Gone With the Wind

   

Many teens now-a-days don't want to watch any movies unless there are drugs, sex, and rock-and-roll. However, while the youth is laughing to "classics" like Napoleon Dynamite, they are forgetting movies that set higher standards and moved at a slower rate. Gone with the Wind is one of the movies left behind. Although this movie is considered number one in box office revenue with inflation, it is not number one to thousands of teens. However, if anyone knows me, I am not like most teens.

I thought Gone with the Wind was a touching film that makes one think about the other side of the civil war and how the south lost a way of life. Do I recommend this film? Ya Sure You Betcha! This film has everything any good movie needs, action, romance, and humor.

   
Gone with the Wind is a film directed by Victor Flemming in 1939. It takes place in Georgia and begins before the civil war starts, and ends with the war over and the south rebuilding. The movie follows the triumphs and tragedies of a young lady named Scarlett O’Hara played by Vivien Leigh. Scarlett is born into a fabulously wealthy family that lives on a picturesque plantation named Tara. Scarlett’s mother, Mrs. Ellen O’Hara played by Barbara O’Neal, is the one who runs the daily operations of the plantation with her father, Gerald O’Hara played by Thomas Mitchell, being an Irish immigrant who loves riding his horse (foreshadowing his future). Scarlett is the typical southern belle, cooing over all the eligible gentlemen and flirting non-stop. Scarlett has her manipulative mind set on marrying Ashley Wilkes played by Leslie Howard. However, much to Scarlett’s dismay, Ashley wants to keep his wealth in the family and marries his distant cousin, Melanie Hamilton played by Olivia de Havilland. Ashley "rejects" Scarlett’s love and nothing angers the spoiled girl more. 

Scarlett in classic Southern Attire

Scarlett believes she is always the bell of the ball and how dare a man not fall to his knees and ask her hand in marriage. Scarlett confronts Ashley on his decision to marry kind-hearted Melanie, and that is where Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable, comes into play. Immediately after the introduction of Rhett, any romantic-comedy connoisseur, can tell he and Scarlett will have a fling. Rhett is known as the bad-boy around town. He is a gun-runner and makes it known he loves a lost cause. While all the other slave owning men are talking about honor and how they are ready for the north to initiate war, Rhett sneers “All we have is cotton, slaves, and arrogance.” Rhett is not in favor of the war, changing his mind later. 
   
While the men of Georgia are preparing for war, Scarlett is still brooding over Ashley. Once she finally realizes he is not available. She marries Mr. Hamilton in spite of Ashley. Lucky for Scarlett, in the bloody battles of the war, Mr. Hamilton dies and Scarlett is free to once again throw herself at Ashley, with Ashley doing nothing to stop her intense emotions. Scarlett moves to Atlanta to continue her “grieving” process with their house slave, Mammy played by Hattie McDaniel, knowing what Scarlett is really up to. Scarlett wants to leave so the grieving process won’t “hurt” her social reputation and she can still attend all the socials. One of my favorite parts of this movie is the dancing scene in Atlanta where the women are being “auctioned” to raise money for the cause. Watching the women in their over-the-top beautiful dresses and hats and the men in high-wasted trousers dance the night away made me want to jump in a dance with them. It was like watching a good episode of Dancing with the Stars. Who can go wrong with hoop-skirts, over-sized hats, and waltzes? Throw in a promenade and you have a fantastic scene. 

Dancing Scene. Notice the ladies garments.



  

The movie continues and the Yankees are invading Georgia. With mass hysteria breaking out, Melanie gives birth. Melanie, Scarlett, and the house-slave Prissy escape Atlanta and head towards Tara (as if that can solve all problems). The journey wasn’t an easy one, along the way seeing the destruction war causes. Once beautiful plantations burned to the ground and everything ransacked.
Scarlett comes home to find her mother, Mrs. O’Hara, dead and her father insane. Not long after the return, Mr. O’Hara dies on a horse while trying to defend his once graceful plantation. Scarlett keeps her promise and does everything in her power to make money and feed the family with the war over. 
   
Once Scarlett realizes she cannot make money on her own, she marries Mr. Kennedy, knowing her sister wanted to marry him (classic Scarlett). She starts a lumber mill and expands Mr. Kennedy’s existing general store. Ashley returns form war and Scarlett once again throws herself at him; with Ashley loving every minute of it. Following Scarlett’s former husband’s path, Mr. Kennedy dies while defending his wife’s honor, and Scarlett is again on the market. 
   
Scarlett marries Rhett and they build a beautiful house and have a child named Bonnie Blue. The marriage is on the rocks. Rhett and Scarlett are constantly feuding while the child is being raised by Mammy. Finally, Rhett realizes Scarlett will never stop passionately loving Ashley.    

This movie is number one in box-office revenue for a reason. When watching, one may consider this film an early chick-flick. This movie gives an insight into the human condition. It reveals the hardships of love, war, and death. The director clearly portrays the evils of war, the sorrows of death, and the intense emotions of love. This movie does not have drugs and rock-and-roll, however, it has everything else a classic needs; characters one hates to love and other characters one loves to hate.

Special thanks to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_(film)?utm_source=lasindias.info
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517PS80V2PL._SL500_AA300_.jpg 
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