Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc Edition) Reviews

• Southern Mythology at its Most Memorable

  
  By ACIBQ6BQ6AWEV on 2002-12-12
  In the years since it debuted, GONE WITH THE WIND has taken a beating from film critics and historians alike. The characters are often described as cardboard-ish; portions of the film are described as excessively melodramatic; some of the special effects (most notably the film's occasional use of rear-view projections) have dated. There is some truth to all of these comments, but by far the most serious accusation hurled at the film is that it is racist.

  One's perception of the film as racist rather depends on whether you look at the film within the context of its era or from a purely modern standpoint. At the time, GONE WITH THE WIND was a major advance in the portrayal of blacks on screen, for the two major black characters--Mammy and Prissy--are a far cry from the obnoxious "Stepin Fetchit" stereotypes so common in the 1930s. In later years, both Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen would be derrided for their participation in the film and accused of perpetuating stereotypes, but in fact their performances were anything but stereotypical at the time--indeed, their very power led Hollywood into a repetition of similar characters, and it was that repetition that later caused the originals to read as cliched.

  The real problem with GONE WITH THE WIND is that it, like the novel on which it is based, buys into the myth of great plantations, lovely Southern belles, gallant gentlemen, and a paternalistic form of slavery. These concepts have some basis in fact, but the vast majority of southern whites did not own plantations, much less own slaves, and those who did rarely practiced "paternalistic" slavery by any stretch of the imagination. But GONE WITH THE WIND is the myth, not the fact--and once we accept it as a highly romanticized vision of the South as it never really was, the film becomes incredibly entertaining and can still cast its spell upon the modern viewer.

  The most powerful thing about the film is that it moves. Over the course of its very long run, the episodic story of the beautiful and willful Scarlett O'Hara and her rapacious drive to insulate herself from the hardships of the war never significantly drags. And the cast, from the leads to the bit players, is superior.

  Margaret Michell might have created Rhett Butler with Clark Gable in mind; Vivien Leigh, a remarkable beauty and a very fine actress, was scarcely known outside England--but amazingly, when one considers the tremendous anticipation surrounding the casting of the role, she plays Scarlett with incredible success. Granted that the characters of Melanie and Ashley are rather unbelievable, but both Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard carry them off with conviction. And although they have already been mentioned, Hattie McDaniel's formidable Mammy and Butterfly McQueen's passive-aggressive and frequently hysterical Prissy are brilliant creations and more than worthy of a second mention.

  True, advances in cinema technique have made some of the special effects seem dated, but the production values and art design are brilliant from throughout, and the film offers a multitude of iconographic moments: Rhett standing at the bottom of the staircase at Twelve Oaks; Scarlett caught up in a the panic during the seige of Atlanta; the tattered flag waving above the fallen troops at the train yard; the kiss between Rhett and Scarlett after the fall of Atlanta--these, yes, and many, many more.

  GONE WITH THE WIND will no doubt become increasingly controversial as attitudes continue to change re race, slavery, and the Civil War--but in terms of pure cinema it is a remarkable achievement for all involved and it remains a landmark to this day. The DVD currently available offers a pristine picture and high quality sound, but I must note that the DVD has no great advantage over the current VHS release; a trailer aside, there are no bonus materials of any kind, and both are of equal quality. Strongly recommended, but with a warning: do not mistake it for fact. As I noted earlier, this is a South that never was, built on a form of slavery far removed from the slavery that actually existed. Enjoy it as a beautifully made and epic romance with a host of powerful performances--but not as history.
  
  

• Near-Perfect Edition of Hollywood Classic...

  
  By A31I3HXMD5H1EL on 2004-12-22
  It seems like a 'new, improved' edition of "Gone With the Wind" has appeared every couple of years, offering the 'ultimate' in picture and sound reproduction, and extras. It can become expensive keeping up, and frustrating (much like buying a classic Disney DVD, when you know a more complete "Special Edition" will soon render your "First Time on Video" copy obsolete), but the new GWTW Four-Disc Collector's Edition most assuredly deserves a place in your collection.
  
