Gone with the Wind is a massive four-hour epic tale about a dazzlingly lovely young southern bell, Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), and her life before, during and after the American civil war.
Early on we meet Scarlet, not wanting to go to a party with her family. While at the party she meets the handsome Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), and despises him almost from the word go. Scarlett meets the dashing Butler several times over the course of time, but despite his advances and proposals of love to her, Scarlett refuses him.
Finally, after two husbands and a failed attempt to win the love of the only man she ever truly loved, Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett marries Rhett.
As the story moves on, we see young Scarlett have to deal with death, marriage, fire and war. Scarlett marries Rhett Butler, not knowing fully if she truly loves him or not.
Eventually, Scarlett has a child, Bonnie Blue Buttler, a girl. Then, she becomes pregnant again. But, after a bad fall, she miscarries, sending their marriage into a tailspin.
Finally, they separate. Rhett can't take Scarlett's endless wishing for Ashley Wilkes to ask for her, and Scarlett can't decide whom she really, truly loves.
Scarlett finally realizes, when it's too late to save their marriage, that she loved Rhett all along. Rhett leaves Scarlett, but not before telling Scarlett that he "doesn’t give a damn" what she does with the rest of her life.
Vivien Leigh gives an outstanding performance as the protagonist Scarlett, basically carrying the film by herself. Hattie McDaniel, the larger-than-life Mammy, also give a great performance as we see her caring for Scarlett throughout the entire picture from one crisis to another.
Even the Dashing Clark Gable give a terrific performance, one worthy of the Oscar. It’s a shame he didn't win.
Perhaps better than winning Best Picture was the fact that it broke new ground: Hattie McDaniel won for Best Actress in a Supporting role. Relevance? She is African American. She was the first African American to win an Oscar (to even be nominated!), and it took great courage for the Academy to vote for her. She deserved it!
At four hours long, some may find it tough to sit through this epic. However the time goes quickly as you are absorbed in this totally engrossing southern epic. Before being shortened to it’s original length, directors had it at four and a half hours long! It’s a movie set in a classic setting with classic characters who never disappoint.
Gone with the Wind is a classic film not to be missed and is totally vibrant today as it's Technicolor was 68 years ago and still is.
Plot: 
Gone with the Wind is an incredible yarn filled with action and southern drama the likes of which have rarely been captured on celluloid.
The film moves quickly from point to point in Scarlett O'Hara's life, from her early courtship to her days during and after the Civil war.
Visual Effects:
Excellent! The camera work, matte paintings, sets, and even the visual effects were top notch for their days, out-done in everyway by today’s standards and even a bit cheesy, but exceptional for the time.
Sound: 
Sound is exceptional, as well. The score is terrific, uplifting at times and melodramatic at other times. Greatly enhances the film in all aspects.
Character Development:
You learn a lot about Scarlett O’Hara, where she came from, where she lived, and what she’s like. On the other hand you learn little about the mysterious past of Rhett Butler. Both characters show tremendous depth, although it’s not always clear.
Out Heroin, Scarlett, as we first see at Tara, is a spoiled brat of a girl. But as she grows up, learns to fight tragedy and pain at every turn, she becomes a woman, a very stubborn women who can handle things for herself but is always open to the affections of a man.
Some would say that the Scarlett character does a complete 180° turn, others would say not. Judge for yourself.
Atmosphere:
Being a period film, you have to get the details right and in this epic they do. Although not really about the war, it does play a big part in the movie. The costumes and locations serve to enhance the mood of the picture. For one thing, it is a drama, but it is a soap opera even more so.
Realism:
Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable give outstanding performances and you really feel for the characters. Although evidently fictitious, the setting and circumstances are very real. The only questionable thing is that there is a hint of doubt that ANYONE would want to marry a character like Scarlett O’Hara.
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it beat out for Best Picture:
Dark Victory; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; Love Affair; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; Ninotchka; Of Mice and Men; Stagecoach; The Wizard of Oz; Wuthering Heights
9.14/10Is the movie worth your time to watch?
11-03-03
Updated 10-01-07
Age at win: 27
Nominated for: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Scarlett O'Hara, Gone with the Wind
Nomination: 1/2 (acting), 1/2 (total); Win: 1st
Vivien Leigh gives a knockout performance in Gone with the Wind. She is stunning as Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful young southern bell. Vivien Leigh does it all in this period film. She falls in love with dashing Rhett, gets married, looses friends, has a baby, has a miscarriage, fights off the north, and looses her husband, to boot.
Vivien Leigh sails through Gone with the Wind with ease; she is a natural actress. And, even at such a young age, she has mastered the ropes of acting. But, what stands out about Vivien Leigh's performance, is the shear passion of the role.
Scarlett is the true spoiled little rich B!t¢# that we've come to know and love. She has everything a girl could want. But then she meets Rhett.
But when Scarlett finally reveals her true feelings for Rhett, when it all to clear that she is too late, he tells her where to go.
"What am I going to do?" She asks Rhett. But he tells her off, the wake-up calls she's always needed.
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."
Vivien Leigh plays the last scene of the film with the ferocity and passion that's we seen for nearly four hours already. She looks up at the ceiling with tears in her eyes and cries,
"Tomorrow is just another day!"
Vivien Leigh wraps up her performance on a high note instantly, and unknowingly, landing in movie history forever.
11-03-03
Updated 10-01-07
Age at win: 44
Nominated for: Best Actress in a supporting Role, Mammy, Gone with the Wind
Nomination: 1/1 (acting), 1/1 (total); Win: Only
Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Oscar, albeit a supporting Oscar, which is still an Oscar. In a time when racism was still rampant, this was obviously a huge feat.
Hattie played the maid of the O'Hara's, named Mammy. Although treated very well, she obviously loved the family she was working for. It showed. It wasn't a large role, however, but then again there is the old adage: "there is no part too small..."
Hattie did a great job and it took great courage for the Academy to award the Oscar to an African American.
Loud and forceful, she made the most of ever scene she was in and took charge of them, making then her own.
Is sad to note that, after her death she willed her Oscar to Howard University, which lost it during riots in the 60's. It was never recovered.
11-03-03
Updated 10-01-07
