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Gone with the Wind Overview:

Gone with the Wind (1939) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by Victor Fleming, George Cukor (uncredited) and Sam Wood (uncredited) 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)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorClark GableNominated
Best ActressVivien LeighWon
Best Supporting ActressOlivia de HavillandNominated
Best Supporting ActressHattie McDanielWon
Best Art DirectionLyle WheelerWon
Best CinematographyErnest Haller, Ray RennahanWon
Best DirectorVictor FlemingWon
Best Film EditingHal C. Kern, James E. NewcomWon
Best PictureSelznick International PicturesWon
Best WritingSidney HowardWon
Special AwardTo 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
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Gone with the Wind 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

Photos from “THE MAKING OF GONE WITH THE WIND” exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center…

By Christy Putnam on Aug 18, 2015 From Christy Putnam

From September 9, 2014, to January 4, 2015, The Making of Gone With The Wind exhibit graced the Harry Ransom Center in Austin Texas. Christy with curator of the vast exhibit, Steve Wilson, and author of the museum exhibit book, The Making of Gone With The Wind. Banners at the entrance… Photo c... Read full article

Just for Fun: Gone with the Wind Screen Tests

By Annmarie Gatti on Jun 6, 2015 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Just for Fun: the Many ‘Potential’ Faces of Scarlett… As many of us know, the casting for Gone with the Wind was quite an endeavor. Many actresses were considered for the much-sought-after role of Scarlett, and about 30 actually screen-tested for it, including Tallulah Bankhead, La... Read full article

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Gone with the Wind Quotes:

Rhett Butler: Would you satisfy my curiosity on a point which has bothered me for some time?
Scarlett: Well, what is it? Be quick!
Rhett Butler: Tell me, Scarlett, do you never shrink from marrying men you don't love?
Scarlett: How did you ever get out of jail? Why didn't they hang you?
Rhett Butler: I'm not in love with you any more than you are with me. Heaven help the man who ever really loves you.
[choked up about Rhett and Scarlett]
Mammy: He went out and shot that poor pony, and, for a minute, I thought he was gonna shoot himself.
Rhett Butler: Why, all we have is cotton and slaves and arrogance.
Gerald O'Hara: Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlett O'Hara, that Tara, that land doesn't mean anything to you? Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts.
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Gone with the Wind Facts
The film has never been cut. Recent releases are longer because of the added Overture, intermission, and exit music, not because any deleted scenes have been restored.
For the scene in which Scarlett escapes the burning of the Atlanta Depot, a horse was needed to play woebegone, an old nag on the verge of collapse. A suitable candidate was finally found, but weeks later, when the horse was brought to the set, it had gained weight and its ribs were no longer visible. There was no time to find a replacement, so the makeup department painted dark shadows on its ribs to give the appearance of malnourishment.
In 2004, the movie was completely restored from the original three Technicolor negatives. This time, digital technology was employed to create results impossible to achieve with traditional methods. The negatives were scanned in at 2K resolution and digitally combined to remove all previous alignment problems and achieve perfect registration despite different amounts of shrinkage in the masters. The resulting digital master is of higher quality than any prints available so far - including the original prints from 1939. The color was timed to be identical to that of the surviving answer print of David O. Selznick, which is the color reference for the film. Reportedly, Selznick's original answer print was lost but it turned up five weeks into the 2004 digital restoration process. The color timing of the new digital master was subsequently stopped and started all over again from scratch. This 2004 digitally restored version looks truly astonishing, particularly when projected with a digital projector. An improved version, this time working at 4K resolution is already approved and should be finished in 2005. The 2009 Blu Ray Release comes from a new improved version 8K resolution scan and that is maximum possible limit for 70mm format.
The only four actors David O. Selznick ever seriously considered for the role Rhett Butler were Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn and Ronald Colman. The chief impediment to Gable's casting was his MGM contract. Gable was not drawn to the material; he didn't see himself in a period production, and didn't believe that he could live up to the public's anticipation of the character. Eventually, he was persuaded by a $50,000 bonus which would enable him to divorce his second wife Maria ("Ria") and marry Carole Lombard.
During the casting, Erin O'Brien-Moore was suggested for the role of Scarlett, although she was ultimately never auditioned or given a screen test.
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