"Rate Gone With the Wind" Topic

It's a classic movie, but some criticize the film for being too sympathetic to the South. On a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent), how would you rate Gone With the Wind?

In honor of my departed wife who loved all things Gone With the Wind. I say 9.

Before intermission: 8
After intermission: 4

Really not interested in rating fiction according to its politics. As a movie, I'd say a 9.

8

8

A great film.
8.
I am sure some frankly don't give a damn.

martin

8

I frankly don't give a damn.
~ , ~

Bit of historical fantasy there. I'd give it a 5 or 6.
Lovely costumes, especially for the ladies.
Selznick Productions/MGM quietly searched Georgia for a nice, pillared mansion to use for Tara. There weren't any. It wasn't quite the cultured, genteel society they present.
The evil carpetbaggers and happy, childish slaves are stereotypes.
No real mention of the gallant Southern manhood gone off to Tennessee with Hood, leaving Georgia with no protection from Sherman's army, so Scarlett had to shoot the Yankee bummer.
It's still a good story and enjoyable to watch.
I also like the dress Carol Burnett wears in her parody of GWtW that still has the curtain rods in the shoulders.

Grelber

9 as a great cinematic achievement but warped in many of its portrayals. I've still got a crush on Melanie.

6 or 7. It is very Lost Cause and glamorizes the Old South and slavery. Yet, it is well acted and well done. I would never show it in the Civil War class to students, but I would likely watch it again sometime.

Given the era in which it was filmed and the book on which it was based, it was a 9 or 10 at the time and even now I believe that, based on the technology and skills available, it is a classic deserving of recognition as a landmark in film. Yes the whole Lost Cause thing is pathetic but that shouldn't diminish the work itself.

Frankly, I don't give a damn. As for movie making technique, story, filmography, script, adaptation, etc., I would rate it a "9".

9

A solid "8" as entertainment, but as history, a solider "1."

Bless Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen for bearing their crosses with such professionalism.

TVAG

In 1939 it was a great movie, and has still stood the test of time, though with less enthusiasm.

In fairness, there are plenty of Oscar worthy movies today that movie goers in 1939 would have hated.

Kim

One of the all-time classics. The AFI still rates it as number six of all-time.

link

I'd go with 7.

It's not a documentary, so I'm not too concerned with historical accuracy.

As God is my witness, I thought that turkeys could fly.

If I remember, I didn't much enjoy it when I saw it, but I was like twelve, so dunno if I'd have the same reaction today.

"Bless Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen for bearing their crosses with such professionalism."

No one ever mentions Everett Brown. I always liked Big Sam--probably a better NCO than I was. But many people in Hollywood have played someone foolish, unhelpful or even villainous. It's called "acting." Only Butterfly McQueen gets credit for martyrdom. As for Hattie McDaniel, she played someone both smarter than and morally superior to any of the leads. Rhett Butler calls her one of the few people whose good opinion he values. Better than he ever said about Ashley Wilkes.

Certainly the movie whitewashed slavery, but the lead roles, white and black, are good solid roles. Did the cast of "Good Times" bear crosses? How about the Three Stooges?

A solid 8 or 9 as a piece of cinema. There's no point into reading anything more into it. You could rewrite it into the Punic Wars or something and it would still hold up.

I like it when Rhett Butler lectures to all these Southern Aristocrats so optimistic about the war.

"To secede from the Union and set up another government would cause war. If you go to war with the United States, you will never conquer her, as she has the money and the men. If she does not whip you with guns, powder, and steel, she will starve you to death. It will take the flower of the countries young men."

another line of his:

"Gentlemen, I fear you're in for a very bad disappointment. In the first place, there's not a cannon factory in the whole South."

"But we don't need cannon."

"You will wish you had more cannons"