Posted on 12/05/2009 3:15:09 PM PST by BigReb555
December 15, 2009, is the 70th Anniversary of the movie 'Gone with the Wind.'
(Excerpt) Read more at huntingtonnews.net ...
Gone with the Wind premiered during the Christmas Season of 1939, just 74 years after the end of the “War Between the States” and December 15, 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of that wonderful-classic movie that begins with:
“There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Master and of Slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind.”
Gone with the Wind won 8 Oscars for 1939, including Best Picture, and;
Hattie McDaniel, the first Black American to win an Academy Award, expressed her heart-felt pride with tears of joy, upon receiving the 1939 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her memorable role as “Mammy.” See her acceptance speech at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3hpmgn7Q30
Victor Fleming won the Academy Award for Best Director and even though Max Steiner did not receive an award for his excellent music score, the “Gone with the Wind” theme song has become the most recognized and played tune in the world.
Vivien Leigh, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role, humbly and eloquently summed her appreciation by thanking Producer David O. Selznick which you can view at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaPMpD4oxDA&feature=related
And, who can forget Olivia De Havilland as the pure-sweet Melanie Hamilton, Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
Friday, December 15, 1939, was an icy-cold day in Atlanta but people warmed to the excitement of the world premiere of “Gone with the Wind”--The Selznick International Pictures “Technicolor” Production of the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Release of Margaret Mitchell’s novel about the Old South at the Loews Grand Theater.
We remember Thomas Mitchell who played (Gerald O’Hara) telling daughter Scarlett:
“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 working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it's the only thing that lasts.
And, we cried when Bonnie Blue Butler, the daughter of Rhett and Scarlett—played by Cammie King, was killed in a pony accident.
The cast of Gone with the Wind stayed at the historic Georgian-Terrace Hotel.
Anne Rutherford, who played Scarlett’s sister Carreen, took time to visit the Confederate Veterans at the soldier’s home and the stars toured the famous “Cyclorama” at Grant Park.
The festivities surrounding the premiere of Gone with the Wind included a parade down Peachtree Street with three hundred thousand folks cheering the playing of “Dixie”, waving Confederate flags and shouting Rebel Yells.
And, many witnessed the lighting of the “Eternal Flame of the Confederacy”, an 1855 gas lamp that survived the 1864 Battle of Atlanta. The lamp remained for many years on the northeast corner of Whitehall and Alabama Streets. Mrs. Thomas J. Ripley, President of Atlanta Chapter No. 18 United Daughters of the Confederacy, re-lit the great light with Mr. T. Guy Woolford, Commandant of the Old Guard by her side.
My Mother remembers the great spot lights lighting up the night sky.
The house where Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone with the Wind” is still standing. See information at: http://www.margaretmitchellhouse.com/
Time Magazine wrote:
“The film has almost everything the book has in the way of spectacle, drama, practically endless story and the means to make them bigger and better. The burning of Atlanta, the great "boom" shots of the Confederate wounded lying in the streets and the hospital after the Battle of Atlanta are spectacle enough for any picture, and unequaled.”
Read entire article at:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,952044,00.html#ixzz0XFQVmsTD
The 70th Anniversary of “Gone with the Wind’ was recently celebrated with a re-premiere showing at the beautifully restored Strand Theater located on the square in Marietta, Georgia. Read information at: http://www.earlsmithstrand.org/
Merry Christmas and May God Bless!
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
What I love about Gone with the Wind as I have read it over the years is that it is a book that has grown with me. At 14, I wanted to be Scarlett. By time I reached my 40s, I did not. At 14, I thought Ashley Wilkes the biggest loser. By time I reached my 40s, I realized just how devestating it could be when your world blew up.
Melanie is a wonderful character. Finally, Rhett Butler is still Rhett Butler and as I have grown up, my appreciation of the character grew with me.
Margaret Mitchell wrote a classic. I've read it about 30 times..and just writing this post makes me want to pick it up and read it again.
My all-time favorite movie/book. (YES - I read the whole book and “Scarlett” when it came out.) Time to watch it again!
Although fanciful it seems to depict Union “Preservation” efforts in and around Atlanta, utilizing the torch for maximum effect. Yankees had a keen sense of winning “Hearts and Minds”. Confederate solders were arrested for looting and pillaging, Yanks got promoted..
Right there with you! I’ve read it 20 times or more and yes, as a teen, I remember skipping through the “boring” war stuff - lol
Same here. “Scarlet” wasn’t nearly as good as GWTW. (I’ve read GWTW and seen the movie.) It’s one of the few movies that I enjoy watching over and over. Despite her weaknesses, I always admired the character Scarlet. Leigh got the role when she showed up for the filming of the burning of Atlanta scene with her boyfriend Sir Laurence Olivier. And I gasped too the first time I saw Clark Gable as Rhett—I think it was in the early 1970’s. He is timeless....
Made the mistake of watching Gone With the Wind for the first time pregnant, at 11 pm at night, whilst my husband was away on a business trip. By 2am I was a bawling wreck. I still rewatch it, though. It’s a feat of moviemaking, right up there with Ben Hur.
Have never managed to finish the book. Without Vivien Leigh’s vivacity to distract me, the urge to slap Scarlett becomes overwhelming, and I end up throwing the book against the wall halfway through.
Now, I write the boring war stuff. My first novel is about the Civil War. So is my second. LOL!
Yes, at 14, I thought Scarlett wonderful... now I just want to slap her flat and tell her to grow up. LOL!
Mrs. Springman and I saw GWTW on the Big screen on the 60th Anniversary.
That is the the way that movie should be seen!!!!
My only claim to fame is having smoked hashish
in MM’s bedroom in that house on Peachtree.
At the time it was behind a chinese resturant
with a bar up stairs call the “Suzie Wong Lounge”.
Ah, the good old days.
Well, we all have stories. LOL!
Everytime I think of GWTW I think of this guy:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001366/
Why?
After fighting in WWI and starting a fine movie career, he went home to help his nation in WWII:
“He died in 1943, when the KLM plane he was in was shot down by German fighters over the Bay of Biscay.”
They don’t make them like that anymore.
I love this book and movie! Many may not know that this movie was actually screened prior to it’s showing in Atlanta - in my hometown - Riverside, CA. Screened at the Fox Theater: http://www.riversideca.gov/arts/fox.asp
Which is now undergoing a transformation.
I remember going to the Fox to see movies in the 50’s and 60’s during hot summers. Loved to sit up in the balcony.
I did know that!
I always wanted to be Melanie from the first time I read the book when I was 12.
“Gone with the Wind” is a favorite of mine too. I’ve read it a few times and I’ve watched the movie a few times, too. I also read “Scarlett” and I saw the movie, “Scarlett”, when it was on TV back in the early 90’s, wasn’t it. Last year I read the novel”Rhett Butler’s People” by Donald MCaig. I have to say I think I enjoyed it even more then “Scarlett”, though not as much as “Gone with the Wind”. This third novel tells the story from Rhett’s point of view, which is refreshing. If your a fan of the “Gone with the Wind”, I highly recommend “Rhett Butler’s People”. It’s a shame that Margaret Mitchell didn’t live to write the sequels, c’est la vie.
It took me along time to appreciate Melanie. I love Mitchell’s characterization about Melanie. “She always wanted people to be loved and happy.” What a great character.
It is a great story. The movie was easily the most anticipated one of the golden era of Hollywood. When the theater manager saw Selznick show up with film cans he knew instantly what was about to be shown in his movie house. And when he announced to the audience they were about to see a special preview from Selznick Pictures they knew as well and broke into thunderous applause.
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