Seventy years ago movie goers were treated to a momentous experience when they viewed Gone with the Wind, and the film still ranks as one of the best films ever made. The 1939 Academy Award winner for Best Picture is just as awe inspiring today as it was seventy years ago.
The story revolves around the Civil War, but is also a love story between Scarlett O’Hara, a spoiled rich girl, and Rhett Butler, a roguish character who most of the time has only himself on his mind. His instant attraction to Scarlett is rebuffed due to her agonizing love of Ashley Wilkes.
Gone With the Wind is a Classic Movie
The movie is part of today’s pop culture. With memorable scenes and unforgettable dialogue, this movie is timeless. The burning of Atlanta, the long staircase in Scarlett O’Hara’s house, Tara, Scarlet wearing a dress made of draperies, and many more scenes are embedded in the minds of movie lovers.
Scarlett’s statements of “As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again,” “Fiddle-dee-dee,” “I’ll think about that tomorrow,” and “Tomorrow is another day” are engrained in the memories of fans. Prissy’s unforgettable utterance of “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies,” is a line which no on who has seen the film can forget. And finally, Rhett Butler had some treasured lines, including telling Scarlett, “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how,” which melts the hearts of female viewers. But his most memorable line is part of movie history. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” This one line caught the attention of moviegoers seventy years ago, when no swear words had been uttered on the big screen.
The Bonus Features
The limited edition is packaged in a red velvet box that is numbered. The total edition is limited to 150,000 boxes. Inside, beside the classic movie, there is a CD Soundtrack Sampler of the memorable music from the film. The movie itself is divided into two discs. The film runs almost four hours and has been remastered in high definition for incredible video quality.
Three additional discs each focus on various aspects of the timeless movie. There is a bonus disc about the film itself, a disc about the cast, and a disc of extra features.
About the Film Bonus Disc
This disc includes a feature on the “Making of a Legend.” The history of the actual film from the book to the final filming is explored. A feature titled “Restoring a Legend” looks at the Warner Bros. restoration process which makes the newer version more beautiful and spectacular than ever with modern technology. A feature titled “Dixie Hails Gone with the Wind focuses on the film’s acceptance in the South.
”The Old South” is a historical theatrical short that was often shown before the actual movie in theaters where audiences were not very familiar with the history and society of the old south. And for foreign audiences, an International Prologue was included with the movie to give a brief history lesson about the old south for moviegoers in other countries who might not know much or anything at all about the Civil War.
And another feature on this disc is from 1961 when the film was re-released in Atlanta for the Atlanta Civil War Centennial event.
About the Cast Bonus Disc
This disc is divided into four sections. “Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland” contains an interview with Ms. de Havilland who reminisces about her experience with the film. At the time she was under contract with Warner Bros. but she desperately wanted the part of Melanie. It was illegal for her to read for the part at another studio and Selznick International was the studio making the film. But when she was asked if she wanted to “break the law,” she didn’t hesitate and went over to read for the part which she wanted so badly and ultimately received.
“Gable: The King Remembered” is a 1975 film narrated by Peter Lawford. This 65 minute film looks at the life, loves, and career of Clark Gable, who made 90 films in his long career and was the Hollywood Hunk of his day. He was even celebrated in a song sung by Judy Garland, the first time a studio ever dedicated a song to an actor.
“Vivian Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond” is a 1990 film narrated by Jessica Lange. Leigh’s career is examined in this 46 minute documentary.
And “The Supporting Cast” focuses on the various actors in the movie.
Extras
This disc is by far a major part of the edition. It includes “1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year,” which looks at the many releases that year, including Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. What a year it was!
“Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On” illustrates the staying power of the film to remain among the best films ever made. It has been released theatrically six times. There are memories about the film from its stars and today’s moviemakers. The film is about the past and the present, in that Scarlett was basically a modern woman who did not observe the old traditions and who also ran a business.
“Moviola: The Scarlett O’Hara Wars” is a 1980 made-for-TV film starring Tony Curtis and dramatizes the search for the perfect actor to play Scarlett O’Hara.
Besides all the video bonuses, there are plenty more additions to this limited edition. A hardcover picture book, replications of memos and notes by movie executives about the film, a reproduction of the 1939 program, and ten art prints from the story.
- Number of discs: 5 Video 1 CD
- Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Running Time: 233 minutes
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