Gone with the wind gone with the wind is a classic movie that has been loved by many americans over many generations. Set in the american south against the backdrop of the american civil war and the reconstruction era, the film tells the story of scarlett ohara, the strongwilled. Of course, gone with the wind is a novel, not a work of history, and what it offers is only a slice of what actually happened. A new literary history of america gone with the wind by. Interesting gone with the wind movie historical facts include information about the movie s portrayal of the civil war south, the depiction of the role of women, the role of race relations, and the films part in cinema history. The normal amount of film shot is 20 hours for a 2 hours long movie, so gwtw should have only had 40 hours. Gone with the wind, american epic film, released in 1939, that was one of the best known and most successful films of all time. Gone with the wind 1939 is often considered the most beloved, enduring and popular film of all time. How historically accurate is margaret mitchells novel.
In a previous post on gone with the wind i wrote that i had learned a lot about the american civil war and reconstruction, about slavery very different from uncle toms cabin and a lot about georgia and atlanta. Sep 26, 2014 as its 75th anniversary approaches, gone with the wind is again being celebrated as a timeless movie classic. Sep 24, 2014 gone with the wind turns 75 this year, a long enough period to establish it as an artifact, a museum piece. You can pretend youve gone back in time with a historical. Gone with the wind, poster, vivien leigh, clark gable, 1939. Sidney howards script was derived from margaret mitchells first and only published, bestselling civil war and reconstruction period novel of 1,037 pages that first appeared in 1936, but was. Yes, hattie mcdaniel won an oscar for her portrayal, but the african americans in the movie are all slaves and act stereotypically and as if they actually enjoyed their servitude. The films one notable loss was clark gable to robert donat for his performance in goodbye, mr. Perhaps the most popular american movie ever made, gone with the wind has had a lasting effect on american cinema and pop culture. Gone with the wind is a 1939 american epic historical romance film adapted from the 1936. Gone with the wind dates not accurate timeline timetoast.
It is a love story set in the south during the time before, during, and after the american civil war. Learn more about the complex process behind the scenes of this extravagant piece of history, and the men and women who. Atlanta native margaret mitchells 1936 novel of the civil war 186165 and reconstruction in georgia, gone with the wind, occupies an important place in any history of twentiethcentury american lit. This record stood for 20 years until benhur won 11 in 1959.
In the comments jane pointed out, quite correctly, that the book shouldnt be taken as history, but as reflective of a very strong pointofview of american history, circa 1930. A smash success upon publication, gone with the wind becameand remains even nowone of the bestselling novels of all time. I do not know the dates other than that this one is inapril of 1861. The novel unfolds against the backdrop of rebellion seven southern states initially, including georgia, have declared their secession from the united states the union and formed the confederate states of america the. Gone with the wind may be a dramatic masterpiece, but its portrayal of life during and after the civil war is not completely accurate.
At the time, the film was the third most expensive movie ever made. Some of the wealthiest families of the day, including the vanderbilts, the rockerfellers, and the astors, flocked to the loews grand theater to. Gone with the wind turns 75 this year, a long enough period to establish it as an artifact, a museum piece. George of georgia and loews eastern division manager carter barron presented the donation to the first archivist of the united states, r. But now, even the film s distributor acknowledges the civil war epics. Jan 19, 2017 35 fun facts about gone with the wind on january 17, 1940, the town of atlanta, georgia became a hub of activity. Mitchells gone with the wind is one of the great novels of survival, and therein lies much of its appeal.
The film proved to be an unrivalled commercial success. It depicts the struggles of young scarlett ohara, the spoiled daughter of a welltodo plantation owner, who must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of poverty. Few films are so closely identified with a geographical region as gone with the wind is identified with georgia and the old south. Sidney howards script was derived from margaret mitchells first and only published, bestselling civil war and reconstruction period novel of 1,037 pages that first appeared in. Gone with the wind and the confederacy the atlantic. But he seems to have taken a cue from mitchell when it came to business matters. Aug 25, 2017 gone with the wind is gone from the orpheum after 34 years but the films star seems to be dimming in recent years, as its problems relative to race and american history grow harder to ignore.
