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What makes this movie the greatest? The plot, the characters, the director, the actors, the stunning sets, the music? It is all of these things and more. This movie is breathtaking! It is larger than life. And this latest release is the best by far. With color and sound both enhanced and restored, this four disc DVD version is the one to own.
I have loved Gone With The Wind since I was a child and have seen it too many times to count. The character of Scarlett O'Hara has always fascinated me. The passion with which Vivien Leigh portrays her draws the audience into Scarlett's world. She is a childish vixen, spoiled and completely selfish. Oblivious to true love that will make her happy, she spends most of her life pining away for the "wooden-headed Mr. Wilkes". But, as the movie progresses we see her change as the Civil War brings sickness, starvation and death into her family and her perfect world. As I see her struggle to keep her family alive and keep her beloved Tara, I begin to feel sorry for her. And in the end (although, she really did bring it upon herself), I find myself wishing with all my heart that Rhett will change his mind because she deserves another chance.
Vivien is supported by a cast of other actors who perform just as well and I could never, ever see anyone else filling their rolls. This includes Clark Gable as the dashing Rhett Butler. There are many qualities about Rhett that would make any woman go week in the knees. He's handsome, demanding, forceful and on top of that he loves children. But, he is a hopeless gambler, womanizer and a scoundrel. Still, that makes me love him no less. He is persistant with Scarlett. He knows that they are meant to be together. If only she would grow up and realize that, too, before it's to late.
Then, there is the object of Scarlett's foolish desire: Ashley Wilkes, played by Leslie Howard. He is the complete opposite of Rhett. An honorable good-hearted, peace loving guy, he, sometimes knowingly, toys with Scarlett's emotions never fulling giving her the old "get lost, I'm taken". He gives her enough hope to let her believe he really does love her, but then dashes her dreams of their being together by continuing to stand by his wife, Melanie. Although he longs to take his family to a new life somewhere else and put the war behind him, he is talked into staying ever close to Scarlett's side.
Melanie Wilkes (Olivia DeHavilland), the only truly honest and kind character of this movie, always turns a blind eye to any inproprieties between her husband and her sister-in-law. She is patient, loving, selfless and I feel very sorry for her constant belief in Scarlett as a good person. However, that makes me mad at her, too. She could stand up, show some backbone and give Scarlett a good tongue lashing, but she does not. Ever the saint, she believes whole heartedly in those she loves. Ultimately, Scarlett's life is made much better by Melly, although she does not realize until the end.
So, this movie is one that is definitely worth watching and adding to your DVD collection. It will make you want to read the book, which it stays respectfully true to. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. It is worth the time.
GWTW has always been my most favorite romantic movie, and I thought it was about time I owned it!! This particular DVD set included two bonus discs.
The first bonus disc was about the "making of the movie." It included how the author, Margaret Mitchell, came to write the book; how the producer of the movie, David O. Selznick, came to buying film rights to GWTW, about the "several" directors, and much, much more. ALL very interesting!
The other disc was about the cast. I was especially thrilled to see actual footage of screen tests of the many popular actors of the day, vying for the roles of Scarlett, Rhett, Melanie, etc. Can you imagine Bette Davis or Joan Crawford playing Scarlett? Their screen tests proved Vivien Leigh was the right choice, in my opinion!! The interviews of Olivia de Havilland and Clark Gable were wonderful!
I'm so glad I own this set!
'Gone with the Wind' is one of the greatest American classics ever made. It tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, played the very beautiful Vivien Leigh. She is one of the most selfish heroines you will ever see in a movie and still care for her. She is in love with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) but he marries to Melanie Hamilton. She is played by Olivia de Havilland in a great performance. A new man in Scarlett's life is Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) but Scarlett does everything to get what she wants including marrying someone for money and her own benefit. Rhett loves Scarlett with all his heart, mainly because they are much the same. They both think the world is there for them. Melanie and Scarlett become friends.
The movie is set in the time of the Civil War. What happens exactly with Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley and Melanie is for you to see but the war is pretty important for the story and the way it is used is great. The story itself is great anyway. Although the movie is long it is never boring. A reason for that is the performances. I already mentioned Olivia de Havilland, Clark Gable is very good, charming and sometimes funny, Hattie McDaniel as the black made is outstanding but I have to say that the best thing in this movie is Vivien Leigh. To make you care for a character like that is a pretty hard thing to do, but she makes it seem so easy. It is one of the strongest performances I have seen.
Besides the story and the acting we have the music, the sets, the costumes, the cinematography and of course the direction. It is all great. It was made in 1939 and over 60 years later it still is a very impressive movie.
"You can tell your grandchildren how you watched the Old South disappear one night."
