Rating: 
Summary: Great film - no widescreen in 1939!
Review: I'm ordering this masterpiece today on DVD, but to answer the reviewers wishing for a widescreen version: widescreen didn't come about until the 50's to counter the then new "TV" phenomenon.
And I'm also glad I don't have to pay for an additional disc featuring a "making of" - I've already got that on tape from TV anyway. So I appreciate the 1-disc package and (hopefully) digitally restored film/soundtrack.
Rating: 
Summary: Hello? Warner?
Review: Warners may regret having raised the bar so high with their recent issues of 2-disc sets of Casablanca and The Adventures of Robin Hood. I can't think of any film more deserving of the red carpet treatment than GWTW, at the very least including the excellent "making of" documentary, along with the old screen tests, a "soundtrack only" option, commentary, and possibly an interview with Olivia deHavilland.Let's go, Warners. This jewel needs a crown.
Rating: 
Summary: GET READY TO TOSS THIS ONE INTO THE WIND
Review: "Gone With The Wind" plays like an old friend with its cliches of southern pageantry, its noble dipiction of the slave and lurid burning of Atlanta. David O. Selznick's masterfully told civil war melodrama is based on Margaret Mitchell's best selling novel. Mitchell, it seems, only wrote the book to keep her mind nimble while recovering from a horse riding accident. She never intended that it should be published.
By now spoiled southern belle - Scarlett O'Hara - has become a lionized icon in the canons of American cinema. It seems odd that Vivien Leigh was not the obvious choice from the start but Selznick spent nearly two years of preproduction in a nation wide search for the greatest female lead in any motion picture, any time, anywhere. There really isn't much to say that hasn't already been said of this perennial classic. Perhaps the greatest kudos came from a film critic in the 1960s who claimed, "There have only been two motion pictures in the history of American film; Gone With The Wind and everything else!"
THE TRANSFER: This is a flipper disc minted from the 1996 general release print that hit theaters for the film's anniversary. The DVD's color palette seems subdued to say the least, with muddy colors that at times betray the richness and lush lurid feel of the original three strip Technicolor. Though fine details can be seen even during the darkest scenes, intermitten edge enhancement, shimmering of fine details and aliasing throughout both sides of this disc distract from the general viewing. The audio has been remixed to 5.1 and although dated (big surprise) exhibits a richness in music tracks not present in the original mono recording.
EXTRAS: NOT A SINGLE ONE!!! This is a disc screaming for a remastering effort with extras that MUST include Turner's "The Making of A Legend" documentary and at least one audio commentary track - plus a host of outtakes, test footage and theatrical trailers. So where are they? Probably in Warner's vaults. A shame! They belong here.
BOTTOM LINE: Rumor is that "Gone With The Wind" is getting a new gussied up high def' remaster and should resurface in a deluxe edition sometime this year. I can't think of a better reason to start giving a damn!
Rating:
Summary: This movie predates widescreen
Review: This is an amazing classic movie and I have little to say that has not been said already. However, a few of the reviews I've read express disappointment that the movie is not letterboxed on the DVD release. The reason is very simple! The film was NOT shot in the widescreen process! The full frame version is the one that ran in theatres in 1939. Widescreen only became common in the 1950s with the success of The Robe, amongst others.
Rating:
Summary: Gone with the Wind
Review: 1939: Gone with the Wind was Margaret Mitchell's only novel. It was considered by many to be the "Great American novel." From the best selling book came the movie. Gone with the Wind took the Oscars by storm with more than eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It starred Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel were the 1939 Oscar winners for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. It was also voted #4 on the American Film Institute's 100 Best Motion Pictures of All Time. The masculine Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) attempted to win the heart of the untamable Scarlett O'Hara. (Vivian Leigh) Scarlett a courageous Southern belle longed for the man of her dreams, Ashley Wilkes. (Leslie Howard) Ashley married the kind and loving lady Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). During this dramatic film, Scarlett endures hardships, war, death and loss. When Tara, her plantation home is threatened, she portrays a heroic part. She will do anything to protect her family plantation home. This romantic film has an unforgettable sound track. The burning of Atlanta is an unforgettable sight, with the flames deep in red, orange and yellow colors. And you can't forget the famous phrase "But, Rhett, what shall I do? Where shall I go?" and Rhett replies, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." I give Gone with the Wind five stars. This movie is about hope, love and hardships. I believe it was and still remains an inspirational film. This movie is an all time great!
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Film Achievement of All Time.
Review: Gone with the Wind is a film that will forever live in the annals of film history. It never gets old or boring. Everything about it is perfect. The acting, the scenery, the plot, it definately deserves every award it has won. Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable both play two of the greatest film performances ever. They really made Rhett and Scarlett the icons that they are today. The best performance I would have to say in the whole film is Hattie McDaniel's role as Mammie. She gave us comic relief when we needed it. Also there is a great performance given by Olivia D'Havilland. All in all the film is awesome and the DVD complete with its pristine restoration is truely a wonder to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Will Scarlett ever mentally mature for a gent like Rhett.
