Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

[ClassyCo]

These are really the only candidates who made any sense. The others were too old or lacking in the necessary appeal.

Yes, many of the candidates lacked the center "it" factor necessary, which, I suppose, serves the purpose of Selznick using the Scarlett hunt mostly for publicity.

. I like Goddard a lot -- really, much more than Leigh overall

Paulette Goddard is a very good actress, but I don't have a lot of exposure to her work. I've only seen her in THE WOMEN and just snippets from other movies.

Vivien Leigh was beautiful and talented. She was very British, but won two Oscars for playing two Southern belles. I've only seen her in GONE WITH THE WIND, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, and THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE.

But I'd agree that I do like Goddard better than Leigh.

Bennet was physically great for the role and played some terrific noir bitches later in her career, but I've seen no evidence that she had the fire necessary for Scarlett

Her tests were decent, and she had the right look, but I have nothing to judge Joan Bennett on but what little I've seen of DARK SHADOWS.

Hayward is the most intriguing, given her later career.

I thought she showed good potential, despite being so inexperienced.

 

[Toni]

Yes, many of the candidates lacked the center "it" factor necessary, which, I suppose, serves the purpose of Selznick using the Scarlett hunt mostly for publicity.

Paulette Goddard is a very good actress, but I don't have a lot of exposure to her work. I've only seen her in THE WOMEN and just snippets from other movies.

Vivien Leigh was beautiful and talented. She was very British, but won two Oscars for playing two Southern belles. I've only seen her in GONE WITH THE WIND, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, and THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE.

Vivien´s career is worth exploring it, especially the early years, with her expressive eyes and porcelain-like eyes. Try watching "Waterloo Bridge" and "That Hamilton Woman", she´s mesmerizing in both. Happy New Year!

 

[ClassyCo]

Vivien´s career is worth exploring it, especially the early years, with her expressive eyes and porcelain-like eyes. Try watching "Waterloo Bridge" and "That Hamilton Woman", she´s mesmerizing in both. Happy New Year!

I'll have to check those out as soon as I get the chance.

 

[ClassyCo]

I've known African-Americans who've had no problem with GWTW and even liked it.

I work with two black ladies on a daily basis. I mentioned to both of them that GWTW is being rereleased this year. Both of them said, "Oh, I love that movie!", or words to that affect. One of them even mentioned trying to go to one of the screenings.

 

[Crimson]

Some years back, one of my close friends (a Black woman) had reason to visit my mom's house. I was a bit nervous because my mom had a very large GWTW collection that I feared would be offensive. Not only was my friend intrigued by the collection, she told me she loved the film. When i visited her in Atlanta, she's the one who dragged me to the Margert Mitchell house and a plantation. I think I was more uncomfortable visiting a plantation's slave quarters than she was.

Which is to say that the people who complain and act offended by everything are a loud, very small minority. I think the majority of people are able to place things in appropriate context.

 

[ClassyCo]

Some years back, one of my close friends (a Black woman) had reason to visit my mom's house. I was a bit nervous because my mom had a very large GWTW collection that I feared would be offensive. Not only was my friend intrigued by the collection, she told me she loved the film. When i visited her in Atlanta, she's the one who dragged me to the Margert Mitchell house and a plantation. I think I was more uncomfortable visiting a plantation's slave quarters than she was.

I have come across similar situations myself. The same co-worker that said how she liked GWTW and said she might try and go see in the theater this year, also told me how she and her grandmother used to live for KNOTS LANDING on Thursday nights when she was younger (she's pushing 50). I mention that because KNOTS wasn't exactly inclusive about including black characters. Well, into the Williamses were added in Season 9, but they didn't really take a major part in the storylines.

Which is to say that the people who complain and act offended by everything are a loud, very small minority. I think the majority of people are able to place things in appropriate context.

Quite true. My mind instantly goes to the BKR channel on YouTube. As much as I enjoy her videos, she always points out of racist GWTW is, even though the movie is approaching its 90th birthday. For me, she is just one example of a very vocal, white group that like to label everything as racist.

**Let the record show that I am not saying GWTW doesn't have racist elements, but it is a representation of the time period.

