Floyd	....	dance director (uncredited)
Henry Ginsberg	....	studio manager (uncredited)
Charles Handley	....	consultant: National Carbon Corp. (uncredited)
Carey Harrison	....	riding double: Thomas Mitchell (uncredited)
William Hebert	....	assistant: Mr. Dietz (uncredited)
Will Hill	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Winton C. Hoch	....	consultant: Technicolor Color Company (uncredited)
Henri Jaffa	....	associate supervisor: Technicolor Co. (uncredited)
David Joy	....	consultant: National Carbon Corp. (uncredited)
Val Lewton	....	story editor (uncredited)
Al Lichtman	....	agent: Loew's Inc. (uncredited)
Mason N. Litson	....	location manager (uncredited)
Franclein Macconnel	....	script reader (uncredited)
William S. McCune	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mozelle Miller	....	stand-in: Ms. Leigh (uncredited)
Richard Mueller	....	color advisor (uncredited)
R.D. Musgrave	....	mechanical engineer (uncredited)
Eddie Prinz	....	dance director (uncredited)
Lydia Schiller	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Myron Selznick	....	production associate (uncredited)
Howard Strickling	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	....	double: Leslie Howard (uncredited)
Frank Whitbeck	....	trailer supervisor (uncredited)
C.V. Whitney	....	production associate (uncredited)
John Hay Whitney	....	production associate (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Selznick International Pictures
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (in association with)

Distributors

• Loew's (1939) (USA) (theatrical) (as Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• New Line Cinema (1998) (re-release)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Producciones JES (1989) (Colombia) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (1998 release)
• Max Factor  wigs (uncredited)
• Mole Richardson  arc lamps (uncredited)
• National Carbon Corp.  arc lamps (uncredited)
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  sound recording (uncredited)
• Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation  auxilliary optical system (uncredited)

Runtime:

USA:238 min (restored DVD version) | Sweden:223 min (1969 re-release) | Sweden:234 min (1985 re-release) | UK:224 min (1994 re-release) | UK:233 min (1989 re-release) | 226 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 (2004) | Brazil:Livre | West Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Canada:G (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Québec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:16 | Peru:PT | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 (re-release) (1985) | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #5729) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1971)

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Selznick International Pictures

Trivia:

The estimated production costs were $3.9 million. At the time, only Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) and Hell's Angels (1930) had cost more.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Rhett and Scarlett flee Atlanta, he stops their wagon to comment on the fall of the old South. Interspersed with his comments are scenes of wounded soldiers walking on the road. A bearded man smoking a pipe is shown carrying a fallen comrade. Several scenes later, the same man is shown carrying a rifle. He gives his rifle to another soldier and picks up the soldier he was seen carrying in the previous scene.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Brent Tarleton: What do we care if we *were* expelled from college, Scarlett? The war is gonna start any day now, so we'd have left college anyhow.
Stuart Tarleton: Oh, isn't it exciting, Scarlett? You know those fool Yanks may actually *want* a war?
Brent Tarleton: We'll show 'em!
Scarlett: Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream. Besides... there isn't going to be any war.
Brent Tarleton: Not going to be any war?
Stuart Tarleton: Why, honey, of course there's gonna be a war.
Scarlett: If either of you boys says "war" just once again, I'll go in the house and slam the door.
Brent Tarleton: But Scarlett...
Stuart Tarleton: Don't you *want* us to have a war?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Alien Space Avenger (1989)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

A few flaws, but undeniably a massive achievement in film

One of the greatest achievements in film history. This is not only an eye-popping cinematic treat, but one of the greatest stories ever put on celluloid. The movie lasts nearly four hours--- it's longer than any other mainstream commercially successful film ever made. But the time goes by so quickly that you'll miss it when it's over.

