Monday 25 April 2011

Gone with the Wind


Gone with the Wind was a key part of my childhood. My mother took me and my sister to see this at the cinema when I was about nine or so. All I could fixate on were the dresses - so flouncy and pretty! The scene where Scarlett is getting ready for the barbecue is just perfect and look at the dress she wears.


It's divine. I don't really know any little girl who wouldn't have been entranced. And I love this scene:



In the book it explains that Scarlett sits there and not at a table as you can only have two sides at a table and she wants the men to be all around her! Genius.

It took a little longer for me to appreciate everything else about GWTW. The very definition of an epic movie, it's as watchable today as it was 70 years ago. If you've only ever seen the film, you could be excused for being puzzled as to why Scarlett is so in love with Ashley Wilkes. I have nothing against Leslie Howard but he is not right as Ashley. In the book, Ashley is much more attractive and dashing and crucially, younger. I am rereading the book now. I don't know how many times I have read it but I never grow weary of it. I am reading it on my Kindle which is a revelation as the book is rather heavy. Despite having read it numerous times, I am still hooked. Margaret Mitchell has a beautiful writing style and the story zips by. In one chapter Scarlett gets married, widowed and has a baby! Talk about a pacey read. If you've not read it and you have any interest at all in the civil war, American history generally and like a good love story then give it a go. It's a very easy read. But be warned, it's tragic. Much more so than the film.

Back to the film. They had to cut so much from the book - Scarlett actually has three children. There is a scene they change from the book inexplicably and it has always annoyed me. It is when Melanie gives her wedding ring first to The Cause in Atlanta. In the book, Scarlett gives her first because she doesn't care as she never loved Charles. Melanie moved by her generosity then gives hers. Of course Rhett can see straight through it all. Why do they change this in the film? I don't like it when films change the book for no reason whatsoever. That aside, it's a great movie and forms part of my family's in-jokes. My sister and I pull each other's hair like Scarlett does to Sue-ellen at the beginning of the film: "oh hush up!" We will say to each other "Scoot up the stairs!" as Scarlett does to Mammy. As I've said before, we're hilarious.

I have many favourite scenes in GWTW. There is the entire barbecue scene which depicts such a gloriously decadent way of life. There is the scene where Rhett proposes to Scarlett" "I can't wait my whole life waiting to catch you between husbands!" There is the scene where Scarlett decides to make (well Mammy makes it) the dress from the curtains. I have always loved this and look how clever they are:


If I had to pick one scene above all, it would be this one. The look on Scarlett's face when Rhett bids for her is priceless.

The story of GWTW is of course the story of Rhett and Scarlett. Why can't she see he is in love with her from day one? Why does she pine for wet Ashley? Why can't they talk to each other when they lose Bonnie? It's a tragedy to be sure. In the book the description of the kiss when he says goodbye to her and goes to join the war is unbelievably hot. The film can never quite capture it although it has a good go.


Vivien and Clark - perfect casting for a perfect film.

8 comments:

  1. Is it really pathetic that when people say "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn" I get enraged cos they tend to emphasise the 'damn' instead of the 'give'?

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  2. AND did you know....the burning of the Atlanta depot scene - some of that was footage of the set of King Kong (plus a few other film sets) being burned? *geek*

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  3. I can now die happy ...... you have mentioned my ALL time favourite film and favourite book, GWTW
    I just love it, everything about it is perfect and I won't hear a word against it. I well up every time Scarlett finally realises that she had a true friend in Melly and it is on her death bed (oh the drama!). Tears are running down my face by the time the last few lines come in as voice overs -
    Gerald: 'Why land is the only thing that matters, the only thing that lasts'
    Ashley: 'Something you love better than me though you may not know it, Tara'
    Rhett: 'It's this from where you get your strength, the red earth of Tara'
    Altogether: 'Tara. Tara. Tara'
    And I'm a quivering wreck as tear-stained Scarlett turns to the camera to say 'Tara, home. I'll go home and I'll think of someway to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day'

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  4. There was a land of cavaliers and cotton fields called the Old South. here in this pretty world gallantry took it's last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of knights and their ladies fair, of master and slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembeed. A civilisation Gone With The Wind

    Cue music.

    And on that note I have to pop the dvd in and wallow for 3 hours 40 minutes!

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  5. Diff - you are a true soulmate and think you should join the Teen family! Yes I did know that about King Kong but then I do own a book of Margaret MItchell's letters and made a pilgrimage to Atlanta to see what it was like (disappointing!)

    Disco - I want to watch the film again now too!

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  6. PS: Diff, totally with you on the damn thing. Morons.

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  7. I think that it should be perfectly acceptable to slap people that put the emphasis on 'damn' instead of 'give'!
    And that people that think that the last lines of the film are 'Frankly my dear' ..... well, they just shouldn't be allowed to live!

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  8. This feels like home!

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