  First off, the picture and sound quality is astonishing. Warner's Ultra-Resolution process, which 'locks' the three Technicolor strips into exact alignment, provides a clarity and 'crispness' to the images that even the 1939 original print couldn't achieve. You'll honestly believe your TV is picking up HD, whether you're HD-ready, or not! This carries over to the Dolby Digital-remastered sound, as well. All of the tell-tale hiss and scratchiness of the opening credit title music, still discernable in the last upgrade, is gone, replaced by a richness of tone that will give your home theater a good workout. (Listen to the brass in this sequence, and you'll notice what I'm talking about...)
  
  The biggest selling point of this edition is, of course, the two discs of additional features offered, and these are, in general, superb. Beginning with the excellent "Making of a Legend" (narrated by Christopher Plummer), Disc Three offers fascinating overviews about the film, the amazing restoration, footage from the 1939 Premiere (and the bittersweet 1961 Civil War Centennial reunion of Selznick, Leigh, and de Havilland), glimpses of Gable and Leigh with dubbed voices for the foreign-language versions, the international Prologue (tacked on to explain the Civil War to foreign audiences), and a 1940 MGM documentary on the "Old South" (directed by Fred Zinneman) memorable today for it's simplistic view of the time, and stereotypical portrayal of blacks.
  
  Disc Four is a mixed bag; the long-awaited reminiscences of Olivia de Havilland are more chatty than informative (with the 90-year-old actress more interested in discussing her wardrobe than on-set tension...although a prank she pulled on Gable is amusing), and the Clark Gable Profile is superficial (A&E's biography of 'The King' is far superior). Things improve, however, with the insightful, sympathetic TCM biography of Vivien Leigh (hosted by Jessica Lange), and a WONDERFUL section devoted to brief bios of many of the GWTW supporting cast, narrated, again, by Christopher Plummer (although I wish the filmmakers would have included bios for Ward Bond, Victor Jory, Fred Crane, and George 'Superman' Reeves).
  
  All in all, the GWTW Four-Disc Collector's Edition isn't perfect, but offers so much terrific material that it is CERTAINLY the one to own!
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Technical Consideration for "Bewildered in Iowa"

  
  By A351LB8UWBKS06 on 2004-11-30
  I do hope you'll return and revise your rating to a '5' once you digest this information:
  
  Gone With the Wind was never released in a Widescreen version on DVD because it was never released in a Widescreen version on film. In fact, when it was released (1939), there were NO "Widescreen" movies at all -- becaues no one had yet thought about formatting movies in that way.
  
  Through the 1940s and into the 1950s, essentially ALL movies were in the 3:4 format that we now consider to be "regular". My understanding is that those proportions originally were adopted by the film industry to roughly correspond with the proportions of viewable area for the "live" theaters extant when the film industry started. Similarly, when television arrived in the late 40s/early 50s, its screen format was determined by copying the 3:4 screen proportions of films made up to that time. By the mid-1950s, the film industry became concerned about losing its audience to TV, so various WIDESCREEN formats (CinemaScope was one; I think there was another called VistaVision; I can't remember the others offhand) were conceived by the film industry in the 1950s as a way in which the film industry could distinguish its film products from what could efficiently be shown on television screens. This was the film industry's attempt to keep audiences coming to theaters to see their movies, rather than just waiting to see movie productions on home televisions; by coming to the theater, the audience could experience something different that what television could offer.
  
  Other "ideas" in this effort against TV included attempts to interest audiences in 3D films, as well as enhancing film audio, both by greatly improving sound range and fidelity and later by adding stereo, at a time when TVs had only a single, inexpensive speaker that didn't sound all that "hot." In fact, the creation/addition of 5.1 audio (Surround Sound) was yet another film industry effort to distinguish itself from what then was available for use in homes.
  
  Anyway, if someone now wants to issue a "Widescreen" version of GWTW, the only way to do it (without distorting the content) would be to cut off the top and/or bottom of every frame all the way through -- just think about how THAT would look . . .
  
