Film Review: Gone with the Wind

Director: Victor Fleming

Gone with the Wind became the longest film I have ever seen after I finished viewing it, its run time is officially listed as 220 mins without the overture and intermission. Despite it's incredibly long run time, this is an enthralling movie from start to finish that sets off at a fast pace and never relents. It's easy underestimate the incredible scale of production and cost for the time that the film was made, to make a film in 1939 that cost nearly $4 million is astounding. It was the first ever film to win the big four at the Academy Awards and Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy the house servant.

*spoilers ahead*

Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) and Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh)

A historical epic set in the deep-south against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the film centers around Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) who is seen as a spoilt 16 year old as her family prepare for a big BBQ on the cotton plantation they run called Tara. The lives of the family and locals are rocked by the news of the outbreak of war with the Yankees from the North which they are initially excited about but soon realise is bad news as they lose key battles over time. Scarlett also comes across Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) a rich man who is unpopular due to his belief that the South has no chance in the war, the love between them is unclear throughout most of the movie.

It's hard to sum up such a grand film as this into one paragraph, so much in terms of plot and character development is put into one movie. The development of Scarlett O'Hara is probably one of the greatest character arc's in film history, from young naive girl to a driven hard working lady who looks after the house following the war that has destroyed much of their fortune. There are many times when you are not sure whether she has changed for good or whether it is just temporary due to their current plight. Her back and forths with Rhett Butler are witty and well-written. This is far from a simple love story set against the depressing time of war, it is something so much more than that and this is why this film will always be remembered as a classic.

The acting especially from Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh is excellent, I think the dislike the two had for one another in real life helped fuel the chemistry between them through the film. Hattie McDaniel is hugely impressive as the house servant, there was criticism from the African-American population at the time for the depiction of slavery and sympathy for the plight of white people at the time at their expense but this was true to the time in the South. There was also criticism for the ''marital rape'' which Rhett apologizes for the next day, his actions are largely glossed over but again this is in keeping with the time that the film is set. It's impressive that a film of this time would deal with such delicate topics.

The only criticism I have is that the final part of the film dealing a lot more with Scarlett's squabbles with family and friends as well as the difficulties in her marriage to Rhett are slightly overplayed. If there is anywhere that this film could have been cut down in length it would have been here but the film sweeps you back off your feet with a dramatic ending and the line that is now so famous from the film.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"

3.5/4 Excellent historical epic