Gone with the Wind Reviews | RateItAll

Gone with the Wind

1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell Website

Approval Rate: 83%

83%Approval ratio

Reviews 50

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  • by

    coggy13

    Wed Aug 04 2010

    I don't know if I've ever watched this from start to finish. I've probably watched all the scenes, some a bunch of times. I've always been impressed with what I've seen. It's my Mom's favorite film, so I'll trust her and give it 5 stars.

  • by

    jtpatton

    Fri May 14 2010

    Saw it as a kid and kept waiting for the battle scenes. Boo. Saw it as a young adult and tried to get into the characters and dialogue. Boo again. Watched it again last year and tried to at least appreciate the cinematography, camera angles, etc. Yawn What a waste of early color film. The music causes cavities, too.

  • by

    taytayyy

    Sun Mar 28 2010

    It took me 2 and a half months to read this book...I didn't care much for the movie though.

  • by

    sarakai

    Fri Feb 12 2010

    This is a wonderful film for it's honesty and it's fearlessness in it's characters. It doesn't hold a sterotypical "hero" ending and the good guy doesn't always win. It shows that the passion of the characters, Rhett and his love of money and women, Melanie and her unconditional ability to see the good in people, and Scarlett and her desire to obtain only what she thinks will make her happy. I adore a movie that isn't afraid to try and depict what it was about back in those days, in a very overly romantic way of course. The movie wasn't about slavery, or even the civil war, it was about PASSION and finding hope in those steadfast things in our lives, even those things that we took for granted and paid not much mind to. Those are the things that we can really come home to, when all else changes and we grow and learn, we often learn that the things we loved the most are the things that were part of us all along.

  • by

    sokfuzz

    Sun Feb 07 2010

    IMO, still the overall best movie ever made.....

  • by

    lena7358

    Wed Feb 03 2010

    Gone with the Wind is essentially a 4-hour-long soap opera where the lead characters all happen to own slaves. Although the civil war often impacts the plot (most of Scarlett O'Hara's many husbands die on the front lines), slavery itself is never mentioned throughout the entire film. The men who go off to war are depicted as champions of traditional values. Prissy, one of the slaves owned by the O'Haras (who has the largest part in the film) is depicted as dim-witted and insolent. O'Hara herself is bitchy and manipulative. Given her dull and occasionally violent list of suitors, I can't say I blame her, but she's still irritating to watch. All that aside, the film's only redeeming quality is its occasionally lovely cinematography. Notably, the usage of silhouetted characters and elements in the foreground against sunsets and against the blazing fires as Atlanta burned. Looks like TCM has been ruling this property with an iron fist since I can't find photo or video examples of wha... Read more

  • by

    cripeseroo2

    Mon Oct 01 2007

    I will give it four stars for the cinematography, but the story is rubbish.

  • by

    spike65

    Thu Aug 23 2007

    People, people....there is absolutely no way this could ever be less than three stars. For cinematography alone it should rate four stars. I think this film would have been better with unknown actors. Gable was a huge star at the time and it shows. Vivian Leigh who was a virtual unknown in the U.S. when she was cast as Scarlett was quite good in her role. The movie was all about Scarlett. I tried to enjoy this movie in a theater on two separate occasions. Once in about 1952 when I was 5 or 6 yrs. old, and later after it was restored and given the 70mm. visual and soundtrack restoration to stereo about 1969 or 70. I guess my problem with the film in spite of it's visual beauty the main characters are just unlovable.

  • by

    victor83

    Sat Aug 18 2007

    Probably the best motion picture ever made, with classic acting, directing, and cinematogrophy. Adjusted for inflation, it remains the most commercially successful film of all time and the book is the #2 best seller in history...all the proof necessary that it was one hell of a good story.

  • by

    loerke

    Fri Aug 17 2007

    Wow, there's four hours of my life I'll never get back. This film exemplifies that part of the so-called "golden age" of Hollywood moviemaking that I don't dig at all: overstuffed stage sets with sweeping melodramatic plots which never cease to hit you on the head to remind you of how Important they are. I'm afraid this category of "the unwatchable" includes almost anything with Elizabeth Taylor in it, and, I hate to say it, even a couple of Humphrey Bogarts. For a viewer nowadays, you can handle the blatant racism (as in the Mammy character, so content with her lot), as part of its era, which you'll also see in other '30s pictures like His Girl Friday; but what is beyond my ability to stomach is the romanticization of the lives of these unsympathetic Confederate dunces as though they embodied a lost golden age. Even Marie Antoinette was more worthy of praise for "the age of chivalry" than dull and stupid Scarlett O'Hara.

