Amazingly, this is the first time I have watched this epic cinematic event. Widely regarded as the most successful films of all time , and one of the most loved, it is a classic of melodrama, and of the golden age of Hollywood. The brain child of super-producer, David O. Selznick, 'Gone With The Wind' exhausted the talents of three directors before becoming the biggest movie of all time and that goal of all producers - a legend.
Due to the scale of the film, and its immense running time, it can be difficult to judge how good the film is, and far easier to be taken in by the grandiose splendour of it all. The story begins on the cusp of the American Civil War, set in Georgia, and end a few years after. Throughout we chart the effects of war on ordinary civilian life, the attempts to rebuild, and all the personal dramas inbetween. At its heart is the heroine, Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), a spoilt, self-obsessed, ambitious and manipulative women whom, against the context of the Civil War, when every family was effected and every individual did their part, appears even more selfish and unlikeable. Her main concern is her love for the wrong man, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), and her misguided attempts to survive despite this, twice marrying the wrong man (both of whom are killed) before finally settling with the suave and confident Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), her true love even if she doesn't know it until the end. At her side throughout is Ashley's wife, Melanie (Olivia de Havilland), her exact opposite in her selflessness, kindness and gentility.
The most interesting way to look at the film on a personal way is to examine how a woman's love for a man can take two forms. Whilst Scarlett is frustrated with the war for keeping Ashley away from her, and refuses to help others, Melanie uses this love to aid other soldiers, nursing them as though nursing Ashley himself. Frustrastingly for the audience, Scarlett never really develops, and despite living through the horrors and hardships of war on the losing side, her outlook never changes, and she is unable to empathise with any others. This makes her extremely unlikeable, especially when she breaks so many hearts along the way, but Melanie is an etremely pleasant character. Ashley, for his part, is a little pathetic. He never remains entirely faithful, occasionally kissing Scarlett and declaring his feelings for her, but technically never going to far and totally betraying Melanie.
In contrast, Rhett Butler is a character in control, and very knowing of Scarlett's true character. Gable gives a great performance, ensuring the audience love the character, despite his disrepute and association with prostitutes. He is a character of conflict; the ever-present hero only because he doesn't volunteer to fight like all the other men; a fine father but a defeated husband. In the end though he retains his dignity, with his infamous "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn", whilst Scarlett as latently discovered her true passion for him.
Vivien Leigh also gives a good performance, although a fairly unlikeable one. At the films opening the subject matter is light-hearted, as she plays various suitor off of one another, but her immense jealousy and drive ensure she is a far more fascinating figure. As the film progresses and the mood darkens, the drama grows and the complexity of her character is revealed further. The performance grows with it, as do all the performances, and by the end the emotion and melodrama is inescapably affecting. Olivia de Havilland gives a fine, subtle performance, the only rock among all the other characters' manoeuverings. The only weak spot is possibly Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes, although his is also the weakest role.
Famously, Hattie McDaniel became the first black person to win an Oscar for her portrayal as the ever-present maid, Mammie. Despite this, and due largely to the subject matter, the black characters in the film are not shown in a particularly favourable light, often used for comedic moments, portrayed as simple-minded, or treated emotionlessly by the superior white characters. At least, however, they play a large part in the film,as they would have done in real life, and we see how they were also affected by the war, as well as how relationships developed with their masters.
The film is certainly a huge event, with several famous scenes, particularly when Scarlett walks among the wounded in the centre of town. It's a film that sticks in the mind, and stands alone as a great epic that no other film could touch. As with a lot of films from this period, it can seem a little trite with modern audiences, and the strong elements of melodrama can sometimes be difficult to really empathise with, but the film is very much a product of its times and it's easy to get sucked in by the grandiosity of it all. I personally found the constant emotional music underscoring every scene a little annoying, particularly as I prefer music to be employed more sparingly and subtley, but then this film is created more like an opera, with an opening overture, and the same grand scale of history and emotion that many operas aimed to achieve.
It is undeniably one of those films that just has to be watched - and I can guarantee that even if you start watching it determined not to be taking in and enjoy it, by the end you won't be able to have helped yourself. Like many engaging, lengthy films, rather than struggling to stay with it, you somehow feel a little incomplete when you are no longer watching it.
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