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What are some of the greatest films ever made? Would you say the classics like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard? How about some new school ones like Get Out, Moonlight, The King Speech? Well, there is usually one film that is in the top ten of greatest movies ever made, and that film is Gone with the Wind. Avengers: Endgame holds the record as the highest-grossing film of all-time, but Gone with the Wind is still the highest-ranking film of all time when adjusted for monetary inflation. The film set a record for Academy Award wins with eight and nominations getting a grand total of thirteen. AFI, American Film Institute, ranked Gone with the Wind in many of its categories from being #4 in 100 movies, #2 in 100 Passions, #2 in 100 Songs, #2 in Film Scores, #43 in 100 Cheers, #6 when their 100 movies were ranked again after 10 years and having the #1 movie quote of all time. A ton of accolades for a film of its stature. Now it took me years to finally watch this film. I don’t know why but the film never really had a high interest in my mind. Now, after watching it, there is only one image that comes to mind. The wonderful meme where the character has his finger up about to ask a question and then puts his finger back down. Here we go on a review that I will probably get attack for.
Gone with the Wind is a tale of the Old South and how it was once glorious. The story begins at the start of the Civil War and goes through the period of the reconstruction. The story revolves around the lovely sixteen-year-old Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh). The film begins at the O’Hara plantation called Tara, where Scarlett lives with her parents and sisters. Scarlett is what you call a true southern belle and is always the talk of all the balls she goes to. Scarlett is excited about the next big barbecue at a nearby plantation. She is hoping to see the love of her life, Ashley Wilkes. Scarlett doesn’t like the news that Ashley is going to marry his cousin Melanie Hamilton. While at the barbeque, she meets the one and only Rhett Butler (Gable). Rhett is quickly smitten with Scarlett, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him. In a fit of rage of not having the love she craves from Ashley, Scarlett quickly marries Melanie’s brother. War is declared, and all the men from the barbeque besides Rhett ride off to join the war and uphold the values of the South. As the war progresses, Scarlett moves to Atlanta and soon sees the terrors of the war. She becomes reacquainted with Rhett Butler at a social party after the death of her first husband to the war. Rhett still pursues her as she hopes to one day be the with of Ashley. When the South loses the war, Scarlett decides to return to Tara but soon faces the harsh realities of the price of losing the war. Scarlett becomes harden as she tries to keep her home and family together while marrying for a second time. After becoming a widow, a second time, she finally marries Rhett. Even with all the money in the world, the two soon realize that maybe they are not best for each other.
I’m not going to lie, but I am really, really unsure about this movie. Once again, I am like that meme of the dude who raises his finger like he is about to ask a question and then puts it down. That is where I am at with this film. I honestly didn’t see the excitement or the overall thrill of this film. Maybe I wasn’t too excited to see a spoiled southern belle falling on hard times and having men chase after her as she becomes quite manipulative to finally figuring out that the love she was looking for from the man who tried so hard threw up those deuces. Now I will say this, for the era that the film was produced, it was the show of all shows. You want to see HUGE southern dresses worn by southern belles, this is the film for you. You want to see some HUGE shots of epic scenes, this film has it for you.
First, let’s talk about the story. The story is pretty much just the fall and rise of Scarlett O’Hara. Scarlett is a cute young southern belle at the beginning of the film. Homegirl is actually 16-years-old at the time, but she is very much self-centered and spoiled. To be honest, the whole movie is her showing the world that she is strong and can handle things when time gets rough. This is shown in many, many ways. One way is when the ATL pretty much is being bombarded and soon to be burned to the ground. She does her thing as a nurse for a while until she decides to head home. She sees that most of her town was burned down to the ground, but then she sees her home standing. She makes this grand promise to herself, and then the next scene, homegirl is pickin’ cotton with others. How about delivering that baby scene. Didn’t think she had it in her. The second way the film shows that Scarlett is strong is during the second half of the film when she is pretty much a boss. She runs her own store with her “husband,” has a lumber mill, and just controls everything.
