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Gone with the WindRating:
Release Date: 03 February, 2004 Retail Price: $19.98 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Complete Cast (7 total) |
Gone with the Wind Reviews
A Keepsake
This is my all-time favorite movie. The movie is shot in 1939's new Technicolor. It has amazing costumes and acurate sets. So many of the lines have become quotes that have entered the pop culture even today. When Scarlett parr with Rhett at Twelve Oaks, I was riveted to the dialogue. Other must-see scenes - the proposal scene, the fade out of Tara with the sunset, and the final "I don't give a damn" scene. If you want to study up on popular culture, this is a must-see movie.
The Two Disc is Great but the Four Disc is Fantastic
Gone with the Wind is considered one of the greatest films ever made. And I agree. This DVD set is worthy of this film.
This is a four hour film. It starts in pre Civil War south. It shows what the south was like before the war, during the early stages of the war when victory was possible, during the later stages of the war when loss was imminent and the rebuilding after the war. This is all seen through the eyes of a southern belle, Scarlett O'Hara.
To say Scarlett is self absorbed is a mild statement. She is the prettiest girl in the south. But she is in love with Ashley who is love with his cousin Melanie. Enter rogue Rhett Butler. He is the complete opposite of Scarlett and that is what attracts him to her.
When Ashley announces his marriage to Melanie, Scarlett retaliates by accepting a proposal from Melanie's brother Charles. Scarlett and a pregnant Melanie are sent away to Atlanta. Scarlett becomes a widow (not through war but illness). While in Atlanta Scarlett does not take well to widowhood and shocks the city by dancing with Rhett.
The tide of the war is changing and Atlanta is no longer safe. Melanie has the baby the night Atlanta is being burned. Rhett finds transport out for Scarlett and Melanie. (This part of the film is the most visually wrenching.) Scarlett and Melanie return to Tara. (End Disc One)
The war is almost over. Twelve Oaks is burned down. Scarlett, her sisters and Melanie are working Tara to feed themselves with the help of some of the freed slaves. Eventually, Ashley returns. Unfortunately taxes are assessed on Tara and Scarlett cannot raise the money. She first tries to get it from Rhett (The famous curtain into dress scene) but he doesn't have the money. Then she finds out that her sister's boyfriend Frank Kennedy has some money and she marries him. She builds his hardware business into a major concern. After an altercation in the slums, Frank is killed and Ashley badly injured.
Finally, Scarlett is free and Rhett is wanting. They finally marry. Everything is wonderful and they have a lovely daughter Bonnie Blue. For Rhett life could not be better. He has everything that he wants. That is until Bonnie Blue is killed in a riding accident. This is when Rhett finally breaks down. Things spiral down for Rhett and Scarlettt, Then Melanie dies and her final words are to Scarlettt asking her to watch over Ashley. At that moment, Scarlettt realizes that it's Rhett who she is in love with but is it too late.
I have a rule that if a film is over 2 and one half hours that every scene must be necessary. At four hours, there is not one extraneous scene in the film.
George Cukor directed most of the film and he got performances that every actor in the film would be identified with for the rest of their lives. This is probably one of the best performed movies ever.
DVD EXTRAS:
Disc 3 -
Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind - A two hour 1988 documentary about the film narrated by Christopher Plummer made by Ted Turner for the 50th anniversary of the film. This is a very comprehensive documentary and very interesting.
Restoring a Legend - An 18 minute featurette about restoring films to their original look.
Dixie Hails Gone with the Wind - The 4 minute newsreel on the opening of the film.
Historical Theatrical Short: The Old South - A 11 minute MGM documentary short subject made to promote GWTW. This is an interesting featurette that shows Hollywood's typical portrayal of the south and blacks during the late 30's.
Atlanta Civil War Centennial - 3 minute newsreel footage on the 1961 rerelease of the film as part of the Civil War Centennial.
International Prologue - The one minute prologue that proceeded international releases of the film.
Foreign Language Versions - The opening scene in French, the bridge scene with Rhett and Scarlettt in Italian and the burning of Atlanta in German (3 minutes)
Disc 4 - Featurettes about and sometimes by the cast
Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia De Havilland - A 39 minute interview with Olivia De Havilland filmed for this release. De Havilland is a great actress but she tends to be too sweet in the interviews.
Gable: The King Remembered - An hour film about Gable hosted by Peter Lawford made in 1975. This is very dated and doesn't really delve into his myth.
Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond - A 46 minute 1990 documentary about Vivien hosted by Jessica Lange made for TCM. This is a very interesting featurette about an actress whose life was even more tragic than her film roles.
The Supporting Cast - Short vignettes on each of the supporting cast. Most lasting about one minute except Leslie Howard, Thomas Mithcell, Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen. They are nice but superficial but watch them!!
All these extras make the four disc DVD worth the extra money.
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