Gone With the Wind
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Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind is a movie its own rarity. It is one of the few movies that has stood the test of time and remains a classic that cannot be compared to some of today’s movies. I doubt the screenplay writer, Sidney Howard, producer, David O. Selznick, and director, Victor Fleming knew what timeless piece of history they were creating when this movie completed. This masterpiece of film has had an impact on viewers ever since it was created and will have for many more. The movie was nominated for numerous awards at the 1939 Academy Awards even though it wasn’t released until January 1940. The movie ran away with eight of those nominations, winning Supporting Actress, Actress, Director, Screenplay, Color Cinematography, Art Direction, Editing, and Best Picture (Ten Films that Shook the World). It has been said that if the income for the movie was adjusted for inflation, it would be the most successful movie of all time.
The films begins with the chronicling of the splendor of the Old South. We watch how it is reduced to crumbs by the Civil War and the how the New South rebuilds itself during the reconstruction. The final results makes one wonder if the Auteur Theory applies to this film which says that the director is the one with the overall films artistic merit. The characters are living their lives in a very simple way until everything is shattered by the Civil War. None of the characters expected the devastation that it would cause and the pressure it would take to survive. The genius that the producer had when it comes to the sound, costumes, lighting, and genre is astonishing. The film has the ability to bring the audience into various forms of emotion that range from tears and terror to laughter and nostalgia. Making the viewing of this film a truly personal experience.
We are introduced to the beautiful, flirtatious, and enticing southern belle, Scarlett O’Hara. She is played by Vivian Leigh. Thomas Mitchell who plays Scarlett’s father is a man that is in love with the land. Also, meeting Ellen O’Hara, a manager of the family and plantation, but a good southern wife who is played by Barbara O’Neil. Then we meet Scarlett’s Mammy. She is a plump woman that you can tell has attended to Scarlett and her sisters all during her childhood. She makes Scarlett aware of her terrible manners in that motherly way. She is portrayed as a loyal house slave and keeps Scarlett in line throughout the movie. Then there are Scarlett’s friends, Melanie Hamilton and Ashley Wilkes. They are played by Olivia De Havilland and Leslie Howard. They are strolling the grounds of Twelve Oaks where they have planned to announce their engagement during the barbecue of the season. Melanie and Ashley are the epitome of the Old South. After the war, we see that Melanie is able to adapt to her new life and challenges, while Ashley finds himself not able to cope.
Technically, Gone with the Wind was the second movie to use Technicolor film of the matte process. This used painted backgrounds and were blended with filmed scenes of the actors. With this technology being so new, it was hard to find photography directors and editors with this type of experience.
The equipment was very cumbersome and color consultants were necessary to ensure accurate tones and hues as directed by Selznick. (Dunagan, 2001). Selznick used a very innovative technique that included the use of silhouettes and shadows. Several of the scenes in the movie included this technique. The silhouettes used in the opening scene and the scene before intermission were made very dramatic to evoke emotion out of the audience. The method in my opinion worked. The emotions did vary from the audience. The audience can feel the love between Scarlett and her father Gerald. He highlights the love for his land and explains how she will understand where he is coming from one day. The next scene where Selznick uses silhouettes is the one before intermission. In this scene, we are further into Scarlett’s life. We have scene her travel back to Tara after the Yankee occupied Atlanta. She has had a trying time with her friend Melanie and her newborn child. Prissy has also joined her through there travels witnessing destruction and death along the way. Scarlett returns to Tara that is war beaten much like herself. The home is destroyed and her sister is sick, her father has a mental illness, and her mother passed. All of this along with the plantation not providing what it should be. This is of course due to the Yankees using Tara as part of their headquarters. Scarlett beaten and down goes to the garden for food and only finds a carrot. This is when she gives her famous line “As God is my witness….if I have to lied steal or cheat….I will never be hungry again, not me nor any of my folk” (Fleming, 1939). To make the audience feel the desperation coming from her and the determination that she has, the music chimes in very dramatic like.