Review: Considered to be one of the most classic epics ever made. The only one of its kind at that time. 1939 was a magic year for movies. Many excellent, dramatic films were released. But Gone With The Wind was the crown jewel, having won 10 Academy Awards. Although the story is mostly for adults, including the unforgettable "rape" scene when Clark Cable took Vivian Leigh up the red-carpeted stairs, teenagers might find this entertaining as well. If you catch your teen watching this film alone and in peace...let them. Trust me, you'll thank me later. Now you can see this film without commercial interruptions and no network logo in the corner. No scatches. Just brilliant original technicolor with your choice of Dolby Digital remastered soundtrack or original monophonic. The entire 3 hours and 53 minutes is all here. All on one disc in standard format. Included are the Overture, Intermission, Entr'acte and Exit Music. The movie continues on the other side of the disc. "Overture" is the beginning of the film. Many scenes of Gone With The Wind were reshot either because of color of hair, costumes or an in-studio shot for a better on-location shot. One interesting scene omitted from the film takes places just after the infamous "rape" scene with Rhett carrying Scarlett up the stairs. Look quick at the next scene. There is a mysterious breakfast tray in bed on the left. We see Bonnie leaving and Mammy complaining of aches and pains. The scene removed is Bonnie bringing in the breakfast tray to her mother. Perhaps, lost footage will be found someday (if not corroded)and maybe included it in a future restored DVD version. In September 1991, the continuing story of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler was officially written and published by the late Alexandra Ripley in a novel, "Scarlett--The sequel of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind." This was followed by the television mini-series, "Scarlett" in 1994.
Rating:
Summary: Red Earth of Tara gets Remastered
Review: How fortunate we are to be able to view this incredibly wonderful film, the way it was seen in 1939. Even more than that to have it in Dolby Digital 5.1. Scarlett, sillouhetted, standing on the red clay of Tara, in the beautiful sunset, swearing she "will never go hungry again", the streets of Atlanta with the thousands of wounded confederates, the ball gowns, Mammy's big eyes,Atlanta burning,the cotton fields, all in the glorious technicolor it was first seen in. This DVD(Warner Bros) allows us to view Gone With the Wind as if we were seeing it for the first time.
For those that Are seeing it for the first time, you will love the drama,romance,adventure and history of the South during the Civil War era. All the famous characters, Margaret Mitchell gave us, are skillfully acted by Vivien Leigh(Scarlett),Clark Gable(Rhett),Leslie Howard(Ashley),Olivia De Havilland(Melanie) Hattie McDaniel(Mammy),and let's not forget the wonderful Butterfly Mcqueen(Prissy) who uttered the immortal, "I don't know bout birthin no babies, Miss Scarlett"
The film won the Best Picture of 1939, along with 9 other Oscars, including one for Hattie McDaniel(Best Supporting actress), making her the first African American in Academy history to recieve the honor. What's really amazing is that in 1939 there were so many phenominal films released. To name a few,there was Mr. Smith goes to Washington. The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, Wuthering Heights, Ninotchka, and Many more. So you know this was really special.
The DVD is a must have, It has excellent picture and sound, dialouge is crisp and clear, the Score by Max Steiner, ever present only adds to the greatness of the film. The film was directed By Victor Fleming although he was replaced during filming (due to illness) by Sam Wood. Don't look for alot of "Bonus Features". The film stands on it's own. It's 4hrs(you do have to flip the disc halfway through it) of cinematic excellance that you wont want to end. There are a couple of little extras though, on side A there an original theatrical trailer and on side B a GWTW trivia game.There are also subtitles in English and French if needed.
For more on the story and the book itself please see my book review.
Kick back and enjoy this one.......Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Weeeez just house servant Miss Scarlett...
Review: This films is a classic, and it is a blatently hilarious racist film, but you have to watch it with a 1930's point of view. Get ready for plenty of sayings in ignorant voices "Yessuh miss scarlett." And the classic line when Miss Scarett gives birth from the male worker "Weeez just house servants Miss Scarlett." The film is also about courage, gettign thru tough times, slavery, the old South, and is very realistic. a true classic YESSUH!!! I's does declare it is. Yessum!
Rating: 
Summary: Deluxe Box Preferred, But Still A Good Buy at $15
Review: The $15 box lacks special features, but if you can live without the extras you still get the same DVD print as in the Deluxe issue. GWTW (one of very few films whose title is so well known that it can go by an anacronym), though dated, certainly deserved all 10 of its Oscars. Considering the limitations of 1938 Technicolor, the photography is phenomenal. The script and story, a remarkable achievement in its day, literally swims in Victorian sentimentality -- as, indeed, did the 1860's. The DVD print, remastered from original negatives, is very slightly murky but is a vast improvement over the original and miles ahead of the flawed VHS edition. I know many who consider this classic to be little more than a soap opera, and it's presentation of the pre-war South is over-glorified, but it's depiction of the wartime and post-war period is the best that Hollywood ever produced. Note also that the set of downtown Atlanta and Peachtree Street in this period is not very accurate -- and as one who grew up in the South, I can verify that during the entire flick there's not a single accurate Southern accent. But GWTW is still a captivating work with powerful images (the inspired scene with Scarlett wandering through the wounded at the Atlanta railroad station is a masterpiece). Even if you don't like GWTW that much, get it solely to see Clark Gable's greatest performance; it is utterly flawless. Well-deserved Oscars for all concerned; Olivia is outstanding, and Hattie is truly remarkable. I give the package 4 stars, but in every other way GWTW is a 5-star classic.
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