What Do You Think Is The Greatest Thing About Gone With The Wind?

Question

I know that so many consider it the greatest movie of alll time, (rightfully so) but what are some of the qualities that make it so great??

Answer 1

This film shows the best of the American cinema. Whether we like the film, or not, one has to recognize the greatest achievement, perhaps, of the creative talent of the people working in the movie industry. "Gone with the Wind" represents a monumental leap, as well as a departure, for the movies, as they were done prior to this film.

The vision of David O. Selznick, the power behind bringing Margaret Mitchell's massive account about the South, before and after the Civil War, pays handsomely with the film that Victor Fleming directed. This movie will live forever because it reminds us of how this great nation came into being, despite the different opinions from the two stubborn factions in the war.

"Gone with the Wind" brought together the best people in Hollywood. The end result is the stunning film that for about four hours keep us interested in the story unfolding in the screen. Of course, credit must be due to the director, Victor Fleming, and his vision, as well as the adaptation by Sydney Howard, who gave the right tone to the film. The gorgeous cinematography created by Ernest Haller gives us a vision of the gentle South before the war, and the Phoenix raising from the ashes of a burned Atlanta. The music of Max Steiner puts the right touch behind all that is seen in the movie.

One can't conceive another Scarlett O'Hara played by no one, but Vivien Leigh. Her beauty, her sense of timing, her intelligent approach to this role, makes this a hallmark performance. Ms. Leigh was at the best moment of her distinguished career and it shows. Scarlett goes from riches to rags, back to riches again and in the process finds an inner strength she didn't know she possessed. Her impossible love for Ashley will consume her and will keep her away from returning the love to the man that really loves her, Rhett.

The same thing applies to the Rhett Butler of Clark Gable. No one else comes to mind for playing him with the passion he projects throughout the movie. This is a man's man. Captain Butler was torn between his loyalty to the cause of the South and his sense of decency. His love for Scarlett, the woman he knows is in love with a dream, speaks eloquently for itself.

The other two principals, Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard, give performances that are amazing to watch. Ms. de Havilland's Melanie Hamilton is perfect. Melanie is loyal to the woman that does everything to undermine her marriage to Ashley. Mr. Howard's Ashley gives a perfect balance to the man in love with his wife, while Scarlett keeps tempting him.

The rest of the cast is too numerous to make justice to all the actors one sees on the screen, but omitting the contribution of Hattie McDaniel to the film would be sinful. Ms. McDaniel was such a natural actress that she is excellent no matter in what movie she is playing. This huge talent is a joy to watch.

Comments to this forum express their objections to the way the race relations play in the movie, but being realistic, this movie speaks about the not too distant past where all kinds of atrocities, such as the slavery, were the norm of the land. While those things are repugnant to acknowledge, in the film, they are kept at a minimum. After all, this film is based on a book by one of the daughters of that South, Margaret Mitchell, who is presenting the story as she saw it in her mind, no doubt told to her from relatives that lived in that period of a horrible page in the American history.

Enjoy this monumental classic in all its splendor.

Answer 2

Well actually the top movie of all time according to the American Film Institute is Citizen Kane. But I also love GWTW. I think the greatest thing I got out of that movie is no matter how bad things get you need roots to go back to.......family.......someplace that gives you strength no matter where it is. And also that you must always fight as hard as you can in times of trouble and dispair. I wish I could be more like Melanie. Finding the absolute good in every single soul. I watched it again this past Sunday.

Answer 3

The end when Rhett is finally fed up with Scarlett and he walks out!!

Because it's his final breaking point. He's bent over backwards because he loved this woman. For all he's ever done for her, she just couldn't get over a childhood crush.

Of course if the same situation happened in today's world, I'd be the first to smack Rhett upside his head and ask him what kind of idiot is he?!?!

Answer 4

I would say the cinematography.
At the time Gone With the Wind was being filmed, Technicolor was not widely used and carried several inherent disadvantages. The Technicolor corporation owned the heavy, cumbersome cameras required for shooting, all seven of which were rented to Selznick. Each picture was required to have a color consultant who had the power to veto any color scheme she felt was incompatible with color cinematography. In addition, technical advisors were required to assist cinematographers who had only worked with black-and-white film. Technicolor, for example, required twice as much lighting for proper illumination of a scene. Selznick had previous experience with Technicolor filming and knew that it would be vital to giving Gone With the Wind the visual richness necessary for an epic drama. In fact, Selznick was so determined that the film’s color have as much impact as the characters’ emotions that he fired the original cinematographer Lee Garmes for favoring a color scheme Selznick deemed too subdued. His replacement, Ernest Haller, succeeded in obtaining more vivid effects.
Selznick knew that using shadows was an important part of a scene’s visual impact and persuaded his color consultant to shoot Scarlett and her father in silhouette on the hill at Tara. With the plantation glowing brilliantly in the distance, the resulting framing effect powerfully underscores Gerald’s feelings about the importance of the land. Selznick uses this silhouetting to the same effect in the film’s final scene, when Scarlett stands on the same hill as she comes home to Tara. Selznick also uses shadows to emphasize moments that focus on the relationship between characters in Gone With the Wind, first seen in the form of the looming shadows Scarlett and Melanie cast on the walls of the makeshift hospital. Later, the delivery of Melanie’s baby is lit only with slivers of light that appear between the window slats, the darkness making the scene more intimate and giving it a powerful simplicity.
Another technique that Selznick brought from black-and-white film to Technicolor was the use of matte painting. While a shot was filmed, the area to be painted in later was masked with black matte paint on a glass screen placed in front of the camera. Later, a full-color scale illustration of the missing portion was shot onto the rewound negatives to cover the blacked-out area with calibrated precision. Previously used only for background shots, Gone With the Wind’s special effects cinematographer Clarence Slifer adapted the technique to complete a number of sets that were only partially finished. Tara’s side views, outhouses, and background vegetation were all matte paintings, as were portions of the Twelve Oaks plantation, the train station roof, the decorations in the Old Armory, an entire street of burning houses, and even some of the wounded soldiers lying on the ground in long shots.

Answer 5

I don't think it's that great. I mean all the action represents a few days over a period of years. Something happens then the next scene is two years later. I mean, what happens in between?

Answer 6

The book!

When you read the book, you get an insight into what was really going on in Scarlett's head, which truly changes how you look at the whole story.

Answer 7

I don't think it's that great. It's pretty good. I think the most interesting thing about is the wardrobe, and that good looking Clark Gable

Answer 8

i ought to assert that it really is gays. many people experience homosexuality is a existence form decision. Others imagine of of it as a ailment. for some years going round "messing up some queers" has been seen pastime to distinct the more advantageous Neanderthal contributors of our society.

Answer 9

the word damn. the worlds first move with a profanity. with all the good morals of the 30's it still didn't get banned. now that's something. by the way M*A*S*H* (C) 1969 WAS THE FIRST MOVIE TO CONTAIN THE F WORD

Answer 10

the greatest thing about gone with the wind was the end