Directed by
Victor Fleming
George Cukor (uncredited)
Sam Wood (uncredited)
Writing credits
Margaret Mitchell (novel)
Sidney Howard (screenplay)
Ben Hecht (uncredited)
David O. Selznick (uncredited)
Jo Swerling (uncredited)
John Van Druten (uncredited)
Produced by
David O. Selznick
Original Music by
Max Steiner
Joseph Barnby (song "Sweet and Low") (uncredited)
Adolph Deutsch (some scenes) (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld (some scenes) (uncredited)
Charles C. Sawyer (song "When This Cruel War Is Over") (uncredited)
Henry Tucker (song "When This Cruel War Is Over") (uncredited)
I.B. Woodbury (song "Stars of the Summer Night") (uncredited)
Production Design by
William Cameron Menzies Main Cast
Clark Gable .... Rhett Butler
Vivien Leigh .... Scarlett O'Hara
Leslie Howard .... Ashley Wilkes
Olivia de Havilland .... Melanie Hamilton
Thomas Mitchell .... Gerald O'Hara
Barbara O'Neil .... Ellen O'Hara
Evelyn Keyes .... Suellen O'Hara
Ann Rutherford .... Carreen O'Hara
Hattie McDaniel .... Mammy
Oscar Polk .... Pork
Butterfly McQueen .... Prissy
It's hard to know what to say about a film such as this. It's a film with no serious competition for the top spot of any film list. It's a film whose actors completely embody their characters. It's absurd to think that anyone else could play them. It's a film that can never produce a serious remake. And hopefully I'll never have to see an attempt in my lifetime.
There's no place to start then at the beginning...the book. Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1900 and grew up learning about the Civil War and the old south. She put her knowledge to good use. She started writing Gone With The Wind in 1926 and would write it off and on for the next 10 years. In 1936 a man from the Macmillion Publishing Company came to town and Mitchell willingly let him view the book. Originally the character of Scarlett was named Pansy O'Hara. Both the man from Macmillion and Mitchell changed that. From there another representative from Macmillion who was in charge of the sale of picture rights brought the book to the attention of Katherine Brown, who worked for David O. Selznick. She then brought it to his attention. Selznick refused saying that maybe if there was a woman who was ideal to play the part of Scarlett then he would consider it. Selznick quickly changed his mind when the filming rights were almost sold to Pioneer. The deal was closed on July 6th 1936 for $50,000. It was also the week the book was published.
George Cukor was chosen to direct and Sidney Howard started writing the script from his ranch. By Christmas of 1936 he had a 50 page treatment.
The first challenge was the casting. There was three talent searches through out the south in November of 1936 for a Scarlett. No luck, obviously. Letters poured in from the public. 121 actresses were suggested. One fellow from New Zealand suggested Vivien Leigh. A public poll was conducted and the top six suggestions were:
1. Bette Davis
2. Katharine Hepburn
3. Mariam Hopkins
4. Margaret Sullavan
5. Joan Crawford
6. Barbara Stanwyck
About 32 actresses were actually screen tested for Scarlett. Some of them were: Susan Hayward, Margaret Tallichet, Frances Dee, Mary Ray, Lana Turner, Paulette Goddard, Anita Louise, Edith Marrener and Linda Walkins.
The choice for Rhett, however was unanimous. Ronald Coleman, Gary Cooper and Errol Flynn were considered by Selznick, but the public wanted Clark Gable. That was a problem because Gable was under contract at MGM and MGM didn't usually like lending out their stars.
At the end of February 1937 Howard delivered the first draft of the script. It was for a 5 1/2 hour movie. By early 1938 Selznick cut the script, but the four major parts had yet to be cast.
Many actresses made screen tests for the part of Melanie. Some of them were: Dorothy Jordan, Frances Fuller, Andrea Leeds, Jean Kent, Anne Shirley and Marsha Hunt. None of them impressed Selznick. He had Olivia de Havilland as his first choice for a while, but she was under contract at Warner Bros. de Havilland auditioned in secret. Warners wouldn't budge, so she plead her case to his wife, and the rest is history.
As Scarlett the front runner for a while was Paulette Goddard. She was Selznick's favorite so far.
By June 4th 1938 Selznick has spent $400,000 on rights, writers, tests and preparations. He still didn't have a Scarlett, Rhett or a satisfactory script. In May MGM made Selznick and offer to buy Gone With The Wind and have him on as producer. He went back and forth on why he should or shouldn't do it. In the end he was convinced not to.
In August of 1938 MGM said they would loan out Gable and provide half the budge of up to $1.4 million. In return they wanted world distribution and half the profits of the film for the next seven years. Gable didn't really want to do the film. Mayer sweetened the deal for him. Gable wanted to divorce his wife and marry Carole Lombard. So, Mayer would give a $50,000 bonus for his ex-wife. During filming, Selznick granted Gable a weekend off to marry Lombard. Gable signed the contract on August 24th 1938.
Shooting had to start in January of 1939. Selznick went on vacation for a month in Bermuda and finalized the script. Olivier Garrett was hired to revise the script.