It is the only time the author, Margaret Mitchell, refers to herself in this four hour movie based on the spellbinding story of Scarlet, Rhett, and their families who endured the enigmas of the United States Civil War.
Mitchell is the granddaughter of such a survivor. The story is based on her reminiscings of how the Confederate army set fire to the ammunition warehouse as the Yankees were coming. Yet mysteriously, ammunition was the LAST to explode.
After escaping the burning of Atlanta, Rhett and Scarlet observe the retreating, and collapsing, Southern army. He tells her to explain this to her descendants one day. Scarlet, temporarily rendered speechless, looks around.
At the beginning of the story we find Scarlet, as the heiress to a plantation, surrounded by suitors as she lives a life of luxurious excesses. But one man is missing, her favorite, Ashley, the husband of Melanie, the only woman who became the sister she never had. And Melanie's brother, Charles, is one of Scarlet's suitors.
Scarlet is on the same level as Charles, as she is at opposite ends with Rhett, while she is fascinated by Frank, the suitor of her biological sister.
From this fascinating time before the Civil War, to after it when their former slaves find themselves free to endure the exploits of the carpet baggers as the occupying Yankee army obsesses itself with levying taxes and extorting money from the Caucasions, "Gone with the Wind" is a unique presentation of the unanswered questions from this little understood moment of North American history.
I purchased Gone With The Wind(GWTW) because I am collecting Box Office Hits from 1939 to the present. The video I received was very good quality. GWTW premiered on December 15, 1939. When I watched my video, I found it hard to believe that this film was released in 1939. It's like everything from 1939 was preserved. The wizardry of this film is remarkable. Producing this film changed America. The performances given in GWTW are believable. I cannot image how many times the screen writing must have changed, but the entire story was accepting, except the very very end regarding Rhett Butler, who really threw me a surprise. (I won't tell for those who may not have viewed the film). But even with that ending, GWTW was still a great success in my opinion. And what can I say about the photography of this film. I can say, It's the best I've seen in a motion picture from the 1930's. Before viewing GWTW I read the book (years ago). I suggest reading the book before viewing the film. As you watch the video, this will really make you feel as though you are the characters in the film and you will find yourself sympathizing and understanding their positions. Vivien Leigh who plays Scarlett O'Hara is captivating, mesmerizing, engrossing, adoring, beautiful but most of all, charming. You will find many stories in Gone With The Wind...love, humanity, slavery, war. In these stories, GWTW share with us life as we know it today---the 'well-to-do' vs. the 'have-nots', social gatherings and activities of the rich, work ethnics of both groups (rich and poor), and survival of all through war. One point that GWTW makes is that you can have everything today but through war and hard times, anyone can be fighting for their home, their family, their dignity and their life. THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE! -Enjoy!
Gone with the Wind is the pinnacle of Hollywood movie making and is an epic Civil War story with enduring appeal across generations. Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel are at their best performances. Gone with the Wind won 10 Academy Awards with Hattie McDaniel being the first black woman to ever win an Academy Award.
I’ve loved this film for decades and decided to add it to my DVD library. It’s a classic of the late 1930’s and well done by the then standards of the film industry. This is not a blood and guts battle film but it shows the effects of the Civil War on the civilian side that includes, though lightly and somewhat sugarcoated, the subject of slavery. The main character Scarlett O’Hara is a product of her times, a pre-civil war upper class Southern belle, she’s finds her backbone in the end by means acceptable by men but shocking for a woman. Scarlett is a love/hate character that makes the story. I recommend this DVD for anyone who enjoys older films.
Gone With The Wind is the epitome of the classic movie. It won several Academy Awards for that year. It was perfectly cast with Vivien Leigh playing the part of Scarlett and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. If you haven't seen Gone With The Wind, you are surely missing one of the greatest movies of all time. I highly recommend this movie.
A classic cinema epic, depicting the old south pre civil war as well as during and after the same era. A love story not just of people but of the land and beliefs that are as the title says "gone with the wind".
This DVD was purchased as a gift but I enjoy it as much today as when I first saw it many years ago now. As a tale of war, romance, chivalry of an era gone by, take the time to watch gone with the wind. It as endured the test of time and will well reward any viewer.
D.
Even after 70 Years Gone With The Wind is still one of the greatest films in motion picture history. Even for those people who don't like older films this movie captures it audience with amazing special effects and great acting.
Now this 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collection comes with great extra items to add to any collector of this film. For example all of the added DVD extra hours of behind the scenes and letters from the movie studio talking about filling the role of Ashley. This collection is for any person who loves classic movies, and for those Gone With The Wind Collectors everywhere.
This DVD set fills the bill and provides a great value.