 

[Toni]

I have come across similar situations myself. The same co-worker that said how she liked GWTW and said she might try and go see in the theater this year, also told me how she and her grandmother used to live for KNOTS LANDING on Thursday nights when she was younger (she's pushing 50). I mention that because KNOTS wasn't exactly inclusive about including black characters. Well, into the Williamses were added in Season 9, but they didn't really take a major part in the storylines.


Quite true. My mind instantly goes to the BKR channel on YouTube. As much as I enjoy her videos, she always points out of racist GWTW is, even though the movie is approaching its 90th birthday. For me, she is just one example of a very vocal, white group that like to label everything as racist.

**Let the record show that I am not saying GWTW doesn't have racist elements, but it is a representation of the time period.

Within 2 years, BKR will be mocked for being OTT and paranoic. Just we wait. This is a stupid trend, not progress.

 

[Crimson]

BKR will be mocked for being OTT and paranoic

Paranoic is right. Usually such attitudes feel preemptive, the person desperately trying to avoid being called out for discussing something "problematic". I suspect the vast majority of people who watch a 90 year old movie set 75 years before that understand it doesn't reflect modern sensibilities; endless performative handwringing is not necessary.

 

[Soaplover]

Goddard was pretty good in her screen-tests, but she read to me as too 'hard' without the sweet and coy antics that Scarlet has at the start of the movie. I read that the screen tests did give exposure to Hayward and Turner so I can understand that sometimes you might not be right for a part.. but they have you on tape so if another part comes along.. you'll be called to read for it (happens in soap operas all the time).

I remembered reading an article that in the 80s, Knots Landing was very popular in Black American households.. and a few kids I went to school with explained their mom's were fascinated by how messy white people were in suburbia and that was why they loved watching it.

In regards to GWTW, the book is very informative and shows the history of how things were in Georgia pre Civil War, during the Civil War, and the years following the civil war.. How Scarlet/Rhett understood that things would never go back to how they were before the civil war even if the south won.. and Scarlett starting to do business with the union after the war knowing that it was the only way to survive while some other people in Atlanta refused to move on from how things were back in the day. It was a fascinating tale of society at that time.. and while it was toxic, it also was part of life and something that needs to be discussed.

So when a small majority get their panties in a knot, I just assume they have puritan blood in them and that they shouldn't be listened to.. but kept on a watch list to ensure they don't censure things they consider 'problematic'.

 

[ClassyCo]

Goddard was pretty good in her screen-tests, but she read to me as too 'hard' without the sweet and coy antics that Scarlet has at the start of the movie.

If you watch Goddard's screen tests, you'll hear director George Cukor tell her "your face is so hard" as he instructs her to relax. While I think her screen tests were good, I have developed my own reservations about whether or not I think Paulette could've actually handled the role. Perhaps not.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

If you watch Goddard's screen tests, you'll hear director George Cukor tell her "your face is so hard" as he instructs her to relax. While I think her screen tests were good, I have developed my own reservations about whether or not I think Paulette could've actually handled the role. Perhaps not.

One had to cast for "type" and Goddard, although a terrific actress, simply wasn't the right type. As George Cukor said, without the casting of Vivien Leigh, GWTW would never have become the all-time classic-of-classics that it did -- it might have been a "hit" with someone else, but not what it became with Leigh.

 

[ClassyCo]

As George Cukor said, without the casting of Vivien Leigh, GWTW would never have become the all-time classic-of-classics that it did -- it might have been a "hit" with someone else, but not what it became with Leigh.

My wife, who isn't a major fan of GWTW, has stated this herself. The movie wouldn't be the classiest, most-watched, most talked about, most-praised classic film of all-time without Vivien Leigh as Scarlett. She was born to play the character.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

My wife, who isn't a major fan of GWTW, has stated this herself. The movie wouldn't be the classiest, most-watched, most talked about, most-praised classic film of all-time without Vivien Leigh as Scarlett. She was born to play the character.

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It's kind of like casting Robert Culp and Mary Frann as JR & Sue Ellen in DALLAS.

Or Deidre Hall and Jessica Walter as Krystle & Alexis in DYNASTY.

Does it make a difference? One would think so. (Although S.A.D. had the effect of almost un-casting the cast on DYNASTY, so it's kind of a bad example).

 

[ClassyCo]

I want this:

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I want this:
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They won't let you have it??