  

• A Classic but it's NOT for everyone!

  
  By on 2002-07-22
  I used to think that this Hollywood classic was for everyone. However, after reading nearly 300 reviews of the film, I think that isn't true anymore. This movie is NOT for you IF 1) you think a movie must be as historically accurate as a history book, 2) you think a 1939 movie should reflect the values of the 21st century, 3) your attention span is so short that you must only see movies from 90-120 minutes in length, 4) you can only accept politically correct films, particularly in terms of racial issues, 5) you are so DUMB as to think widescreen movies were made before the 1950s (although to be fair, Selznik originally intended to use a special widescreen process for the so-called "burning of Atlanta" sequence but gave up on the expensive idea), 6) you can only accept computerized special effects as they appear in modern films, or 7) your idea of great acting is to be found in slasher or teen films being made these days.

  GWTW is NOT a documentary on the Civil War period. It is NOT a history of slavery in America. It is NOT a story of perfect people behaving perfectly at all times.

  It IS an adaptation of a novel written by a Southern woman who, as a child, sat and listened to the stories the old Confederate veterans told about the old days before, during, and after THE war. It IS a love story, probably about the novelist's grandmother, which reflects the attitudes left over from that long-ago time.

  To criticize this film for so many unrelated issues is silly. It stands on its merits as a masterful film that tells of bittersweet love and lost fantasy. That it succeeds so well is a tribute to the actors and filmmakers of over sixty years ago.
  
  

• Gone With the Wind: The Epic Standard

  
  By A3O2RCKAMSE9X7 on 2002-07-29
  GONE WITH THE WIND is the movie epic by which all other movies are judged. During its nearly four hours, the audience can see several movies in one: a love story, a war epic, a portrait of a self-driven woman to succeed regardless of cost, an historical saga, and the need of a displaced formerly proud people to regain their roots. Much of the sweep of Margaret Mitchell's novel is retained while losing only extraneous material. Director Victor Fleming presents a vision of the South that existed only for a precious, priviliged few. The first half centers on this ante-bellum image of a julip drinking South peopled mostly with polished gentlemen and marriage-hunting women. The dramatic focus of both halves is, of course, Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh in the role of a lifetime. Scarlett shows none of the monomania for success that drives her later on. Here, she is vain, flirty, and totally self-centered, except for her obsession for Ashley Wilkes, who as played by Leslie Howard, comes off as the last of a dying breed of Southern gentlemen. She throws herself at his feet, promising to love him eternally. When he rejects her, she slaps his face, now promising to despise him. As fine an actor as Leslie Howard is, he cannot set himself up as her power equal. For that, Clark Gable enters as Rhett Butler, a man who sees the world as it is and people as they are. In nearly the same scene, he announces to all the Southern gentlemen present that their beloved South has no chance to win the war. Moments later, he informs Scarlett that he will have her as surely as the South will lose the war.
  As the first half proceeds, the audience can see the proud South slowly crumble under the might of the industrial North. This crumbling is measured in blighted landscapes and human lives lost. One of the most powerful scenes in any movie is the one in which Scarlett leaves the Confederate hospital because she is too spent to care for the constant influx of dead and dying men. As she emerges into the sunlight, the camera lingers on a few bodies lying in the street, then expands into a vast panorama of thousands more waiting helplessly for women like Scarlett to tend to them. It is this vision of a dying way of life that propels the first half into Scarlett's return to Tara.
  Her metamorphosis from vain party girl to a driven monomania for money is punctuated by the impossibly dramatic silhouette of Scarlett ripping out shrubs and eating them raw, all the while shaking her fist at God promising Him that she will prevail.
  Following the intermission, the pace of the film slows and becomes less sweep and more soap opera. Events happen in a whirl. Scarlett has one husband, then another, a child is born, a child dies, a husband leaves her. The finale of Rhett storming out into the night with his now cliched 'Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn,' is the final lesson that Scarlett has to learn. She has stepped on those whose only offense was to love her. Ironically, as she gains the riches that she thought she wanted more than anything else, she now sees those riches as hollow as the magnificent but empty mansion in which she now lives quite alone.
  The amount of pity that the audience feels for Scarlett is a function of how they evaluate her justification for the pursuit of wealth. Scarlett may be wounded at the end, but if the audience feels a lack of pity for her, then surely they also see a woman whose bravado has stood her in good stead often during past crises. Her new solitary existence promises to be the most severe test yet of that bravado.
  
