Gone with the Wind (film)

Gone with the Wind (film)
source
Name	Gone with the Wind
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Victor Fleming
Producer	David O. Selznick
Based on	Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Screenplay	Sidney Howard
Starring	* Clark Gable * Vivien Leigh * Leslie Howard * Olivia de Havilland
Music	Max Steiner
Cinematography	Ernest Haller
Studio	Selznick International Pictures
Distributor	Loew's (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Released	1939, 12, 15, Atlanta, 1939, 12, 28, United States
Runtime	238 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3.85 million
Gross	>$390 million

Gone with the Wind (film). A 1939 American epic film produced by David O. Selznick and directed primarily by Victor Fleming, it is one of the most celebrated and controversial works in Hollywood history. Adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1936 novel, the film chronicles the life of Scarlett O'Hara during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era in the American South. It won a record-setting ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has remained a colossal cultural touchstone for decades.

Plot

The narrative follows the headstrong daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, Scarlett O'Hara, from her idyllic life at Tara through the devastation of the Siege of Atlanta and the harsh realities of the Reconstruction era. Her turbulent romantic pursuits are centered on the charming Ashley Wilkes and the roguish blockade runner Rhett Butler, with the story culminating in Butler's famous parting line. Key historical events like the Battle of Gettysburg and the Burning of Atlanta form the backdrop to the personal dramas of Melanie Hamilton, Frank Kennedy, and Prissy.

Cast

* Clark Gable as Rhett Butler * Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara * Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes * Olivia de Havilland as Melanie Hamilton * Hattie McDaniel as Mammy * Thomas Mitchell as Gerald O'Hara * Barbara O'Neil as Ellen O'Hara * Butterfly McQueen as Prissy * Ona Munson as Belle Watling * Harry Davenport as Dr. Meade * Laura Hope Crews as Aunt Pittypat * Ward Bond as Tom * Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson as Uncle Peter

Production

The development was a massive undertaking by Selznick International Pictures, with David O. Selznick overseeing a famously chaotic production. The search for an actress to play Scarlett O'Hara became a national sensation, ultimately won by British actress Vivien Leigh. Director Victor Fleming took over from George Cukor, with contributions also from Sam Wood. The Burning of Atlanta scene was filmed on the Forty Acres backlot using old sets from *King Kong*. The score was composed by Max Steiner, and the lavish costumes were designed by Walter Plunkett.

Release and reception

The film premiered on December 15, 1939, at the Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, followed by a national release by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was an immediate and unprecedented box office sensation, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time upon release, a record it held for over two decades. At the 12th Academy Awards, it won ten Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Victor Fleming, Best Actress for Vivien Leigh, and Best Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, who made history as the first African American to win an Academy Award.

Themes and analysis

Scholars and critics have extensively analyzed its romanticized depiction of the Antebellum South and the institution of slavery, often critiquing it as a work of Lost Cause mythology. Central themes include survival, resilience, and the transformation of Southern society, embodied by Scarlett O'Hara's famous declaration about Tara. The complex character of Rhett Butler represents a pragmatic, modern capitalist ethos contrasting with the fading aristocracy of Ashley Wilkes.

Legacy

The film's legacy is profound and deeply contested. It is consistently ranked among the greatest films by institutions like the American Film Institute and is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. However, its racial stereotypes and sanitized view of the Confederacy have sparked significant criticism and led to content warnings on modern streaming platforms like HBO Max. It remains a benchmark for Hollywood spectacle, influencing countless period dramas and securing an enduring, if complicated, place in popular culture.

Category:1939 films Category:American epic films Category:American historical drama films