The rerelease of the movie gone with the wind this summer prompted a new round of criticism of the movie, of the novel it is based on and of. Some of the wealthiest families of the day, including the vanderbilts, the rockerfellers, and the astors, flocked to the loews grand theater to be a part of what would become a historic evening. Since its original publication in 1936, gone with the windwinner of the pulitzer prize and one of the bestselling novels of all timehas been heralded by readers everywhere as the great american novel. To get a realistic blaze and clear out the backlot. To this day, gone with the wind remains the highestgrossing film ever to be made. In particular it is the story of scarlett ohara, a headstrong southern belle. One of the most popular working titles for gone with the wind was ba.
When the movie of gone with the wind premiered in atlanta 75 years. It was boredom that caused 25yearold margaret mitchell to write 63 of the most beloved chapters in literary history. But now, even the films distributor acknowledges the civil war epics. Attempt to recreate a historical dish or a meal from a movie. However, out of the 1,400 hopeful young ladies, producers only asked 400. May 16, 2012 gone with the wind tells a story of the american civil war from a white southern point of view.
Gone with the wind was a romanticized version of southern antebellum life, including a romanticized version of slavery. Eight decades after it captured cinemas, hearts, and imaginations, the cultural impact of gone with the wind is still staggering. Gone with the wind is the one confederate monument worth. How gone with the wind took the nation by storm by. As its 75th anniversary approaches, gone with the wind is again being celebrated as a timeless movie classic.
Selznick of selznick international pictures and directed by victor fleming. Gone with the wind is gone from the orpheum after 34 years but the films star seems to be dimming in recent years, as its problems relative to race and american history grow harder to ignore. Gone with the wind this movie was intended to be about civilization in the south being blown away by invasion and conquest by the dirty yankees during and following the u. Based on the runaway bestselling 1936 novel gone with the wind. Historical fiction november 29, 20 march 19, 2018 margaret in a previous post on gone with the wind i wrote that i had learned a lot about the american civil war and reconstruction, about slavery very different from uncle toms cabin and a lot about georgia and atlanta. Yes, hattie mcdaniel won an oscar for her portrayal, but the african americans in the movie are all slaves and act stereotypically and. Gone with the wind s original director was george cukor, who had spent more than two years in planning and developing the film. Gone with the wind tells a story of the american civil war from a white southern point of view. In january 1941, the national archives accepted a copy of the awardwinningand controversialfilm gone with the wind. With clark gable, vivien leigh, thomas mitchell, barbara oneil. In chapter 43 mitchell gives to rhett butler a version of the speech that we know now her own mother had given her when she was a child. Jul 16, 2015 of course, gone with the wind is a novel, not a work of history, and what it offers is only a slice of what actually happened.
Inaccuracies the end of the war accuracies and inaccuracies of the 1939 film gone with the wind samantha shute period 4 in the story gerald ohara arrives on his plantation and announces that the civil war ended. It perpetuated the lost cause romantic version of the southern apologist mythology, in a sort of unconscious way. The movie runs on a loop and can be enjoyed throughout your tour. Heres everything you need to know about gone with the wind. How historically accurate is margaret mitchells novel gone. Gone with the wind takes place in the southern united states in the state of georgia during the american civil war 18611865 and the reconstruction era 18651877. The record stood for 20 years until benhur won 11 in 1959. Officially, he left the picture when he and producer selznick couldn. Interesting gone with the wind movie historical facts include information about the movies portrayal of the civil war south, the depiction of the role of women, the role of race relations, and the films part in cinema history. Gone with the wind was published in 1936, ten years after mitchell began writing it.
Gone with the wind has become the movie that made the most money of all time, after taking inflation into. Gone with the wind is a sweeping romantic story about the american civil war from the point of view of the confederacy. Gone with the wind is the one confederate monument worth saving. The story is set in clayton county and atlanta, both in georgia, during the american civil war and reconstruction era. The history, period dresses, movie costumes, movie facts and stars can be enjoyed in the displays and exhibits. Flemings classic civil war movie gone with the wind from its summer screening series. Historical accuracy won in gone with the wind with new fuss about. The movie suggests that the genteel, slaveholding, plantationowning way of life that is gone with the wind is worth romanticizing. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.
