Gone With The Wind (column by George Will)

[EveningStar]

Confined to her bed in Atlanta by a broken ankle and arthritis, she was given a stack of blank paper by her husband, who said, "Write a book." Did she ever.

The novel's first title became its last words, "Tomorrow is another day," and at first she named the protagonist Pansy. But Pansy became Scarlett, and the title of the book published 70 years ago this week became "Gone With the Wind."

You might think that John Steinbeck, not Margaret Mitchell, was the emblematic novelist of the 1930s, and that the publishing event in American fiction in that difficult decade was his "Grapes of Wrath." Published in 1939, it captured the Depression experience that many Americans had, and that many more lived in fear of. Steinbeck's novel became a great movie, and by now 14 million copies of the book have been sold... More (http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/georgewill/2006/06/25/202595.html)

[GOP Woman]

Gone With The Wind is the best book and the best movie ever, bar none.

[Gonzo67]

Gone With The Wind is the best book


I have to disagree... I think the best book ever written is The Dictionary. Let's face it, it's got EVERYTHING! And it's about everything!

[GOP Woman]

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I have to disagree... I think the best book ever written is The Dictionary. Let's face it, it's got EVERYTHING! And it's about everything!
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LOL You have a point there. Can I say it's the best NOVEL ever?

[Gonzo67]

heh... Ok, you can say "Best Novel", though, I'd disagree on that as well. But then, I'm more a fan of Comedy. So in my opinion, the best Novels and Novelist would go to folks like Douglas Addams for his 4 book Hitchhikers trilogy, etc.

[GOP Woman]

heh... Ok, you can say "Best Novel", though, I'd disagree on that as well. But then, I'm more a fan of Comedy. So in my opinion, the best Novels and Novelist would go to folks like Douglas Addams for his 4 book Hitchhikers trilogy, etc.
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Saw the movie Gone With The Wind when I was a little girl at a theater that showed classics (my mom & great-aunt told me I would like it, but I'd heard it was about a war & didn't want to see it at first!) I was enthralled. The best part is the look on Rhett's face when he first looks up the stairs and sees Scarlett. When I got the book, I finished it in a week & a half (even read it through classes). Loved it ever since. :) Too bad they don't have stars like Clark Gable, Bogey, John Wayne, etc. They were real men, not like the wussy-boys in Hollyweird nowadays.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

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Saw the movie Gone With The Wind when I was a little girl at a theater that showed classics (my mom & great-aunt told me I would like it, but I'd heard it was about a war & didn't want to see it at first!) I was enthralled. The best part is the look on Rhett's face when he first looks up the stairs and sees Scarlett. When I got the book, I finished it in a week & a half (even read it through classes). Loved it ever since. :) Too bad they don't have stars like Clark Gable, Bogey, John Wayne, etc. They were real men, not like the wussy-boys in Hollyweird nowadays.

You said that right, girlfriend! I SO wanted to be Melanie Wilkes, and I'm SO much more like Scarlett O'Hara, LOL. When I would see Ashley Wilkes on the screen, he made me think of all the wishy-washy men I've known in my life . . . golden-haired but dreamy-eyed . . . and that just wouldn't cut it for me. Gimme a good ole Rhett Butler any day of the week!

I got you beat on reading the book though, I'll take your week & a half and raise you a day & a half, :smirky: . (I read really, really fast.)

Anyway, I must concur with your choice of best novel. (But I also have a lot of other favorite novels, biographies, non-fiction, sci-fi, mystery, and . . . :D )

[Patriot Heart]

Fiddle-dee-dee, one of my major favorites here also, and DON'T CALL ME SUGAR!!

[EveningStar]

Dixie (http://media.putfile.com/Lee-Greenwood---Dixie), sung by Lee Greenwood (featured on Warlady's personal page)

[Lubbock]

GWTW was a great book. One I reread every so often.

I have two personal favorites: Rebecca and To Kill a Mockingbird. The movies made from both books were also great and very true to the book. PBS did a remake of Rebecca that didn't hold a candlelight to the original.

[Homeschooler, I hope I don't start another war over To Kill A Mockingbird like what broke out on the Movie Thread. If shots are fired, I'm going to duck and cover!]

[Riverboat]

I SO wanted to be Melanie WilkesSay it ain't so, Sister! I've seen that movie many times, and the only character I truly detested was that milquetoast Melanie. COULD-NOT-STAND-HER!!! I see you more as Hattie McDaniel, a no-nonsense woman who could hold her ground against any bulls*****r or carpetbagger. Mammy was the real heroine of that movie.

http://www.obcgs.com/firstwomen/mammy.jpg

[DesertFox]

Best book ever written. Great flick. Melanie wasn´t the dork, though; Ashley Wilkes was the dork. Still, he had to be who he was, a conflicted (modern) liberal who couldn´t make up his mind.