  
• Unsurpassed
  By A14IZOB6KBTUFE on 2004-10-23
  To the October 21st reviewer: A lot of the backgrounds were hand painted by Jack Cosgrove. They didn't have computer animation in 1939, and a lot of the sets were not built whole, so Jack painted the rest in. For example, all of the sunset shots at Tara, those are hand painted, and the entire outside of Twelve Oaks was painted. They filmed that shot in front of a warehouse on the Selznick lot, and then Cosgrove painted it in for the film and that's why it looks like everyone is going inside Twelve Oaks at the bar-b-que.
  
  My review:
  I just finished reading the book for the third time...I still can't get over it, it's so good. The movie I've see countless times and i never get tired of it. What a great story on all levels! It follows the book closely, and the characters stepped right off the page and onto the screen. Gable and leigh are electrifying--you can practically see the electricity when he winds her up and watches her snap! Scarlett and Rhett are two of the greatest characters in literary and screen history. There's a reason why this movie remains popular even after 65 years...the themes are universal, the story is brilliant, and the characters are unforgettable.
  
  Even if you don't like Scarlett for all her selfish and egocentric ways, you still care about her for all she went through. Rhett, oh Rhett, what can I say? He's my favorite. What a man, and yet, underneath it all, he's vulnerable too. Melanie and Ashley, they're great supporting characters, all 4 interwoven into this tapestry of love, war, honor, and the fall of a civilization.
  
  If you are afraid to watch it because it's too old or too long, trust me, I used to feel the same way, but try reading the book (don't be intimidated by the length, you'd with it was longer at the end), and just try watching the movie, it's great!!
  
  
  
  
• An edition which is a dissapointment of a lifetime!
  By on 2004-01-06
  This edition of the movie is very disappointing to me. I received it as a Christmas present and have I been aware of its poor contents, I would have never wanted it. I have nothing against the movie itself, because it is a classic film which I like very much. My dissatisfaction deals with this edition.

  First of all, it shows on the box everything that it contains, but when you open it, the material is not the quality that you expected it to be. The eight limited edition lobby card prints are in strange colours including dark pink and blue and do not in any way resemble the naturally colourful prints of the lobby cards shown on the box itself. For example, a lobby card entitled ''Scarlett O'Hara enlists the aid of Hattie McDaniel as she prepares to meet Rhett Butler.'' On this card Hattie McDaniel has a dark pink turban on her head, and all the colors are off and most of all, this lobby card was not even supposed to be in this box at all, because it is not one of the eight shown on the box flyer. This applies to all the lobby cards in this set on which all colours are very weird, and the cards do not resemble in any way the ones shown on the box flyer. This false advertising, also applies to the DVD itself, because on the paper flyer displaying the contents, the DVD cover appears to be plastic not paper like it is in reality, once you open the box. There are also six b&w photos of which three are not as sharp as the other three. Perhaps this is due to the fact that they could have used original film negatives to reproduce the last three pictures, but why enhance the quality of the first three and not the rest?

  The DVD, aside from the fact that you have to flip it over to see the rest of the movie, has no sticker on the CD, which would make it nicer if there was and it is somewhat difficult to tell which side is A and which B, because the letters that label the sides are small. Furthermore, the DVD comes in a paper cover, which means that you can this exact DVD separately, without any extra things, and is available in this paper edition in most stores. I admit that the lack of special features was surprising as well, the only thing included is a movie trailer, wow, why bother listing any special features then?

  The movie poster is good, except, for those of us who were hoping to hang it on a wall. There is a problem, because it is folded, and there is no way of getting rid of those folding lines, even if you tried straightening it out. Finally, the only piece of this package that is relatively satisfactory is the senitype image from the movie.

