Gone with the Wind (1939) | |
| Director(s) | Victor Fleming, George Cukor (uncredited), Sam Wood (uncredited) |
| Producer(s) | David O. Selznick |
| Top Genres | Drama, Epic, Film Adaptation, Romance, War |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, Civil War, Romance (Drama), Old South |
Featured Cast:
Gone with the Wind Overview:
Gone with the Wind (1939) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by George Cukor and Sam Wood and produced by David O. Selznick.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Margaret Mitchell published in 1936.
SYNOPSIS
One of the great cinematic achievements, technically as well as in enduring appeal, this is a movie that keeps finding an audience with every successive generation (it was restored - somewhat controversially - and re-released theatrically in 1998). The story and characters are familiar to even the most casual moviegoer: an indomitable southern belle (Leigh) loves and loses and loves again a slyly dashing war profiteer as she struggles to protect her family and beloved plantation, Tara, from the ravages of the Civil War. Based on Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, which at the time of the film's release, had surpassed 1.5 million copies sold. Selznick paid $50,000 for rights to the book and brought in a number of screenwriters in addition to Sidney Howard to help him shape the material. Among them were Edwin Justin Mayer, John Van Druten, Ben Hecht, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Jo Swerling. For the part of Scarlett O'Hara, Selznick conducted a national talent search that has in itself become Hollywood legend and the basis of a movie.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Gone with the Wind was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1989.
Academy Awards 1939 --- Ceremony Number 12 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Clark Gable | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Vivien Leigh | Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | Olivia de Havilland | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Hattie McDaniel | Won |
| Best Art Direction | Lyle Wheeler | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan | Won |
| Best Director | Victor Fleming | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom | Won |
| Best Picture | Selznick International Pictures | Won |
| Best Writing | Sidney Howard | Won |
| Special Award | To William Cameron Menzies for outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood in the production of Gone with the Wind. | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) Temporarily Pulled From HBO Max To Allow For Proper Context–A History
By Lara on Jun 11, 2020 From BacklotsWhen HBO Max announced that it would temporarily remove Gone With the Wind from its platform, in order to place a statement in front of it putting the film’s content into the proper context, it set off a firestorm of controversy online and in the media. Some decry the decision as censorship. O... Read full article
Ticklish Business: Episode #19 – Gone With the Wind (1939)
on Mar 30, 2017 From Journeys in Classic FilmAfter several weeks of hype pop culture writer Terence Johnson joins me to talk about Rhett and Scarlett (and how much we hate Leslie Howard as Ashley) in 1939’s Gone With the Wind. Please consider leaving the podcast a rating and review on iTunes, or visit my Patreon page to find out more abo... Read full article
Gone with the Wind: Missed Opportunity
By Franchot Tone Fan on Jan 5, 2017 From Finding Franchot: Exploring the Life and Career of Franchot ToneLike Old Acquaintance, here's another one of those "what might've been" posts for you. Did you know that Franchot was considered for the two male lead roles in Gone With the Wind? Clark, Joan, Leslie, and Franchot in one photo. Source: https://inafferrabileleslie.wordpress.com On Novemb... Read full article
The Costumes of Gone With the Wind: Scarlett O'Hara's Red Ballgown
By Amanda Garrett on Aug 3, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsToday, I'm taking a behind the scenes look a the red ballgown Scarlett O'Hara wears in Gone With the Wind (1939). This article is the fourth in a four-part series. Go here for part one, part two, and part three. One of Gone With the Wind costume designer Walter Plunkett's greatest challenges ... Read full article
The Costumes of Gone With the Wind: Scarlett O'Hara's Curtain Dress
By Amanda Garrett on Jul 27, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsToday, I'm taking a behind the scenes look at the dress made of curtains that Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) wears in Gone With the Wind (1939). This article is the third in a four-part series. Go here for part one and part two. The curtain dress that Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) wears to vis... Read full article
See all Gone with the Wind articles
Quotes from
Scarlett: You're a conceited, black heated vulture and I don't know I let you come in and see me.
Rhett Butler: I'll tell you why, Scarlett. The war can't last much longer.
Scarlett: Really, Rhett. Why?
Rhett Butler: There's a little battle going on right now.
Rhett Butler: I can't go all my life waiting to catch you between husbands.
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Facts about
The fact that Hattie McDaniel would be unable to attend the premiere in racially segregated Atlanta annoyed Clark Gable so much that he threatened to boycott the premiere unless she could attend. He later relented when she convinced him to go.
While still in production, Selznick wanted to evaluate an audience's response to the film. Months before the official gala premiere, the movie was given an unannounced ("sneak") preview screening in a small theater in Riverside outside Los Angeles. The theater was scheduled to show Beau Geste. At this time, many elements of the film were still unfinished, including the opening titles and musical scoring by Max Steiner. For this sneak preview, the studio quickly filmed a "makeshift" opening title sequence. These opening credits, still surviving today, show a woman's hand turning the pages of a large book with colorful drawings of Southern scenes accompanied by printed text of the opening credits, accompanied by the opening title music from David O. Selznick's own production of The Prisoner of Zenda (music by Alfred Newman).
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