Rating of
3/4
Gone with the Wind review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 12/04/11
Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is in love with Ashley Wilkes' (Leslie Howard), who will marry Melanie "Melly" Hamilton (de Havilland). The happy go lucky kind hearted Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) discovers the secret of Scarlett. Charles Hamilton who marries Scarlett passes away due to pneumonia and measles. Butler becomes a Captain and a hero and offers a dance to the widowed O'Hara. Scarlett and Rhett helps Melanie and her baby escape a burning Old South. Ashley comes back is persuaded to runaway by Scarlett. An amount of $300 of taxes in Tara needs to be paid so she goes to Rhett. Scarlett then influences Frank Kennedy (Carroll Nye), owner of a successful general store and lumber mill, to get married in order for her family to survive. Frank dies and Rhett informs Scarlett while attending to the wounded Ashley. Rhett proposes marriage and Scarlett accepts, both bare a baby girl named Bonnie Blue Butler. Melly discovers Scarlett in the arms of Ashley. Melly and Bonnie die. Some lines from this epic: Rhett - "People always find out what ruins your reputation." "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." "...reaching out for something that will make you happy but cannot reach." Scarlett - "After all... tomorrow is another day!"
Scarlett's character was not likable being a spoiled, indecent, greedy, selfish, arrogant promiscuous girl and incessantly expressing her love to a married man with a newborn. Some racism scenes such as the whining dutiful Prissy has been racially victimized by Scarlett and Mammy (Hattie McDaniel), one of the help stating "white trash." This reviewer is amazed how Rhett can tolerate a person with that personality and hating him at the same time. Another flaw, a premature baby (Melly's) has hair already upon being delivered, spellbinding. Its costumes, set-pieces, cinematography, score and performances were endearing and delightful. Gone with the Wind maybe considered a classic, has won countless awards and considered by many as one of the best films created, in this reviewers mind, it was technically elegant and well produced despite some dull scenes irrelevant to the well written story and morals of the picture were outrageous.
