January 5, 2011

Gone With The Wind (1939) ****

Directed by Victor Fleming

Gone With the Wind is an epic story of love and loss set in the Southern states during the American Civil War. Scarlett O'Hara is a rich young beauty who can have any man she wants...except the one she wants: some guy named Ashley who marries one of her best friends. Rhett Butler is a rich and powerful man who wants her but can't have her because of her stubbornness and her love for Ashley. Rhett ends up having to try and tame his shrew. The Civil War destroys any sense of security any of the characters have which adds to the relational tension.

Besides the war, Scarlett's stubborn pride is the cause of most of the problems and she drove me crazy. The best scenes involve Clark Gable's (Rhett) attempts to get Scarlett to come around to his side of things and those which show the devestation of the south in the war. One particularly powerful scene has hundreds of extras dressed as wounded soldiers filling a train yard. Other great moments involve minor characters being the foil to Scarlett's selfishness and revealing to her her own terrible nature.

The cinematography is well done with impressive effects for the time. The acting is over dramatic as was the style at that time, but it doesn't take away from the film too much.

Over all a very impressive film.

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