Movie review – “Gone with the Wind” (1939) *****

This film ages so well. Not just the quality that went into it's making - the stunning art design, costumes, colour photography, cast - but the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett. He's a creature out of romantic fiction but with a modern neurotic twist: he loves Scarlett but can't let her know because she'll crush him, which she ends up doing anyway; and she's so selfish and self-involved, chasing after a guy who doesn't want her. It's Edward Albee territory in a way, and remains powerful drama. The film has appalling racist depiction of blacks (although Hattie McDaniel's Mammy has spirit), but is a true epic, and Scarlett O'Hara is one of the great unsympathetic protagonists of all time. Perfectly cast: Vivien Leigh is so good, as is Clark Gable and Olivia de Havilland (wonderful in an impossible role). I liked Leslie Howard too as the wishy-washy Ashley. A huge tribute to the studio system.