“As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.” —Scarlett O’Hara
Today’s quick review: Gone with the Wind. On the eve of the Civil War, Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), the daughter of a Georgian plantation owner, vies with Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland) for the affections of her neighbor, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). But as the War takes its toll on the South, Scarlett must resort to increasingly desperate measures to keep her family afloat, including turning to Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) for help.
Gone with the Wind is a historical romantic drama about a Southern heiress and what she must do to survive the devastation of the Civil War. The movie is a character portrait of Scarlett O’Hara, a pampered and petty woman who must find the strength to face unbearable hardship and carry the burden of her mistakes. Gone with the Wind’s expansive story, rich historical setting, insightful characters, and iconic script secure its place as a cinematic classic.
Gone with the Wind has a scope that few other movies even attempt. Its lengthy run time of nearly four hours gives it the space it needs to show the utter transformation of the South and its inhabitants. Beginning in the genteel, arrogant days before the War, Gone with the Wind shows the suffering and deprivation caused by the fighting, the turbulence and injustice of Reconstruction, and the loss of an entire way of life.
Along with the broader turmoil of the South, Gone with the Wind chronicles the misfortunes of the O’Haras and the Wilkes, two aristocratic families left with nothing after the War. The film captures a broad slice of humanity in the ways its characters react to hardship. The honorable resignation of Ashley, the cynical selfishness of Rhett, the selfless caring of Melanie, and the hard pragmatism of Scarlett are all moving in their own way.
Scarlett in particular forms the heart of the film. Scarlett is a woman of great virtues and greater faults. The same resilience that sees her through crisis after crisis leads her to manipulate those around her, sacrifice their happiness for her own, and chase childish dreams out of sheer obstinacy. The only person to understand her fully is Rhett Butler, setting the stage for one of the most tangled romances ever put on the screen.
Gone with the Wind supports all of this with a quality of execution that’s hard to fault. The performances are utterly convincing, vivid characters brought to life with all of their flaws. The cinematography stands the test of time, with shots that remain gorgeous eight decades after the film’s release. The production values capture the impressive scale of the story, while the dialogue is some of the most iconic in the history of the medium.
Gone with the Wind’s only major failing is one that cannot be helped: its drama will not appeal to everyone. Scarlett O’Hara is a great character but not necessarily a likable one; investing in four hours of her hardship will be a tall order for some viewers. The movie also beats down its characters repeatedly, with precious little hope to carry them through. Those who dislike this desperate sort of drama will get very little out of the film.
That said, Gone with the Wind has the scope, the craftsmanship, and the thematic depth to earn its place as one of the greatest dramas of all time. The film is a must-see for fans of classic cinema and a worthwhile pick for anyone interested in complex characters and rich historical settings. The drama is more harrowing than some will prefer, but those willing to take what it has to offer will find Gone with the Wind to be well worth the investment.
For an even more grievous tale of human suffering, try Schindler’s List. For a simple character study of a flawed woman, try Breakfast at Tiffany’s. For a Western of similar scope, craftsmanship, and humanity set against the backdrop of the Civil War, try The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 for impressive craftsmanship from start to finish.