  • by

    lastmessenger3

    Sun Jul 02 2006

    The ultimate classic movie. I don't know anybody who doesn't know or doesn't like this movie. Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia De Havilland, what a cast. The geniuses close to them are barely existant in today's cinema. These characters made such an impact on American culture, funny enough every young female with primodanna syndrome is called Scarlett. Reguardless of her selfish and whinning character, Scarlett o'Hara became very likable(at least for me). She was stubborn, at times arrogant brat, which was very unlady like at those times, but she was who she was - Scarlett. Loveher or hate her, but can't ignore her. Even in the end, when she's left all alone she states - "Tomorrow is just another day" - leaving herself with hope.

  • by

    kissmeback

    Sat May 13 2006

    I HAVE WATCH THIS MOVIE ONCE AND THE SAME THAT LINGERS MOST IN MY MIND IS WHEN THE HANDSOME ACTOR TELL THE YOUNG LADY I DON'T GIVE A DAM.CLASSIC ALL THE WAY.

  • by

    edt4226d

    Wed Mar 15 2006

    I think, in purely cinematic terms, "Gone With The Wind" is a masterpiece, but it's one I'm very ambivalent about. It deals with a mythology of the Antebellum South...prosperous plantations, happy and content slaves, industrious and beneficent whites...that in no way comforms to the historical reality. It's less history than pseudo-history. Then again, "The Godfather" was hardly about the cold-blooded, brutal reality of organized crime...it was as much a myth about "the Mafia" as "Gone With The Wind" was about the South...but they're both masterful productions, if taken on their own terms. All these decades later, it's still an extraordinary experience to witness on film Vivien Leigh's exquisite physical beauty and immense talent, and it's hard to imagine anyone else even trying to fill the dainty satin slippers of Scarlett O'Hara quite so precisely or perfectly. Clark Gable, to me, was never much of an actor (he can't even be bothered trying to come up with a Southern accent) but he h... Read more

  • by

    paintfullyours

    Sat Jan 21 2006

    Gone with the Wind is a classic epic for many reasons. The film is very well thought out, and stayed pretty close to the book ( I read somewhere that if they actually filmed every page of the book the movie would have lasted over 12 hours or so ). The thing that made this movie so delightful and legendary, is the performances made by Gable and Leigh. Though the two despised eachother in real life, there is no evidence of this in the movie. Their onscreen chemistry is wonderful, and the dialouge is classic. When the movie came out, " frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" caused and uproar. The first time "a swear word" was used in a film. Its quite funny now when you think of it, what would be said of our movies today? This movie keeps the viewer interested throughout, and if you can sit through Titanic you can certainly sit through this, 3 and a half hours goes by quickly once you become involved in the story. As any other classical film fan will tell you, movies in the "g... Read more

  • by

    alpepper

    Wed Nov 09 2005

    This is a test of the Troll Alert System: Gone with the Wind is one of the greatest movies of all time. I'd pay 20 bucks to see it a fifth time. This is only a test of the Troll Alert System.

  • by

    genghisthehun

    Mon Aug 29 2005

    I first saw it in 1948. I guess you gotta give it a 5, but how that wimp, Ashley, could resist Scarlett is beyond me. Thomas Mitchell is really great in this flick.

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    sfalconer

    Thu Jul 21 2005

    Other then Titanic this is the most overated movie of all time. Talk about stating the obvious, Tomorrow is another day. Give me a break, the dialogue is terrible and the story is week. If the book was published today it would be one of those trashy novels that women read.

  • by

    marsnvenus

    Mon May 02 2005

    A boring, overacted, epic film that does not deserve the praise it gets in it's place in cinematic history. I've managed to watch it in its entirety twice and that was a real chore for me.

  • by

    goldenagegirl

    Sun May 01 2005

    An overrated film!!!

  • by

    canadasucks

    Wed Apr 27 2005

    I tried, I really tried. . .it's too dated. Unwatchable. I'LL NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN! Yikes.

  • by

    joiu4100

    Wed Mar 09 2005

    Frankly my dear I do not give a damn about this movie.

  • by

    beres6b4

    Thu Mar 03 2005

    I have never understood why people like this trash. It's melodramatic, unbelievable, fantasized, etc. If people liked it for those reasons that would be understandable--just a matter of personal taste. However, they describe it as if it were some great example of fine acting. Phooey! I put it in the same category as Birth of a Nation. Romanticized racist drivel.

