Recently I decided I would catch up on my classic film knowledge.
My choice was "Gone With The Wind" (1939) as it was available to me.
Prior to my watching of this movie I had no idea what it was about, I had
only ever know the iconic line of Rhett Butler played by Clark Gable (the man on the poster >>)"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn". For some unknown reason I assumed that this line would be used in a romantic situation. Boy was I wrong!
Nevertheless, there was no problem with me not knowing anything about the storyline of this film or the issues it dealt with. The film is set in Southern America around the time of the civil war and focuses on the life of a manipulative "Southern belle" by the name of Scarlett O'Hara (O'Hara is her maiden name as during the course of the film she marries three times).
I found the film entertaining to a certain degree. I say this because the running length of the film is FOUR hours compared to the standard running length nowadays. As well as the ending, I am personally the happy ending type of girl and this film left me disappointed in some ways. I understand that this film's main point is about the emotional journey that Scarlett goes on to protect her families land and reputation during a time of war. However there was a part of me hoping that she would finally settle down with Rhett and live happily ever after all the while leaving her troubles and the past behind.
This ideal of mine did not happen that's for sure.
If I were to rate "Gone With The Wind" directed by Victor Fleming out of ten, I would give it a 7 out of 10. It would have been an 8 but it lost a point because of the length and my dissatisfaction with the ending and Scarlett as a character (Not Vivien Leigh who portrayed her very well).
Until next time,
Lisa