Of course, we all know that this movie is set in the days of the Civil War in the 1860s. It's the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a plantation owner's daughter who is very beautiful and who seemingly MUST have her own way at all times. She's willing to scheme and manipulate everyone in her path until she gets it. When the movie opens, the country is on the verge of civil war--- North against South--- but Scarlett barely notices, and doesn't care in the least. Her biggest obsession is that she's in love with dreamy/poetic Ashley Wilkes, and she stays in love with him throughout 98 percent of the movie.

The only problem is....Ashley doesn't have any particular interest in her at all. In fact, he spends most of the movie being married to gentle Melanie Hamilton--- a fact that frustrates Scarlett to no end. Ashley remains the one object of her desire that she is never to obtain.

She would have been better off pining after Rhett Butler, a much more solid, rather dangerous man with a reputation as a no-good scoundrel. He is openly attracted to Scarlett, grows to love her (although he dare not let her know, or she'll use it against him), and it's obvious that he would make a lot better match for her than the drab Ashley. Very late in the movie, he finally does marry Scarlett. But it's probably too late for them to be happy by then, ironically--- and they never really are happy together.

The complicated and utterly fascinating relationship between Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, and Melanie is the fuel that keeps the movie going. But there are dozens, if not hundreds, of little extra twists and turns that fill out the movie. The Civil War backdrop for one, the colorful supporting roles for another.

A great many reviewers here have seen Scarlett as purely a selfish, one-dimensional manipulative shrew. But she's far more than that! This is a complex, multi-dimensional young woman with lots of conflicting motives. Yes, she's selfish and manipulative. But she's also selfless: the extreme sacrifices that she makes on behalf of her family, and Melanie (keeping in mind that, other than her father, she doesn't even particularly like any of them) are nothing short of heroic. She is overwhelmingly protective of her loved ones. She's a ball of fire when work needs to be done, and she's fiercely courageous.

Despite her hardness, she does also grow as a person. To her great credit, she slowly comes to value Melanie's friendship and support. She genuinely loves and is proud of her daughter. And at the very end of the movie, she does finally realize how ill-suited she and Ashley have always been for each other, and how little passion ever actually existed there.

Some quick high points, and a few flaws: the supporting roles are superb in every way. Even the rather bland Ashley is given as much life as could be expected by actor Leslie Howard, and the other parts are vivid and fill out the movie. Two female parts in particular--- wise, funny, respected Mammy (Hattie McDaniel) and wistful, decent-at-heart prostitute Belle Watling (Ona Munson) are standouts.

The scenery and photography is possibly the most superb ever done in the history of film. Many scenes are just sumptuously lit and filmed. The gripping nighttime escape from Atlanta (the whole city seemingly in flames) is one of the most spectacular action sequences ever done. The sunsets are jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Much has been said about the supposed racism of this film. It's true that it does portray black slaves as being HAPPY to be slaves. But much more important, it's also true that the wisest person in the whole movie is Mammy. This black lady may be a slave--- later an employee--- but she is smart, funny, observant, and she's treated as an equal, if not a superior, throughout the movie. And it's made clear she deserves it. With no irony or rebuke whatever, she scornfully refers to certain low-lifes as "poor white trash", and we know (Mammy knows too) that if they get called that, they deserve it. She may be black, but she isn't inferior to them or anybody. And we root for her all the way.

A few minor flaws, and I do mean minor: 1) Most of the acting looks pretty modern, but there are a very few scenes where it seems a little old-style. Hey enjoy the movie and don't worry 'bout it. People didn't do today's "method" acting in the 1930s. 2) Some of the "raw" scenes still have a Hollywood gloss to them. Even when Scarlett is on the brink of starvation and probably hasn't had a good bath in weeks, she looks perfectly made up with only a few hairs out of place. Oh well. It *was* big-time Hollywood after all. 3) The second half of the movie is more "talky" and less action-oriented than the first. I would not say it's more boring, just less movement. I don't find it draggy, but some people do.

Still a heck of a good story, and a great film, so enjoy the ride!