  • by

    threeca8

    Thu Mar 03 2005

    My mother loved this movie. I guess as far as epics go, it was alright.

  • by

    bbutler76

    Mon Feb 28 2005

    Love the storyline and it really is a timeless classic. Watched this movie over the weekend and I loved it just as much as the first time I saw it. The one character I don't care for is Miss Scarlet. She seemed to marry more than Elizabeth Taylor. She also was very self absorbed, seeming to crush anyone who came in her path. Love the ending when Rhett tells her where to stick it.

  • by

    rlg7890

    Mon Jan 10 2005

    I think the reason I love the movie so much is because of the characters in the movie. They are all so beautifully written, and you really feel like you get to know each of the principal characters in the movie. Scarlett in my opinion is one the most complex characters ever written. She starts out as a silly teenager who only cares about herself, boys and parties, (like most teenage girls). Then because of the tragedies and hardships she has to grow up and become this very mature woman capable of taking care of not only herself, but her entire family. The acting in this movie is perfect, each actor/actress really embrasses their character. Vivian Leigh especially. In my own opinion this is by far the best ensemble cast of any movie.

  • by

    1johndoefan

    Sat Oct 02 2004

    If you have trouble falling asleep then I prefer Gone With the Wind. Someone pretty much made me watch this... and every time I think of this film I start to get a little sleepy!!! Why people rate this high is beyond me... that is obviously their own opinion, but WOW... snooze fest if I ever seen one!!!

  • by

    slothrop

    Mon Sep 13 2004

    An overblown piece of racist garbage. I can't begin to list all the things I hate about this ode to the good old days of slavery. This single film has done more damage than any other you can name, this side of Triumph of the Will. It perpetuates the myth of the genteel Old South and the evil Yankees, while pretending that all the slaves were happy darkies who positively enjoyed the privilege of being owned by a bunch of white jerks. The only true line in the film is Gable's: The South has nothing but cotton and arrogance. And aside from everything else, I could never figure out why anyone thought Scarlett O'Hara was worth the time of day. I just wanted to slap her silly! Anyone who takes this film seriously should be required to view Glory about ten times-- maybe then they'd understand what the Old South was really like, and what the Civil War was really about.

  • by

    louiethe20th

    Tue Jul 06 2004

    Epic!Powerful!Hugely entertaining!

  • by

    kompewter

    Tue Jun 29 2004

    Max Steiner's sweeping score is breathtaking.

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    ladyshark4534

    Fri Jun 25 2004

    I thought Hattie McDaniel was the best actress in this film playing Mammy. Mammy, the black slave, keeps Scarlet, the white girl, under control and makes sure her white family never misbehaves. That's what I like about this film is that it gives the slaves of the south a portrayal of them as human beings.

  • by

    jaa2xecc

    Tue Jun 22 2004

    Long and boring. The fourth most overrated film of all time

  • by

    chaychay102roy_al

    Fri Jun 11 2004

    Excellent epic about the Civil War with geninue acting...this movie will live in our hearts forever.

  • by

    enkidu

    Sun Feb 22 2004

    I'm with tvtator on this one. One of the most overrated films ever made, and I just can't bring myself to give a damn.

  • by

    tvtator

    Sun Feb 22 2004

    Overrated, boring tripe. Good cast, good scenery and a few good scenes, but on the whole I wish it was gone with the wind.

  • by

    irishgit

    Tue Dec 16 2003

    Frankly, I just don't give a damn.

  • by

    marjorieb

    Fri Oct 17 2003

    It's OK. I read the book and when you actually see the movie, the leads are cast well as well as Mammy. Otherwise, the movie feels dated like it was the 30s rendition of the South during the Civil War. Didn't really feel like a period piece. And what was up with Leslie Howard as Ashley??? He dragged the whole movie down. He didn't get the essence of Ashley, so it was all the more confusing as to why Scarlett kept running after this wet rag.

  • by

    yankeedoodleda_ndy521

    Tue Oct 07 2003

    The Greatest Movie of ALL TIME! Vivien Leigh is great as Scarlett O'Hara and she deserved every award for it. Mammy was very funny and provided a good dramatic foil for Scarlett. There is certainly great chemistry between Scarlett & Rhett (Clark Gable) and will probably be remembered for all time and provide an example of what actors should do.