[Riverboat]

Come to think of it, I intensely disliked him, too.

[DesertFox]

Were that book written today, Ashley Wilkes would be queer.

[Maggie_T]

You said that right, girlfriend! I SO wanted to be Melanie Wilkes, and I'm SO much more like Scarlett O'Hara, LOL. When I would see Ashley Wilkes on the screen, he made me think of all the wishy-washy men I've known in my life . . . golden-haired but dreamy-eyed . . . and that just wouldn't cut it for me. Gimme a good ole Rhett Butler any day of the week!

I got you beat on reading the book though, I'll take your week & a half and raise you a day & a half, :smirky: . (I read really, really fast.)

Anyway, I must concur with your choice of best novel. (But I also have a lot of other favorite novels, biographies, non-fiction, sci-fi, mystery, and . . . :D )

Amen, Lil' Sis and GOP Woman!

My mother gave me the book when I was 17. I got to know parts of it by heart ... in two languages!

I read GWTW over and over again. The film was a bit of a disappointment only because I knew the book backwards.

Scarlett is definitely my heroine. I know she has a lot of defects, but OTOH, she lived through some awful times. And she pulled it all off practically on her own, atta girl!

Homes, I never like Ashely Wilkes, either. Not my kind of man, AT ALL. He reminds me of liberals. LOL. I could never understand how a wonderful, strong woman like Scarlett could even consider such a weakling like Ashley. As Rhett very accurately summed him up "His race is purely ornamental." LOL. Exactly. Ahsley was a pusillanimous, weak, maudling, incompetent moron. Give me Rhett any time! I had a huge crush on Rhett, you know. :D He certainly was Da Man.

[Lubbock]

But the story wouldn't have been the story without Ashley. So, at least he served some purpose in fiction; he certainly wouldn't have in real life.

" . . . milquetoast Melanie . . . "

I disagree. In her own way, she was every bit as strong as Scarlett.

[Maggie_T]

I agree, lubbock. Melanie was a real, old-school lady. Come to think of it, I could never understand why she loved Ashley, either. :grin: Because it's true that Melanie was as strong as Scarlett. Only she showed it differently.

But the story wouldn't have been the story without Ashley. So, at least he served some purpose in fiction; he certainly wouldn't have in real life.

LOL. No kidding. That's why I say he is like liberals. All blue spectacles and elitism, and nothing else. Throw him in the real world and watch him go to pieces.

Mind you, at least he was honest. He admitted himself that he was a coward. I guess that puts him above liberals after all. Liberals don't even want to hear the truth about themselves ... although they have no problem hearing it about everybody else.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I thought Melanie was extremely strong. What she had that I desired so was the ability to diplomatically get to the heart of things without so much drama. Both Scarlett and I, in our chests beat the hearts of drama queens, :smirky: .

I wanted so much to be soft spoken, tactful, demure, more lady-like. I don't think, of all the things that have been said about me or words used to describe me, anyone has EVER said I'm "lady-like." http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Lubbock]

Ashley did go off to war. That's more than we can say for the cowards of today. I don't think Ashley ever really believed in "the cause", but he put on the uniform went to war anyway.

" . . . Come to think of it, I could never understand why she loved Ashley, either. . . . "

It was the times they lived in.

Ashley and Melanie lived exactly a they were born and bred to live.

Scarlett was the one who broke the mold! Rhett broke the mold!

No one was going to tell either one of them how to live; to "conform". No way! Not that pair!

Other than "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn", one of the the best scenes in the book/movie was when Rhett bought back Malanie's and Scarlett's wedding rings.

[Maggie_T]

I thought Melanie was extremely strong. What she had that I desired so was the ability to diplomatically get to the heart of things without so much drama. Both Scarlett and I, in our chests beat the hearts of drama queens, :smirky: .

I wanted so much to be soft spoken, tactful, demure, more lady-like. I don't think, of all the things that have been said about me or words used to describe me, anyone has EVER said I'm "lady-like." http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Well, that makes two of us, Sis. :smirky: I don't think I've ever been called a lady, either. I'm too outspoken, I guess. Hubby says I'm too prone to speak my mind. Loudly and often, he says. LOL. I have little patience with fools (a.k.a. liberals). If I think someone's a bloody fool, he/she will probably find out soon enough. :evilgrin: Tolerance is NOT my best trait.

