| | Gone With the Wind (Special Limited Edition) [1940] |  | Director: Victor Fleming
Actors: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland
Studio: MGM Entertainment
Category: Video
List Price: £29.99
Buy Used: £2.07
You Save: £27.92 (93%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 16582
Format: Box Set, Hifi Sound, Pal, Special Edition
Rating: Parental Guidance
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 224 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
EAN: 5013119117878
ASIN: B00004CPPH
Theatrical Release Date: January 17, 1941
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: 2 video 50th anniversary edition, in excellent condition.
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Gone with the Wind is a sprawling mosaic of a picture, one of the best-loved and most successful in movie history, but also one of the most frustrating. Wonderfully epic in scope, the decline and fall of the antebellum South as seen through the eyes of feisty, independent and wilful heroine Scarlett O'Hara makes the first half of the picture an absolutely riveting spectacle. From the aristocratic old world of Tara to the horrors of Atlanta under siege, Gone with the Wind features any number of indelible scenes and images: the genteel girls taking an enforced siesta during the Twelve Oaks barbecue, a horrified Scarlett walking through the wounded, the flight from burning Atlanta, and Scarlett's moving pledge against a burnished sunset set to Max Steiner's glorious music score. But the second half shifts gear, the melodramatic quotient is upped yet further as tragedy piles upon tragedy, and despite its unwieldy length everything feels rushed. Add to that the central problem that the audience never really understands, why Scarlett could ever fall for weak-chinned Ashley in the first place, and the picture begins to unravel unsatisfactorily. Behind the scenes problems doubtless contributed, with directors coming and going, Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable apparently barely able to stand the sight of each other, and producer David O Selznick's endless rewrites and interference. Nonetheless, this 1939 box-office smash remains one of Hollywood's finest achievements, an irresistible spectacle chock-full of the finest stars in the filmic firmament striking sparks off one another. They really don't make 'em like this anymore. On the DVD: No extra features on this DVD, which is a pity given the amount of material that must be available, but it has to be admitted this disc is worth the asking price simply to drink in the astonishing quality of the picture, sumptuously presented in its original 1.33:1 "Academy" ratio. The mono sound is vivid, too, showcasing Max Steiner's headily romantic score. --Mark Walker
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 frankly my dear i GIVE A DAMM! June 12, 2008
this is my fave movie ever amazingly acted by vivien leigh and gable-if you read the book first it can be kind of weres wade and ella? but i loved this film i have seen it 100000000000000000 times!i love it because it dosnt have a fairy tale ending but it does leave it open? imo they do get back togther in the end there made for each other even if thats not really what the films about! the film is sad funny well acted and the best film ever!
One of the greatest movies ever - a masterpiece which will never age September 13, 2007
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
As a man I am probably not the most typical fan of this movie, which is very feminine, and sometimes surprisingly feminist. And still I can not help it. I always loved GWTW and it still has on me a magical effect, as few others manage to do (the others being essentially "Star Wars", "The longest day", "The seven samurai" and "Alien").
This is an adaptation of a very long (and excellent) book, so it has to be long. And it is. And me for one I am very happy that it is, because there is no way to tell the whole story shorter. Period.
GWTW is two stories in one and they are both passionate - and very, very sad. The background is about the death of a country, a civilisation and a way of life. And no matter, what is your opinion on the American South, a death is never happy - but it can be a great story. And it is. The scene with Scarlett walking between the wounded Confederate soldiers in the railway station of Atlanta is unbelievable - those who never saw it, missed something great and perfect.
The second story is about the coming of age and maturing of a very antipatic, spoiled and mean, although handsome, young girl. Scarlett is 17 at the beginning of the movie - immature, silly, lazy and spoiled she is in fact a horrible (although cute) little brat. The cataclysm swallowing her world will force her to change and she will show a surprising strength - you simply must admire her for the moment when she succesfully deals with the repugnant Yankee plunderer, who came to steal the very last money and the very last food of four starving and sick women. The scene in which, on the ruins of the world, in the background of blood coloured sunset, she swears that she will never be hungry again, is one of the most powerful ever in the history of cinema.
Now, being initially just a silly, spoiled child, Scarlett couldn't help but fall for the wrong guy, handsome and intelligent but weak Ashley Wilkes - when in the same time becoming the object of interest of possibly the most incredibly appealing macho in world history, Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable, in his greatest role ever.
Then, there is Melanie, Ashley's wife, played by Olivia de Havilland. You have to read the book to see how incredibly strong and smart is Melanie. She in fact is the real "Power woman" in the movie - although her iron rule is made with the softest of gloves. I always was in deep awe of this character and of the way Olivia De Havilland played her.
Relations and tragedies between those four are one of the greatest stories ever told on the screen. Of course, like all the great stories, and mostly like life itself, this is one is devoided of happy ending... although? The last scene of the movie is just incredible... there is so much you can see in it and how you see this scene, well, it depends of your heart. This is a mythical movie, played by great actors, with an incredibly powerful and moving musical score and with costumes and decors which still can impress, even today. I strongly believe, that who never stood with Scarlett under this dead tree, looking at this bloody sunset, holding this pathetic radish she digged barehanded from the dirt and screaming to God that she will never, never be hungry again.... he missed something important that should not be missed.
Well I Like It Anyway May 28, 2007
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I was surprised to see so many negative reviews of this film. I've always enjoyed it, but will admit that it sags a bit towards the end.
I view it in the context of when it was made, and how groundbreaking it was in terms of its budget and scope, and the legends surrounding it. It is really a high class soap opera, but that is not meant as a put down.
It was popular here during the blitz, and I can imagine how people then could identify with Scarlett O'Hara when she returned to a ravaged and ruined Tara. Nobody on film has ever waved a radish as meaningfully as Vivien Leigh, as she vowed to overcome and prosper. Three of the four main players are British, which makes me proud.
The film does depict slavery and racism, but please also know that Hattie McDaniel picked up a supporting role Oscar for her portrayal of Mamie. She was the first African American to win an Accadamy Award. In that respect, the film stands as a powerful symbol of black advancement.
An epic of its time, that is still worth watching today.
 Good but why a classic? February 5, 2007
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've recently been watching "classic" films. Gone with the wind follows the story of Scarlet, caught up in the American civil war, 3 marriages, an unrequited love and good friendships. I had no idea that the film was so long, 224 minutes! Unfortunately I didn't think it should have been that long. It was a nice film, very watchable, sweet story. Scarlet is an incredible character, all the characters arew well written. However, just thought it ended a little abruptly considering the length of time to get there. I guess when it is such a big classic, it's difficult for the film to live up to expectations. I'd recommend seeing it as it is such a classic and its a nice film.
'1000_pages' listen up! December 20, 2006
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
I'd just like to mention to '1000_pages' that he/she have definately been misinformed of the history of the North and South America disputes.
First of all, the North are NOT noble, nor the South!
The North couldn't care about slavery! They couldn't care about the blacks because they treated them abominably in the North also.
I think you need to review your own readings of their history before making judgmental opinions on the internet without knowing the full story.
I am in no way trying to defend either party involved in the Civil War of America but I do believe in creating a fair picture, especially in history. You can't just group the North as the "goodies" and the South as the "baddies". That really is rather ignorant to be honest.
It seems as if you really don't know the truth and have been given a very misinformed outline of the situation.
I have seen the film and think it is excellent and well acted despite being a little long-winded.
Good for a night in but start early!
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