GONE WITH THE WIND

US, 1939, 220 minutes, Colour.
Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, Harry Davenport, Hattie Mc Daniel.
Directed by Victor Flemyng.

Gone with the Wind really needs no introduction. It has its place as the greatest box-office success of all time.

Techniques date, styles change, but the film is interesting as the success movie of its time. Vivien Leigh won her first Oscar (again for a southern faded belle in A Streetcar Named Desire). Clark Gable enhanced his romantic reputation and uttered the word 'damn'.

Some of the sequences are unforgettable, especially in the siege of Atlanta. Some parts are sentimental, dull, drawn out. Yet most audiences will make allowances and enjoy the overall success of Gone With the Wind.

1. This film Was made in 1939 and frequently shows its age. Why is it that it held the record for the biggest box-office success in cinema history? Why is it that it has been showing continuously since its first release?

2. The film is an American saga. What makes it interesting for non-American viewers?

3. What picture of pre-Civil War Southern states and people does the film give? What characterised the O'Hara family and the Wilkes family? What gave them their power, their arrogance and opinion of themselves?

4. Comment on the film's presentation of the customs of the time - the family life, the place of the blacks, the politeness between husband and wife, chaperoning, betrothals, parties, gallantry, the mammy, etc.

5. How did Scarlett fit into this background? How had it shaped her? How wilful was she? How cruel - even £n the opening sequences? Haw dangerous was her flirting? How selfish was she?

6. What hold did Scarlett have over men? What hold did she have over Ashley?

7. What kind of man was Ashley Wilkes? Was he a strong character or not? What sequences illustrate this? Did he love Scarlett?

8. What kind of woman was Melanie? Was she too good? Why?

9. How cruel was Scarlett's marriage? To her sister, to her husband?

10. What impact did Rhett Butler first make on the audience? on people? on Scarlett? Did he see through her from the first?

11. What was the importance of Tara itself in the film - for Mr O'Hara, for Scarlett? How did the musical theme enhance this?

12. Comment on the graphic presentation of the war. Was it realistic? frightening? e.g. the destination of homes, crops and property, hunger, the shooting of the soldier and -its effect on Scarlett and Melanie?

13. How did the picture of life in Charleston and Atlanta add to the sense of period and the significance of the film - Butler, Aunt Pitty-Pat? How did Scarlet fit into this? How did it influence her? (The widow enjoying dancing.)

14. Comment on the technical presentation of the siege of Atlanta. Why was it so vivid - the shooting and bombs, the wounded, the hospital, the five and terror? What effect did it have on Scarlett? Was she too self-centred to help or was too much asked of her?

15. How important was the birth of Melanie's baby, for the drama of the film, its development of Scarlett's character, Rhett Butler's intervention? The impact of the journey book, the hardship, starvation, destruction of Tara, Scarlett's vow that she would never go hungry again? The film made this a turning-point. Why?

16. What was the aftermath of the war for the South? Did it help to explain antagonisms of north and south? How did Scarlett manage? How hard had she become? Did Melanie influence her at all? How did Scarlett affect Ashley? How did she get him into her power?

17. Why did Scarlett marry again? Did she enjoy business? Did she enjoy power? How important was the sequence of the rebellion and the search for the men? How was Melanie's strength important here?

18. Why wouldn't Rhett Butler lend Scarlett money? How important did he become to her after the war? Did he really love her?

19. Why did they marry? Did Scarlett love Rhett? How did the film communicate the depth of their marriage? How important was their son to each of them?

20. Why did they grow apart? How selfish had Scarlett become? Was it all her fault? How did she manipulate the situation? What was the importance of Rhett's European trip?

21. What was the dramatic importance of the death of their son? How important was it to each of them?

22. How much of Scarlett's grief was self-pity? How did Melanie help? Why?

23. By the end, how had Melanie developed as a character? Again, was she too good and forgiving to be credible?

24. Why was there nothing left at the end for Rhett and Scarlett? Why couldn't Rhett give a damn?

25. After reflecting on the many strands of the film and the characterisations, what was the meaning of the title?