Gone with the Wind
★★ ½
I’ll just go ahead and put it out there. I can’t stand the character of Scarlett O’Hara. I get why her character has stood the test of time, especially knowing when this movie was released. Even today, you don’t see strong female leads like her who are unapologetic for their pursuits and desires in life. For me, it’s a personality clash. Scarlett’s behavior, motivations and reactions completely turn me off as a person. This actually makes Rhett’s decision at the end of this movie a very satisfactory conclusion. I’m getting ahead of myself. What I’m trying to say is that Gone with the Wind is Scarlett’s story and if you aren’t enjoying this ride with Scarlett, it makes this almost four-hour journey a long one. I understand that this is a revered classic and I completely see why it was such a big and influential movie for its time. But if someone asks me if I straight-up liked this movie or would recommend it, I would have to say no.
Set in Georgia during the American Civil War and Reconstruction periods, Gone with the Wind follows the ups and downs of Scarlett’s (Vivien Leigh) tumultuous life. As a daughter of a prominent plantation, Scarlett is headstrong and often manipulative in her desires. Some might say she would be categorized as the alpha Karen if she lived in today’s times. But her determination and survival instincts get her through a tumultuous war as she navigates her rocky romance with a roguish profiteer (Clark Gable).
Undoubtedly, Gone with the Wind is a wondrous and impressive film to look at. The sets, costumes and art direction are a sight to behold. I’m not super familiar with how technicolor was implemented into the making of this film, but to say that it pops is an understatement. It’s one of the most striking films that I’ve watched on this list so far. Visually it still holds up to a lot of things that you see today, and that is saying a lot, especially given its age. The scene of Scarlett walking amongst the wounded soldiers has always been showcased, but it never ceases to stun or impress. You know that with today’s technology, a lot of those soldiers would have been digitally added in as the camera zooms out, and knowing that this and so many other scenes were practically achieved is stunning.
For all its technical achievements, I thought the story was all over the place, especially in the second half. It uses the Civil War as the catalyst for everything that happens to these characters. Their lives, for good reason, are turned upside down and it’s intriguing to see if and how these characters can survive such dire circumstances. I feel like this story wants to be both about the logistics of this war and its effects on the South, but this notion is completely abandoned by completely laughable melodrama during the Reconstruction period. Once again, I’ll admit to not knowing a lot about the history of the novel or the mindset of Hollywood when this movie was made. But it’s really hard to watch this with complete empathy for the South and especially its depiction of black servants. I say this in full realization that it’s a different time now and I’m also not defending the carpetbaggers that came from the North, but giving a fair perspective of this war is not the motivation of this tale.
Is it fair to say that Gone with the Wind was the very first soap opera? I don’t watch daytime television, but I don’t think you would miss a beat if you placed this movie’s scenes in today’s soap operas. The twists, deaths, fights and cruelty are ripe with ridiculousness. Thank goodness for Clark Gable. Without his charisma and screen presence, this movie really could have gone off the rails. The scenes between him and Leigh are what make this movie watchable. As over-the-top as the dialogue is, there is dynamic chemistry between the two actors. As much as I despise Scarlett as a character, I do think Leigh is terrific in what she is asked to do. She is certainly vivacious and commands a presence that is needed for a story that is so large in scope. Their relationship keeps the audience hooked, but by the end, the story moves so fast through time that we aren’t able to catch our breath. I mean, a child (who we never get to know), dies in an instant and we are quickly moved on to the next tragedy.
I do feel like you have to experience Gone with the Wind in some way or another. Its impact on film and pop culture is undeniable and you can still see traces of its influence today. Its lines and music are still recognizable today, but I can’t help but think that its out-of-date tone and focus will start to catch up with it. I can’t see younger generations embracing this film like other classics like The Wizard of Oz or Casablanca. You can criticize me for being to woke, but frankly, I don’t give a damn.
I give Gone with the Wind two and half out of five great balls of fire.
