Gone with the Wind (1939)
I wanted to get more acquainted with the Golden Age of Hollywood, so what better place to start than with one of the all time greats.
Yes, the whole premise with the “evil” Yankees ruining the utopian lives of the rich slave owners was irksome to say the least. I saw it as something like a weird fantasy and not a historical document. With that distance, I was still very much drawn by this movie. The movie is absolutely gorgeous and Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable make amazing performances. They carry the whole movie. Their teasing ping pong dialogues are delightful.
The first half of the movie is nothing but spectacular and among the best in movie history. The second half doesn’t have quite the same impact, except when Bonnie dies. How Rhetts refuses to bury his child who was afraid of the dark really hit me hard.
Also, how nice to see a movie that is over 80 years old beating the Bechdel test hundred times over and better than many present day Hollywood blockbusters.
Rating: 5