And I wouldn't have me any other way! ;)

[Maggie_T]

Ashley did go off to war. That's more than we can say for the cowards of today. I don't think Ashley ever really believed in "the cause", but he put on the uniform went to war anyway.

You're right, Lubbock. We must give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar. Ashley had honor and a sense of duty (which is more than you could ever say for liberals, no matter how hard you tried). His country (the South) needed him and he did not hesitate to do his duty. He had that redeeming value.

" . . . Come to think of it, I could never understand why she loved Ashley, either. . . . "

It was the times they lived in.

Oh, I don't know. That was it, in part. But I think it also had to do with the fact that Melanie was truly a great woman and a great lady. She loved Ashley with devotion and loyalty in spite of his weaknesses. And she knew him well! Just as she knew Scarlett with all her faults and she loved her nonetheless. She had so much loyalty in her. I have great respect for Melanie. So did Rhett. And Rhett did not suffer fools kindly.

Other than "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn", one of the the best scenes in the book/movie was when Rhett bought back Malanie's and Scarlett's wedding rings.

Yes, that was priceless. I've always loved Rhett's verbal battles with Scarlett. He's so realistic, such common sense. He's one of those people who makes you think "Gee, I wish I'd said that" after you hear him talk. His sarcasm and wit are priceless.

[Maggie_T]

Incidentally, Homes. I think you are a great lady. ;)

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Incidentally, Homes. I think you are a great lady. ;)

Aww Sis, coming from you that's high praise, and I hardly deserve it. I can't hold a candle to you!

BTW, I agree with your assessment too re: Melanie and Ashley --- as for Rhett, hands off, he's mine :biggrin:

Wasn't there a scene in the movie where she slapped him and said he wasn't a gentleman, and he replied, and you're no lady? :smirky: That's one of those perfect lines too!

[DesertFox]

Literarily, the best scene has to be where Mammy is walking Melanie upstairs after Bonnie died. She´s relating to Melanie all the ugliness that has passed between Rhett and Scarlett, so you see-hear-feel it all thru Mammy.

What an fantastic idea, to put mammy literally between the two of them and Melanie. Then the reader sees that Rhett wasn´t really out of his mind, but just couldn´t stand the idea of anyone taking his baby away. But he loved and respected Melanie so much -- for being the embodiment of the southern Great Lady that he both detested and revered -- that for her he relented in his hostility.

That whole scene is so fraught with emotion, so loaded with love and hate and grief and desperation and guilt and horror, all at cross purposes at once, that I´ve often wondered why high schools don´t do it instead of always doing Our Town.

[Rhino]

My favorite was "It ain't fittin'... it ain't fittin'. It jes' ain't fittin'... It ain't fittin'"

[Antigone]

I love Gone With The Wind. I had the sad misfortune of doing things backwards. I saw the movie BEFORE I read the book. I love the movie, I watch it every now and then when I some down time and want to veg out for a few hours, but it's not quite the same when you know the story isn't quite what the book is.

I have to agree with the sentiments expressed re: Ashley. I ever did see exactly what either Scarlett or Melanie saw in him. A little to feminine for my tastes. :smirky:

Now Rhett.............we girls just love a bad boy don't we! :D

Has anybody read the "sequel" that was written. Good gracious, but I felt that sucked!!!!! Did not like it at all.

[Antigone]

My favorite was "It ain't fittin'... it ain't fittin'. It jes' ain't fittin'... It ain't fittin'"
I like the one where she is bringing in Scarlett's breakfast before the "Big BBQ" and Scarlett refuses to eat because she wants to eat at the BBQ and have a good time. Mammy then goes on her little speech about telling a lady by how she "eats like a bird" and Scarlett saying Ashley likes to see a girl with a healthy appetite. Mammy then says:

"What a gentlemen says and what they thinks is two different things, and I ain't noticed Mr. Ashley askin' for to marry you."

She has this little smirking smile on her face after that line that says it all! :D

[Lubbock]

Nope. Never read the sequal. I wanted the story to end just where it did; I could put my own ending to the story as to whether Rhett and Scarlett ever got back together. Sometimes I think they did. Sometimes I'm sure they didn't.

If anyone ever doubted Melanie's strength, just remember the scene where all the women were sitting in the parlour, waiting for the men to come back from their vigilante raid, clearing out the bottoms of the criminal trash. Ashley Shot. Dr. Meade drunk or pretending to be drunk; the Union soldier making reference to the men being at Belle Watling's bawdy house. All of the women except Scarlett understood the danger the men were in.