As far the part of Ashley, those who screen tested were: Jeffrey Lynn, Douglass Montgomery and Melvin Douglas. Selznick thought that Leslie Howard was the best choice they had. Howard didn’t want to do the film either. Selznick offered him a chance to produce a later film, something that Howard dreamed of. So, Leslie Howard signed on. He never read the book, nor any of the other actors' lines.
Leslie Howard, Vivien Leigh and Olivia de HavillandSelznick didn't meet Vivien Leigh until December of 1938. Filming had already started. Using stunt doubles, the burning of Atlanta scene was filmed. Vivien had a London agent, but secretly signed with Laurence Olivier's American agent, Myron Selznick. On December the 10th of 1938 Myron takes Vivien to the set. The light from the fire hit Vivien. Myron said, "Hey genius, here's your Scarlett." And Vivien got a screen test. At that time a definite Scarlett had still not yet been chosen. Although, it was narrowed down to Joan Bennett, Jean Arthur, Paulette Goddard and Vivien. Out of the four Vivien got a great present for Christmas that year-the part of Scarlett O'Hara. Selznick told her she had the part on Christmas Day 1938.
An official announcement to the press was made on January 13th 1939. One reporter said to boycott the movie because a southern girl wasn't playing Scarlett. Few agreed with her, most southerns said, Better an English girl then a Yankee!
Principle photography on the film began January 26th 1939. The first scene shot was the first scene that we see Scarlett in the film. That is not the one shown in the film. That scene was shot five times over the next few months. Gable's first scene is the Bazaar scene. There were already signs that Gable did not get along with Cukor. Cukor quit after disagreements with Selznick. Cukor had only shot 23 minutes in the first ten days and 10 of them had to be re-shot. Selznick thought Cukor directed too slow. And Cukor wanted Sidney Howard's script, which Selznick had pretty much put aside. There was no real script. It changed day-to-day.
Victor Flemming replaced Cukor. L.B. Mayer took Cukor off of filming The Wizard Of Oz before it was completed to work on the film. Gable and Flemming got along. Rumors were that Gable had something to do with Cukor's leaving. Vivien and Olivia were upset and visited Cukor on the weekends during filming to talk about the film.
Flemming realized that Selznick had no script. Filming was shut down for 12 days. The script was then re-written by Ben Wecht. He used Howard's script as the basis for his rewrite. He work two weeks. Selznick asked him to stay longer, but Wecht practically ran for the hills!
On April 29th Flemming walked off the set. His reason was a 'nervous breakdown.' Sam Wood came into replace him and Flemming came back after two weeks. It was ultimately decided that Wood stay on and the workload be divided. There were six units shooting daily.
The film wrapped on June 27th 1939, but there had to be retakes. One of them was the first scene where we see Scarlett sitting on the porch of Tara.
The first preview of the film was top secret. Selznick didn't even know till that day. It was September 9th. Selznick left the studio with 54 cans of film and soundtrack. They traveled to the Fox Theater in Riverside. They were showing Beau Geste with Gary Cooper. After the film was over a man announced that they were going to see a major studio preview. The doors were locked and no one was allowed in or out. As soon as Margaret Mitchell's name appeared on the screen the whole theater burst into applause when they realized what they were about to see. Needless to say, all comments afterward were positive.
The film officially premiered on December 15th 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia at Loew's Grand. There was three days of celebration. The tagline for the film was: The most magnificent picture ever! And they sure got that right.
1939 (12th)
ACTOR -- Clark Gable {"Rhett Butler"}
* ACTRESS -- Vivien Leigh {"Scarlett O'Hara"}
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- Olivia de Havilland {"Melanie Hamilton"}
* ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- Hattie McDaniel {"Mammy"}
* ART DIRECTION -- Lyle Wheeler
* CINEMATOGRAPHY (Color) -- Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan
* DIRECTING -- Victor Fleming
* FILM EDITING -- Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom
MUSIC (Original Score) -- Max Steiner
* OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION -- Selznick International Pictures
SOUND RECORDING -- Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
SPECIAL EFFECTS -- John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin, Arthur Johns
* WRITING (Screenplay) -- Sidney Howard
* SPECIAL AWARD To William Cameron Menzies for outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood in the production of 'Gone with the Wind.'
* SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class III) For important contributions in cooperative development of new improved Process Projection Equipment: F. R. ABBOTT, HALLER BELT, ALAN COOK and the BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY for faster projection lenses; The MITCHELL CAMERA COMPANY for a new type process projection head; MOLE-RICHARDSON COMPANY for a new type automatically controlled projection arc lamp; CHARLES HANDLEY, DAVID JOY and the NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY for improved and more stable high-intensity carbons; WINTON HOCH and the TECHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE CORP. for an auxiliary optical system; DON MUSGRAVE and SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL PICTURES, INC. for pioneering in the use of coordinated equipment in the production, 'Gone with the Wind.'
-Gable refused to use a southern accent.
-The film was shot in 125 days. Vivien Leigh worked 95% of those days.
-During the depot scene where there are hundreds of Confederate soldiers lining the ground and train tracks, at the premiere Margaret Mitchell's husband said, If we had that many soldiers we would have won the war!
-The film cost $3 million to make. It has made $840 million since it's release.
-Sidney Howard, who wrote the screenplay, was killed on August 23rd 1939 on his farm in Tyringham, Massachusetts. He never saw the film. He also never got to accept his Oscar.
