Gone with the Wind [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of Gone with the Wind [VHS]
Movie Review: It's okay to hate this movie
Summary: 1 Stars
I've always thought this movie was monstrously over-rated. As a child growing up in the south in the 70s, I never understood my mom's love for this film. Aside from the fact that it's boring (it's about 2 hrs too long) with an utterly detestable main character, it presents a whitewashed view of the racist old south. Fortunately, such a film couldn't be made today. Movie Review: Still the greatest.
Summary: 5 Stars
Gone With The Wind is still the all-time biggest Hollywood hit if measured in constant dollars. It represents Hollywood at the peak of its glory with the studio system in full swing, as indicated in an included excellent documentary on all the great films that came out 1939. I have the 50th anniversary laser disc, but this 70th anniversary package surpasses it in every way in terms of content and transfer. Although there is a little grain occasionally, for the most part it is remarkably clear and vibrant for a 70 year old film. It still holds up well as one of the few timeless works that Hollywood has produced.
The package, which comes in a fancy box, includes a thin hardcover book with posters, cast and production features. There are copies of not terribly interesting memos from David O. Selznick. There is also a copy of the original 1939 premiere program, a set of watercolor set prints, a bonus CD soundtrack sampler, and a 6 hour documentary on a bonus CD- MGM: When the Lion Roars. It is labeled as a "limited edition" xxx of 150,000, so don't expect it to go rare any time soon.
The Extras DVD contains a goldmine of material. In addition to the 1939 documentary, there is Gone With the Wind: The Legend Lives On, a s dreadful and inauthentic segment from the TV movie Moviola-The Scarlett O'Hara War that doesn't belong here, and The Making of a Legend: Gone With the Wind. There are also reflections from Olivia de Havilland, documentaries Gable: The King Remembered and Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond. There is a documentary on the restoration process, films of premieres, trailers, foreign language samples, etc. or just about everything a fan could ever want.
THE BOOK; Considering the fact that both major characters lack much in the way of scruples, they don't have much happy time together, and they wind up going their separate ways it is miraculous that this story could wind up being one of the great romantic films of all time. Before this viewing I decided to read all 1000+ pages of the book to become familiar with the source material. What is truly surprising for a Hollywood production is how faithful it is to the book. The only major exception, apart from a few missing characters, is the fact that in the book Scarlett had a child by each of her first two husbands.
THE CAST: Audiences at the time anticipated Gable in the role of Rhett, and he is dead-on target. It is impossible to think of anyone else playing the role or the film being the success it was without him. He was so good he was taken for granted at the time and passed over for an Oscar in favor of the gooey Mr. Chips. Vivien Leigh is Scarlett to the core. Olivia de Havilland as Melanie and Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes are both equally perfect. One should also mention Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for her great performance as Mammy. The cast truly makes this picture the exceptional film that it is, under Victor Fleming's smooth direction, and David O. Selznick's perfect casting and supervision of the entire film.
Today it is mind-boggling to know that most of this was filmed on a Hollywood backlot. When the camera pulls back on the scene of a vast number of Confederate wounded on an Atlanta street you know those are all real people, which today would be created digitally. All in all it is a milestone in every respect. If you care at all about movies you have to have this.
Movie Review: one thousand nine hundred thirty-nine wows!
Summary: 5 Stars
The blu-ray is absolutely stunning! You have to see it to believe it. The aspect ratio 1:1.33 is perfect (unlike what I find on my dvd player with other films, which end up being completely "square.") I could not be more pleased, especially since almost all the "extras" are new to my collection. Money well spent to give me hours and hours of enjoyment.Movie Review: Not So Special Anniversary Edition
Summary: 3 Stars
First let me say that if you do not own "Gone With The Wind" and want a nice copy, go ahead and buy this, you won't be disappointed. However - if like me, you were looking for a "better"
copy, think again. I already own a 1999 edition of the film, which was fine in terms of picture and audio, but I read about the 70th anniversary edition that just came out, and its claims of unsurpassed remastering improvements. So I ordered one, and when it arrived, I went back and forth, playing scenes from both versions - and there really seemed no difference in terms of picture or sound between the two. So I returned the new one.
Movie Review: worth the wait
Summary: 5 Stars
This box set is unbelieveable - as a box itself it sits as a fine example of what can be done with care and attention and a little love by the box creators.
The extras as in book - cards etc - are a great bonus.
The extras on the disc are VERY enjoyable - I really enjoyed the new look at the Movies and America in 1939 - how could one year produce such a crop of well remembered films - real classics.
Amazon really pulled out all stops with this one and I had it my hands three days after ordering it - I live in New Zealand - well done all concerned - roll on the holidays so I have more time to sit through the rest of this set.