Directed by victor fleming, george cukor, sam wood. Bryan rommel ruiz has argued that despite factual inaccuracies in its. It enjoyed a morethan30year reign as the alltime hollywood box office champion, and it won eight academy awards in addition to two honorary awards. Fun facts from the filming of gone with the wind history daily. The 1939 adaptation of margaret mitchells 1936 novel, produced by david o. Jan 16, 2020 in january 1941, the national archives accepted a copy of the awardwinningand controversialfilm gone with the wind. I had to do a lot of work on such small details as this because i was very anxious to have gone with the wind accurate not only in large historical facts but in the very smallest ones too. Gone with the wind was the first colour movie to win the oscar for best picture, and hattie mcdaniel was the first african american to be nominated for and to win an oscar.
She learns that ashley wilkes her crush is engaged to melanie hamilton. Jan 01, 2010 after a bad accident margaret was convalescing at her mothers place in fayette county, found herself bored to death, and began writing gone with the wind. Since its original publication in 1936, gone with the windwinner of the pulitzer prize and one of the bestselling novels of all timehas been. Widely considered the great american novel, and often remembered for its epic film version, gone with the wind explores the depth of human passions with an intensity as bold as its setting in. The movie drew from a book of the same title by margaret mitchell, who was from georgia and learned of the war from aged civil war veterans and others. Jun 18, 2019 gone with the wind then and now 2019 how they changed. The films one notable loss was clark gable to robert donat for his performance in. Gone with the wind was the first film to receive more than five academy awards, receiving eight regular and two special oscars. Its the most successful box office hit of all time, with some of the most iconic performances and catchphrases ever to dazzle the silver screen. A list of important facts about margaret mitchells gone with the wind, including setting, climax, protagonists, and antagonists. Feb 11, 2020 best gone with the wind museum in georgia i went to another gwtw museum in georgia and was not impressed one bit. Gone with the wind is a unique civil war movie because is does not show any battles. Gone with the wind, american epic film 1939 that was one of the best known and most successful of all time. Gone with the wind published margaret mitchells gone with the wind, one of the bestselling novels of all time and the basis for a blockbuster 1939 movie, is published on this day in 1936.
In particular it is the story of scarlett ohara, a headstrong southern belle who survives the hardships of the war and afterward manages to establish a successful business by. Spoilers 15 the fact that hattie mcdaniel would be unable to attend the premiere in racially segregated atlanta outraged clark gable so much that he threatened to boycott the premiere unless she could attend. A sweeping story of tangled passion and courage, in the pages of gone with the wind, margaret mitchell brings to life the unforgettable characters that have captured readers for over seventy years. Gone with the wind, novel by margaret mitchell, published in 1936. Nov 03, 2015 20 things you might not have known about gone with the wind. It is a great love story set in the american civil war and the period of reconstruction afterwards. A manipulative woman and a roguish man conduct a turbulent romance during the american civil war and reconstruction periods. But this one was clean, well displayed, tons of costumes from the movie and props.
Jul 27, 2019 gone with the wind published margaret mitchells gone with the wind, one of the bestselling novels of all time and the basis for a blockbuster 1939 movie, is published on this day in 1936. After a bad accident margaret was convalescing at her mothers place in fayette county, found herself bored to death, and began writing gone with the wind. Miss scarlett ohara meets with stuart and brent tarleton. Based on the runaway bestselling 1936 novel gone with the wind by margaret mitchell, the movie is almost. Although mitchells 1936 novel gone with the wind focuses on the reconstruction years following the civil war, many of mitchells initial readers living through the great depression could identify with the hardships endured by scarlett and her family. Gone with the wind is a novel by american writer margaret mitchell, first published in 1936. The same place her grandmothers old plantation house was. Gables last sentence in the film, the infamous frankly, mty dear, i dont give a damn, has found a permanent place in american rhetoric. Mar 12, 2012 i had to do a lot of work on such small details as this because i was very anxious to have gone with the wind accurate not only in large historical facts but in the very smallest ones too. Although many historical facts presented were true, e. But as americans remember the war and their own history, they have an. In the book movie 12 oaks plantation had been burned down but tara wasnt. Among its accolades, gone with the wind took home best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best actress, best supporting actress, best cinematography, best set decoration, and best editing.