Now the main storyline is this whole love triangle that seems entirely unnecessary but does set up one of the best quotes ever in a film. Scarlett is head over heels in love with this dude named Ashely Wilkes. Ashley is married to Melanie, who is Scarlett O’Hara’s sister-in-law. Throughout the whole movie, Scarlett only has eyes for Ashley. She marries some dude because she can’t have her precious Ashley. Now on the other side of the card is my boy, Rhett Butler. For some odd reason, Rhett is head over heels for Scarlett. Rhett is one of the richest men in the country. He spends most of the film trying to convince Scarlett to love him and all that jazz. I guess love, at first sight, is an actual thing. Finally, when Rhett seems too sweet talk Scarlett, she pretty much tells him straight to his face that she is only marrying him for his money. Rhett has a TON of money for that period. The climax is when Rhett had enough of Scarlett and delivers the epic line, throws up them deuces, and bounces.
Now, I will say it, waiting until the very end to hear what is called the best line in movie history seemed like a pain because of how long this film is, but I will say it was definitely worth it. The line is “Frankly My Dear, I Don’t Give a Damn.” Simply ICONIC! Now let’s breakdown this fantastic quote. Scarlett runs to Rhett, who is about to walk out the door. She pleads with him, and Rhett doesn’t even look her up and down. You can just tell he is D.O.N.E! He had that look of, “I’m tired of yo s**t, tired of you and just tired.” Besides yelling at her, homeboy played it so calmly. He delivered the line with such charm before walking into the fog. My boy Rhett gave a quote for everyone who is about to bounce can use.
Now I will say that when they talk about an EPIC film, this film is epic in the sense of its cinematography. This movie puts in perspective how significant a task something is and shows it in several ways. The first way is when Scarlett is always overlooking the field or her house. The first one was when her father and herself stand under a tree and look towards the house. The house is far off but shows it in a grand way. Another way is the scene during the battle of Atlanta. The burning of Atlanta is shown in great detail, but I would have to go when Scarlett is walking through the streets, and it’s covered with wounded men. You see how grand and what a toll it took on the city and an army.
Enough can’t be said by the fantastic work of the actors/actresses of the film. Vivien Leigh, as Scarlett O’Hara was terrific. She took Scarlett from being this naïve little girl to a straight-up hustler. Homegirl married dude after dude only to get ahead and not in a slutty way. As Cardi B says, “She made those money moves!” Leigh definitely commanded the screen and deserved to. That is why she won the Oscar because she showed Scarlett in ways you never thought she could. Situation after situation, Leigh showed that Scarlett was tough as nails, even if she was loved sick. Leigh deserved her Academy Award.
Now my boy, Clark Gable, as Rhett Butler was excellent. Now I will say this, When Gable first appeared on screen, you had to say, “DAMN!” I don’t even swing that way, but you got to give props where it is due. Now Gable played Rhett with such charm and somewhat a southern gentleman. Dude was the wealthiest person around, and Gable played him like a person with money. Not a care in the world. Perfect example, how you going to be a prisoner in the Civil War but primarily play cards and gamble. Money always talks.
Let’s give significant props to Hattie McDaniel as Mammy. The first EVER Academy Award winner for an African American. Yes, she had to play the role of a slave, but she did get on her people and spoke her mind. Listen, no matter what, she was the first, and everyone should be proud that she won. After how many Academy Awards there has been, and they can all be traced back to her. We applaud you, Hattie McDaniel.
Gone with the Wind is that movie that is great, but right now, it’s not that great. Yeah, it has its moments, but I don’t know if it still is one of the greatest movies ever made. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable put on powerful performances. The scenes are grand, but the story is pretty much outdated. I will still give it’s it props because it’s one of those movies that started it all in films. If you don’t like it, in the words of Rhett Butler…….
“Frankly My Dear, I Don’t Give a Damn.”
