One of my all time most memorable movies is "Gone with the Wind". This movie is based off of the book written by Margaret Mitchell. The book is considered an epic, literally and figuratively. "Gone with the Wind" is one of few movies that dares to closely follow the book. The movie is a saturated, engulfing - four. hours. long. Oh! just writing about this movie provokes me to be as dramatic as it is. This movie was made in 1939, winning several Academy Awards later in December of 1940. "Gone with the Wind" was one of my mother's favorite movies, and when I watched it for the first time as a young girl, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The movie takes place during the Civil War and features the notorious trials and tribulations Scarlet O'Hara - oh this woman is a terrible, terrible, woman that you love to hate. Scarlet is a gorgeous, judgmental, scheming, spiteful, intelligent, terrible, lovely horrible, proud young woman. She lives in a huge plantation in the South and is the quintessential 'Southern Bell' with her amazing fancy hoop skirt dresses, perfectly styled hair and lavish lifestyle. Scarlet's life is turned upside down by the destruction of the war, and her plantation is not only in danger of being taken over by the Union soldiers of the North, but so is her way of life in the South as she knows it. In the beginning, Scarlet tries to manipulate a possible suitor, Ashley Wilkes, into marrying her. Scarlet's attraction to Ashley does not come from a place of genuine mutual affection or attraction. She wants to marry Ashley solely for his money and social status, as well as to 'beat' her cousin Melanie out of a 'bid' to marry a prominent Southern man. Ashley is attracted to Scarlet, but it is a fatal attraction, and he knows it. He marries Melanie, for which Scarlet becomes bitter and she holds a grudge against Ashley and Melanie throughout the movie. She is a jealous, scheming woman, and she strategically plots for her own wealth and happiness at the expense of other's throughout the story. When Scarlet meets Rhett Butler, the romantic aspect of the film, it's all over. Their relationship is a tumultuous love affair. Rhett loves Scarlet but she (at first) is only interested in him because of his money and she holds back on her love for him because she knows what a terrible person she is, and for Rhett to accept her anyway is very difficult for Scarlet. Rhett has just as scandalous of a reputation as Scarlet and so he insists they are meant for one another because of this. They have a child together, whom they name Bonnie. However, the bond of a child brings them no closer as a family. Bonnie dies a tragic death at a very young age which in turn drives Scarlet and Rhett further apart. Their marriage, the war, the death of the South, and the torrid push and pull between Scarlet and Rhett all come to symbolize the break of a nation during war. "Gone With the Wind" ends with one of the most famous lines in cinematic history. After the funeral of their daughter Bonnie, - Rhett and Scarlet find themselves at a crossroads between forgiveness and habit, as they try to repair their marriage , Scarlet continues to push Rhett away and she expects him, as he has always done, to chase after her. Rhett finally stands up for himself, and leaves Scarlet. This infallible character, Ms. Scarlet O'hara, is reduced to begging, a hideous and horrible position for a woman of her calibur to be in. Rhett doesn't give in this time, and leaves her saying "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn." And this is how it ends! A four hour, epic film spanning war, family, death, and love - and it ends with Scarlet broken hearted alone in a massive mansion at the bottom of a giant staircase in tears. She does come out of it, and the film officially ends with Scarlet saying "Afterall, tomorrow is another day!" This is in reference to her once again plotting for a way to get Rhett back and making the decision to return to her plantation home in the South. A sentiment that sends Scarlet back home to 'Tara' (the name of the plantation) and something that always jerked a tear out of my face when watching the film, is a quote from Scarlet's father, a hard working Irish immigrant who says to Scarlett - "...land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts" OH! That one gets me. Every time.
Several sequels to "Gone With the Wind" were made in the form of a book, another movie and television series but in my opinion none of them are any good. Margaret Mitchel, the original author of the book, received much pressure from the public and from MGM (the producer of the film) to write a sequel, but refused saying that she had left Rhett and Scarlet "to their ultimate fate"
I love this movie because its soap opera like qualities (which I find humorous) and it has huge ascetic appeal with it's majestic scenery and costume design. It's a classic, timeless film. I suggest it for a rainy Oregon day, or the flu, any time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mM8iNarcRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhNPS4nbmQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4-DIldIX6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnEZrV_WT44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ5ICXMC4xY&list=PL44C37059E530C8AA
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