Lighting and color also was paid attention to during the film to obtain the desired effect. The burning of Atlanta was so colorful that you were sure that you could almost feel the heat coming from the flames. The color ranged used was various shades of pinks and oranges to emphasize the fire. During the invasion of Atlanta, it almost comes off as a western movie. You see that the air is thick with dust, the movement of horses, and the vast amount of people in panic as they try to evacuate Atlanta. These scenes show cadaverous soldiers, marching through as they sang what sounded like sorrow. The shades of grey from the soldiers along with the tones of brown and tan contribute to the sullen tone. Happier times were filmed with happier colors to contribute to the setting. For example, the scene of the barbecue at Twelve Oakes was filmed outside in bright, bright happier tones. Selznick was very crafty when shooting Rhett and Scarlett. They were mainly shot inside, but he used drapes to filter light a certain way and stained glass windows helped in certain scenes.
Scarlett is my favorite character. Not because I love her, but because she can evoke so many different emotions from the audience during the duration of the film. Many, many references to how strong she is and her love for Tara is obvious, because it’s her childhood home. . “By making Tara the dominant musical image in the film, Steiner ensures that the audience realizes it is the land that is Scarlett's true love and the dramatic motive for much of her duplicity, avarice, and her inability to succeed in a human relationship” (Gone with the Wind - Film Score). Max Steiner, the composer for the film uses classical music to heighten any emotion and dram in the film. To add to the authenticity of the movie, he used actual Civil War music. Scarlett’s first husband has died and is in mourning when she decides to attend a ball in Atlanta to raise money for the confederate army. Scarlett is required to dress in all black due to the mourning, but in direct contrast with Scarlett’s attire, the music is happy and lighthearted. The music is intense and very powerful throughout the film along with the images that the audience is given a lasting effect. . “Not a scene goes by that isn’t inflected with either soft background music or epic, soaring melodies” (Gone with the Wind - Film Score).
It is said that the only way to measure a great film is see how much it can affect a person on a personal level. The movie was released after the great depression and many were able to empathize and relate to the film on a personal level to Scarlett’s struggle. The audience felt the desperation as she struggles to survive and can relate how deprived she feels as she delivers her famous line. After World War II, the movie gained additional popularity, because there were additional people that could relate to the total devastation that the war left behind. The audience admired Scarlett’s ability to prosper, even with the devastation that the war left behind. I think that Scarlett was able to inspire the audience and give them hope in their own lives. This was especially true for the people of London. They had something that could be comparable to the burning of Atlanta. London was experiencing the aftermath of the bombing it took during the war. In a time of crises, where courage and survival are crucial, the audience is encouraged to never give and keep going despite the odds they are given.
A major part of the film was costumes. Costumes are a huge part of the film and is part of the mise-en-scene. Costumes are extremely important when films are based on specific time periods or eras. The costume designer for this film was Walter Plunkett. Gone with the Wind is remains one of the top movies for its costume work and how much work into it. Since the film was being filmed in Technicolor, it was a demand by Selznick that the costumes be historically accurate, but amazing. Two major time periods were covered during this movie. The Civil War and the Reconstruction were highlighted by the costumes. Scarlett’s costumes or gowns reflected the fashions of the time periods. Plunkett was actually able to do two things simultaneously with Scarlett’s gowns. He was able to cover the periods and show Scarlett’s maturity in fashion. The costumes that Scarlett wore before the war were very innocent and girl like. Her clothing after the war were more sophisticated and stately. The costumes were made to fit each character’s personality and tailor made for attention seeking Scarlett. For example, Melanie would have never thought to wear the red dress that Scarlett wore to Ashley’s party, and Scarlett would have never been as conservative as Melanie. More than a few scenes standout as far as costuming is concerned, but there is a few seem more so amazing. Plunkett introduced us to Scarlett in a white ruffled dress that had green trim. She looked young, playful, and innocent. When they show Scarlett at Ashley’s birthday party, she is a more mature, attention seeking woman. She is actually portrayed as somewhat of a harlot; making all the women hate her which is perfect for the scene. Another scene that is amazing, is the fundraiser that Scarlett attends while she is in mourning. I think this stands out for me, because there are so many amazing gowns in this scene including Scarlett’s. Rhett Butler introduces himself and ask to dance with her. Even though it is in bad taste, because she is in mourning, she accepts Rhett’s invitation to dance. The two dance like they have floor to themselves as the ball on lookers in their brightly colored costumes watch. The last scene that I absolutely loved on a personal note was when Scarlett finds that she does not have enough money to pay the taxes on her beloved child home, Tara. She rips down the drapes and uses them to make a dress, so that she may visit Rhett in jail. She wants Rhett to give her the money to pay for the taxes on Tara. Of course, Mammy objects, but still helps Scarlett with the plan and goes with her to follow it through.
