DVD Review: Gone With The Wind

Period romance. War epic. Family saga. Popular fiction adapted with crowd-pleasing brilliance. Star acting aglow with charisma and passion. Moviemaking craft at its height. These are sublimely joined in the words Gone with the Wind.

This dynamic and durable screen entertainment of the Civil War-era South comes home with the renewed splendor of a New 70th-Anniversary Digital Transfer capturing a higher-resolution image from Restored Picture Elements than ever before possible. David O. Selznick’s monumental production of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book can now enthrall new generations of home viewers with a majestic vibrance that befits one of Hollywood’s greatest achievements.

Review:
Gone With The Wind is without question one of the best films of all time, and now it’s being re-released for new generations to appreciate.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with this epic film, it is based off the Pulitzer Price-winning novel by Margaret Mitchell. It’s a Civil War-era family saga that’s full of romance, humor, and saddness. It was the winner of 10 Academy Awards including the 1939 Best Picture.

In the beginning of the film it’s hard to really grow fond of the lead character – Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh). She seems whiney, spoiled, and fixated on winning over Ashley, a man who is getting ready to announce his engagement to Melanie Hamilton. As the film progresses and evidence of the time period becomes evident, Scarlett has to adapt in order to keep her family alive. She has to grow up.

The Civil War has swept through the South – and burnt most it on the way. Tara, the home of the O’Hara family, has somehow survived the destruction that faced the other structures in the area. With talk of the taxes being raised, Scarett knows she doesn’t have enough money to kept Tara, so she turns to the charming-yet-never-a-gentleman Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). Rhett has been taken prisioner by the yankees, and he doesn’t see much good in helping Scarlett with her financial hardship. So Scarlet continues to pursue other avenues in order to save the property dearest to her heart, but that doesn’t mean Rhett is out of the picture. Far from it. He’s had his eye on Scarlett for quite some time, and he’s not about to let her get away without a romance that the world will never forget. And forget, we shall never. It doesn’t matter if you’re 88 or 18, the story is still the same, and it’s one that everyone can somehow relate to.

The release is remastered with a higher resolution, but the film itself doesn’t come with many extras – just a commentary with Historian Rudy Behlmer. What really disappointed me is that the film is still on separate discs. It is remiscient to me of my family’s old VHS version which came on multiple tapes. But that’s all I have to complain about, which isn’t so bad. After the first disc, you’ll need a brief intermission anyways. Get up, stretch your legs, get a snack, and switch out the disc.

There’s another reason I’m fond of this film. I actually have a personal connection with it as it takes place in Jonesboro, the town where I grew up. For that reason, I’ve always been aware of the film. I saw it when I was young, though I can safely say I did not truly appreciate it until now.

In conjunction with the release of the 70th Anniversary Edition, there was a special event held in Marietta, Georgia, honoring the film and performing “The World’s Largest Virginia Reel.” Several of the original cast members were on hand including: Ann Rutherford (“Carreen O’Hara”), Mickey Kuhn (“Beau Wilkes” at age 7), Patrick Curtis (“Baby Beau Wilkes”) and Greg Geise (infant “Bonnie Blue Butler” & infant “Beau Wilkes”), along with Gina Miller who was an extra.

Review by Emma Loggins

Grade: A+
Official site: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M2Z3BA?ie=UTF8&tag=leavingnormal&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002M2Z3BA
Buy on Amazon: Gone With The Wind