Gone with the Wind (1939) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)

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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:

See Full Cast

Vivien Leigh
(as Scarlett O'Hara)

Thomas Mitchell
(as Gerald O'Hara)

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 Backlots

When 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 Film

After 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 Tone

Like 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 Films

Today, 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 Films

Today, 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

Rhett Butler: A cat's a better mother than you.

Scarlett: As God is my witness, as God is my witness they're not going to lick me. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.

Rhett Butler: So, you see I shall have to marry you.
Scarlett: I've never heard of such bad taste.
Rhett Butler: Would you be more convinced if I fell to my knees?
Scarlett: Turn me loose, you varmint, and get out of here!
Rhett Butler: Forgive me for startling you with the impetuosity of my sentiments, my dear Scarlett. I mean, my dear Mrs. Kennedy. But it cannot have escaped your notice that for some time past the friendship I have felt for you has ripened into a deeper feeling. A feeling more beautiful, more pure, more sacred. Dare I name it? Can it be love?
Scarlett: Get up off your knees! I don't like your common jokes!
Rhett Butler: This is an honorable proposal of marriage made at what I consider a most opportune moment. I can't go all my life waiting to catch you between husbands.
Scarlett: You're coarse, and you're conceited. And I think this conversation has gone far enough.

Facts about

Nothing in the internal memos of David O. Selznick indicates or suggests that Clark Gable played any role in the dismissal of director George Cukor. Rather, they show Selznick's mounting dissatisfaction with Cukor's slow pace and quality of work. Almost half of Cukor's scenes were scrapped or later re-shot by others. From a private letter from journalist Susan Myrick to Margaret Mitchell in February 1939: "George Cukor finally told me all about it. He hated leaving the production very much he said but he could not do otherwise. In effect he said he is an honest craftsman and he cannot do a job unless he knows it is a good job and he feels the present job is not right. For days, he told me he has looked at the rushes and felt he was failing... the things did not click as it should. Gradually he became convinced that the script was the trouble... So George just told David he would not work any longer if the script was not better and he wanted the Sidney Howard script back... he would not let his name go out over a lousy picture... And bull-headed David said 'OK get out!'" Selznick had already been unhappy with Cukor ("a very expensive luxury") for not being more receptive

The character of Rhett Butler was partially inspired by Mitchell's husband nicknamed "Red", to whom she had a short and passionate marriage. Rhett Butler's initials on the handkerchief given to Melanie by Belle are "R.B." or "R.K.B." in the novel, which were the same as Red's- only rearranged.

Ranks third in the Academy Award most nominated films list with 13 nominations.

Featured Cast: See Full Cast

Clark Gable(as Rhett Butler)

Vivien Leigh(as Scarlett O'Hara)