Throughout the movie several conflicts are presented to the audience. The first conflict that grabs the audience’s attention is where Ashley Wilkes confesses that he is in love with Scarlett, but breaks her heart and marries Melanie instead. He does this because she was more socially a match for him. He joins the Confederate army and becomes a decorated officer. He does this even when he isn’t sure if he is in agreement with the war itself. Then there is Rhett Butler, who is infatuated with Scarlett from the very beginning. His comes off too charming and scandalous which has caused him to be shunned by the Charleston society. Kicked out of West Point and makes a living as a runner on the blockade. First impressions give us the thought that Rhett could care less about the old south, but when he leaves Scarlett, the audience gets to see that he does care. We see that he loves Scarlett and is smitten with her. The conflict between him and her is the fact that he can’t stand that she is in love with Ashley Wilkes. He swears to leave her alone and walk away from her for good, but is continuously drawn back to her in hopes that she will one day love him. Which brings us to the final scene in the film. In this scene, he finally is able to break the hold that Scarlett has on him. We see the sting in his words when he says his famous line, “Frankly my dear I don’t give a dam” (Fleming, 1939). The final conflict we have is Scarlett, who I think is a walking conflict in the film. She is devastated that Ashley confesses his love, but marries another. Her whole mission in life is to win over Ashley and his affection. She hangs on to the idea of Ashly and his gentleman like mannerisms. She is able to deal with other conflicts and adapt as the old south becomes the new south. She eventually begins to entertain Rhett, as she has a goal to live up to her mother’s name. Scarlett stays in love with Ashley and doesn’t really ever connect with Rhett, because she is in her own way. She only realizes her love for Rhett when Ashley confesses that he loved his wife the whole time. Scarlett runs to Rhett to apologize and declare the love she has for him, but it is ultimately too late. She decides that she is going to go back to Tara to get Rhett back.
Gone with the Wind is certainly a film that has surpassed the test of time and remained a classic since it was released. Some of us that don’t appreciate the movie may ask why. I think it’s because we admire the determination and drive that Scarlett has and hope that here and Rhett become that couple that endures everything. The supporting characters also add life to the film that can make us laugh. It is also a combination how the producer was able to use lighting, music, and cinematography. Twelve Oaks is beyond breath taking, and the costumes are true to form Old South. The film itself comes to life and we each have a different connection and emotional involvement that we can’t deny. Fortunately, we can visit with them at any time as this classic isn’t going anywhere.

References
Dunagan, C. K. (2001). "Gone with the Wind" International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com
Selznick, D. O. (Producer), & Fleming, V. (Director). (1939). Gone with the Wind [Motion Picture]. United States.
Gone with the Wind - Film Score. (n.d.). Retrieved from AMG All Music Guide to Classical Music :: http://www.answers.com/topic/gone-with-the-wind-film-score
Movie Review - Gone with the Wind. (n.d.). Retrieved from AMC Film site: http://www.filmsite.org/gone.html
Ten Films that Shook the World. (n.d.). Retrieved from Film Education: http://www.filmeducation.org/pdf/film/GoneWWind.pdf