Saturday, July 13, 2013

GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

GONE WITH THE WIND Review by Taylor Wright
I wasn't shocked that I enjoyed this film, but rather how immensely I enjoyed this film. It's noted as a classic romance film set before, during and after the Civil War in the serene beauty of southern Georgia. It's running time is staggering as it's nearly four hours long, it's a period drama where people wear fancy costumes. But it's a great film in every sense of the word. The film opens with heartbreakingly glorious music, a sprawling opening title sequence and astoundingly beautiful color cinematography that looks decades ahead of its time, but it doesn't end there. We're quickly introduced to our protagonist, Scarlett O'Hara, portrayed by Vivien Leigh. Scarlett is the heroine and, sometimes, the anti-heroine of the story, a strong-willed, courageous yet spoiled and selfish character who we root for in face of danger but can't help but be glad to see her sometimes much deserved comeuppance. While she's a fascinating character to watch, it is through her eyes that we witness a rather romanticized depiction of the Old South, an idyllic land of prosperity, flowering trees, barbecues and the glossed-over depiction of black slaves.
Yes, slavery isn't portrayed as we might expect from a film nowadays, it's decidedly simplistic and everyone seems to be pretty happy. We see black men toiling away contentedly in the fields, a not-so bright maid named Prissy ("I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!") whose high pitched voice and fussy hysterics are grating and uncomfortable, she may easily be the film's low point. There's an interesting sense of a desire to compromise in the film, however. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the slaves are reluctant to leave out of loyalty to Scarlett, perhaps to make them appear more noble to the audience, even if it essentially denies them personal freedom. Still, Hattie McDaniel walks away with her dignity as Mammy, the sensible, outspoken housemaid who isn't afraid to tell Scarlett what's what. Scarlett often needs a good reality check once in a while, over the course of the film she levitates back and forth between two very different men: Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), a tepid man betrothed and eventually wed to Scarlett's cousin, Melanie Hamilton, and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), a tough, cynical man who seems to be the perfect foil to the stubborn Miss O'Hara.
Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara's romance is the film's heart, Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh have incredible chemistry and subtle (but sometimes not so subtle) sexiness which really pushes the film forward. Rhett's intensity, brutal honesty, opportunism and pragmatism and lustfulness seem to click with Scarlett, who pines for the gentle, idealistic and ultimately weak Ashley Wilkes, played by Leslie Howard. Scarlett's unending pursuit of Ashley proves problematic and brings about trouble, it also serves as a sharp contrast to Rhett. If the first half of the film chronicles the Civil War and events leading up to it, the latter half of the film focuses on the Reconstruction Era and gives way to the tumultuous marriage of Rhett and Scarlett. The conflict between the North and South and the aftermath become secondary to Scarlett's conflict in herself. She was and still is one of the greatest female protagonists in cinematic history, our guide through the romanticized Old South and a melting pot of courage, strength, weakness, vanity, lust, warmth, coldness and charisma. Gone With the Wind is truly a sight to behold and, thank goodness, will never be gone.

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