Since the beginning of film, the industry has flourished with thousands of movies that have entertained and mesmerized viewers. This crowded landscape of cinema has made it highly competitive and extremely difficult to make a lasting mark on popular culture. But for some movies, their immediate appeal and quality put them on the path of enduring historic relevance. Movies like Gone with the Wind.
Based on the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind is a love story that unfolds during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Directed by Victor Fleming, who had already made an indelible mark in 1939 by helming The Wizard of Oz, it starred an ensemble cast led by Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, and Olivia de Havilland. The movie premiered in mid-December 1939 in Atlanta then saw nationwide release on January 17, 1940.
The sweeping historical romantic drama tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh), the determined daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, as she pursues a romance with Ashley Wilkes (Howard), who is already married, and her eventual marriage to Rhett Butler (Gable). The love triangles, family drama, and real historical events unfold over nearly four hours of film, including an intermission.
Producer David O. Selznick bought the film rights a month after the book was published. The preproduction process went on for two years as he worked to secure Gable as Rhett Butler and the search for Scarlett, a part for which 1,400 women auditioned. Selznick wanted Gable from the start, but he was under contract at MGM, which didn’t allow him to work with other studios. Determined to secure the star, Selznick struck a deal with MGM chief Louis B. Mayer to get him in the movie.
The nationwide casting call for Scarlett drummed up significant publicity for the burgeoning project. Many popular actresses were considered for the role, including Miriam Hopkins, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan Crawford, and Norma Shearer. Over two dozen actresses screen-tested for the role, which was whittled down to four actresses until Leigh won the part.
Gone with the Wind was released to critical and audience praise, building a huge fanbase that continues today. It became the highest grossing movie of the time and held that record for over 25 years and when adjusted for inflation, it is still the highest grossing film in history. In 1989 the U.S. Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. It was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning 8 Oscars, including Best Picture (first color film to do so), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, making her the first African-American to be nominated and win an Oscar. It also won two honorary Academy Awards.