  • by

    kolby1973

    Tue Sep 23 2003

    Overall this movie was ok. The acting was great, and everything else was good too considering the year it was made. HOWEVER, I did not like the length of this movie, and I would never be able to sit thru it again...it isn't that great....

  • by

    rebelyell1861

    Mon Sep 22 2003

    I've only had the privilege (and the time) to watch it completely once, but it's definitely worth the 4 hours it takes up. It's interesting and beautifully done. And as a southern sypathizer, it always feels good to see a movie where the yanks are the bad guys. ha

  • by

    heaven_leigh_23

    Sun Sep 21 2003

    A friend of mine used to be crazy about this movie all her teenaged and adult life. She tried to get me to watch it, but I thought it would be old and boring. I started my love affair with GWTW qne month ago and I have watched the movie at least once a week since then. It just keeps getting better. I am reading the book and now I am a GWTW junkie. I have watched and read "Scarlett" and they are the perfect compliment to both the original book and movie.Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable were a perfect match for the film.Truly the greatest love story ever told!

  • by

    pabobe99

    Mon Sep 15 2003

    I try to carefully say this about this film because I realize it is not easy to characterize any of the classics in this manner: quite possibly the best American film ever written and produced.

  • by

    jimmyinatlanta

    Mon Jun 30 2003

    One of the greatest and one of the worst of the 'chick' flicks. Why women romanticize these 'period' pieces (pun intended) is beyond me - you had NO RIGHTS! If you saw a legit representation of the time period, it wouldn't be pretty and it wouldn't look like this phony Hollywood schlock. If you honestly find plantations, slaves, cotton, and the Civil War to be a fantastic backdrop to romance, then you need to ratchet your sense of drama down a couple notches. Not to say the leads weren't great actors (they are to make this turkey such a favorite), just that that Selznick brand of moviemaking left me wondering what the big deal was.

  • by

    molfan

    Mon Jun 30 2003

    one of the better made movies. Just as great today as years ago. I saw this at first as a teenager and so did my daughter. The movie is a bit different from the book but it is well cast with Vivian Leigh as Scarlett, and Clark Gable as Rhett.A very long movie if you have a good four hours to spare but worth it. Well done in every way.

  • by

    lukskywlkr

    Sun Jun 29 2003

    It took me literally years to sit down and actually watch the whole thing, and even then it took two nights, but I'm glad I finally did. I always felt that this was a bit of a "chick flick", but it's well worth watching for everyone. It's one of the few epic movies that actually contains a solid story throughout, while still maintaining the viewer's interest. The acting was excellent throughout as well, but I guess I'm one of the few who think that Clark Gable's famous line at the end "frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" was delivered with a lack of enthusiasm on his part.

  • by

    help_me

    Sat Jun 21 2003

    the ultimate love story. too bad scarlett was such a bitch. i wanted to slap her.

  • by

    aaaron

    Sun Apr 13 2003

    Gone with The Wind has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. Words can not describe my disappointment with this movie, especially after hearing so much hype as to how wonderful the movie was and etc. I guess when the movie debut in 1939- it was a great movie for the time. However, by today's standards, this movie is nothing but trash. I could not help but to laughed through most of the movie because the acting was so bad. I kind of feel sorry for the people who remember when Gone with The Wind was considered a great movie- it clearly shows how far the United States of America has come since the dark ages of the oppressive South.

  • by

    bigbaby

    Thu Apr 03 2003

    Excellent. Masterpiece material right here. Watched it in school (took the whole day) and loved. Most kids hated it, but I found it really interestiing. I like the first half the best. The second half seemed to dull out a little but came back at the end. Many memorable scenes. And what do I say to all of you who dont like this comment. "Well, frankly, I don't give a damn..."

  • by

    crimson_and_cl_over

    Mon Feb 10 2003

    Loved it. Love Vivien and Clark.

  • by

    jumping_jack_flash

    Wed Jul 17 2002

    Some people have some real nerve not to give this a five star rating. Yes, it's long. But, it's glorious in its length, scope, and feeling. Not the greatest film of all time, but probably the most famous. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable in roles that defined their careers. Heart-rending final act, and many unforgettable scenes along the way (like the harrowing Civil War parts). One of the films everyone, EVERYONE, must see in their lifetime.

  • by

    sueco76

    Wed Nov 21 2001

    What can be said about this masterpiece that hasn't already been said? It is a great piece of film that stands tall and pround and at the top in the line of film legends.