Geez! All this remembering. I think it's time I reread the book again.

[Rhino]

Mammy was the true jewel of the movie.

[Antigone]

I know Lubbock, I know!

And yes, that scene was great. It showed who really knew what was going on and who the strong one's were and it wasn't Scarlett, that's for sure!!

And save yourself the effort of ever seeking out the sequel. It really did suck!!! I bought it hoping maybe, just maybe, they would do it justice, but it ended up being just another trashy romance novel set after the Civil War.

[Lubbock]

Yeah. Mitchell and du Maurier were gals who really knew how to write "romance".

Less is more. Please leave something to the reader's imagination.

I think that's why I like old movies and old books.

This trash that writers get paid for today is just that: trash. With a few exceptions, even the old mystery novels were better. Rex Stout. Chandler.

I've missed John D. McDonald since the day he died.

[Lubbock]

Just a thought:

Can you imagine what a Hollywood director today would do with Gone With The Wind? How much of the actual book would ever make it onto the screen?

I think the story would be lost in naked bodies and foul language.

Today's directors believe that's the only way to attract an audience.

[Patriot Heart]

My favorite Mammy line, and it comes in SO handy when describing liberals "You kin put a mule in hoss harness, but you aint foolin' anybody!!"

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Hattie McDaniel was absolute awesome as Mammy, no two ways about it.

In fact, casting of the movie was stellar, simply put. I'm normally a "read-the-book, watch-the-movie, be-disappointed" kind of person, but for me BOTH the book and the movie were perfect for what there were/are. It's usually a let down for me, when I see who's been cast in certain rolls of movies made from books I've read -- not so, for me, for this movie. I can't think of one single character who I feel should have been recast -- they WERE the characters, made even more chiseled in stone when I read the book again AFTER watching the movie.

There are only two books I have ever re-read after the first time, and both were made into movies. Both books, imho, were brilliant, but only one movie stands shining as the best screen adaptation -- Gone With The Wind.

(Just in case you were curious, the other book was/is Dean Koontz's Watchers -- TERRIFIC book, HORRIBLE movies . . . it was remade twice).

On A Side Note: Scarlett (the sequel to Gone With The Wind) STUNK -- skunk-er-oo!!! Both the book AND the movie. Timothy Dalton playing Clark Gable's Rhett Butler? Gimme a break! That movie in NO WAY resembled ANYTHING like the continuing story of GWTW. For those who haven't, DON'T read it, DON'T rent the movie, both are a waste of time and money.

[Antigone]

I think I already said that about the Sequel HSRU!!!! LOL! Boy, did it stink!

And thank you for reminding me there was a movie about it! I had totally forgotten that. Probably because I couldn't stand to watch the whole thing. BLECH!! Who was it that played Scarlett, I forget? Definately was NOT Scarlett material. The whole thing was simply laughable. The book and the made for TV movie, both.

[Antigone]

I think I already said that about the Sequel HSRU!!!! LOL! Boy, did it stink!

And thank you for reminding me there was a movie about it! I had totally forgotten that. Probably because I couldn't stand to watch the whole thing. BLECH!! Who was it that played Scarlett, I forget? Definately was NOT Scarlett material. The whole thing was simply laughable. The book and the made for TV movie, both.
Oh Lawsy, I found it! It was Joanne Whalley-Kilmer who played Scarlett to Timothy Dalton's Rhett. Barf!!

No way can this:

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/42/15/35m.jpg

Compare to this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/43/Gone_with_the_wind_rerelease.jpg/180px-Gone_with_the_wind_rerelease.jpg

or the original poster:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2c/Post9.jpg/200px-Post9.jpg

[Riverboat]

Mammy was the true jewel of the movie.See? That's why I thought she was the perfect role for Homes!

As to that alleged sequel - It's always been my understanding that a sequel, or follow-up, to any story should be written by the person who originated the story. Thus, Scarlett is NOT a sequel. It's a bastardization of a work that was approved by people who should have known better.

[DesertFox]

All the major actors in that film were perfect for their roles, even Butterfly McQueen. Mammy was the true embodiment of the Old South. She loved the O'Haras as her own and tried her damnedest to keep Scarlett in the old mould.

But to get the feel of the Old South, the book is irreplaceable. It's a truism that the movie never lives up to the book, and probably never more true than in the case of GWTW. When I was trying to grasp the essence of latin culture, I realized in a flash of inspiration that the Old South was the best parallel possible -- not exactly alike, but so close that the differences don't matter much.