  In conclusion, if this edition cost less money and you received what is in this box, knowingly, meaning the lobby cards would appear on the cover of the box, in its weird colours, exactly what they look like once you open the box, there would be no need to complain, because you would get what you are shown and hopefully for the right amount of money too. Of course for the price that they want for it, if the contents were as they should be in proper colors and some additional changes were made, it would be a good buy. You can buy all those things for the same price separately and probably get a better selection of photos too, so this edition is not worth it. Trust me, wait until the studio re-releases this movie again in a better edition and one worthy of this classic film.
  
  

• Lack-Lustre Presentation
  By A3HOAYTX9I02B on 2000-12-13
  The one star I'm giving the greatest movie ever made isn't for the film itself. It's for the horrible lack of interest or care for the fans because this DVD version has zero extras on it. Even Carnival of Souls, a low-budget cult movie has nearly 3 hours of outakes, the "making of...", interviews. And then you look at the outstanding care and planning someone lavished on the DVD version of "The Sound of Music," with the "Making of..."interviews, deleted, scenes, interviews with cast members,and it's criminal that "wind" is just thrown out to the public as an ordinary movie. It's scary to think of the indifference of the people behind this dismal presentation of GWTW. Aren't the creators aware there are still tons of archival material that fans would lap up? Deleted scenes, costume tests, more unseen auditions, interviews with surviving members of the cast: Cammie Sue king (Bonnie Butler) EVelyn Keyes (Suellen), Ann Rutherford (Karen), etc. I'll continue watching my VHS version which looks wonderful, and then watching my VHS version of "The Making of a Legend" until the definitive DVD of the world's greatest film is finally released. Fans like me will be waiting.
  
  
• Gone With the Wind - Boxed Set BOMB
  By ADI7D3VZGLCRA on 2004-11-27
  To All Prospective GWTW Afficionados....DO NOT BUY THIS BOXED SET at the outrageous $71+ price. The glossy prints are poor quality...the other 'STUFF' included is just 'STUFF' and the really BAD THING....is that there is only 1 DVD. All the other releases currently (the more upscale and remastered ones) include 4 YES THAT IS FOUR DVD's which have information on interviews, making of the film, screen tests...etc. But this FANCY BOXED SET....has only one....Upon opening it, we immediately closed it and sent it back...and ordered the 4 DVD set at $27.94. So...save yourself some trouble and stick with the ORDINARY and AVOID the 'EXTRA-Ordinary'...
  Gladys C.
  
  
• a poor effort
  By A1XYT4WO34OQ6O on 2001-04-28
  at no point in this movie does anyone's head explode in flames. truly great films such as welcome to spring break recognize the need for such scenes, but this movie clearly fails to understand the emotional resonance a burning head can create. if you want to see a truly great movie, check out welcome to spring break.
  
  
• A Movie About Misery
  By A3F7RHVPZ3I75 on 2000-09-05
  The one fault with this beautiful movie is that the music, drama, and adventure carries one so far away from the underlying themes. It's a movie about two men who dispise themselves and a total brat (Scarlett was 20 when Tara was ruined by Union soldiers). Buy this movie and watch it again. Especially watch Rhett's expression at the end when Scarlett realizes that Ashley will be free of Melanie now that she has died. It is not a look of "Frankly, I don't give a damn." It's a look of hurt. Ala, I'm leaving but I'll be back. And Scarlett goes to Tara where her power lays. The late Vivian Leigh was asked if Scarlett would ever get Rhett back. She replied, "No. But I think that she would be a better person." This is suprising of Ms. Leigh since she read the book several times before starring in this masterpiece. Leigh's portrayal of Scarlett is about the best I've ever seen. She doesn't hesitate like the rest of the characters! She just behaves. It's really incredible. Ashley is a man of the past. Rhett is a man of the future. Both lost in time. Rhett has been casted out by his family. His adventurous urges are not of a gentleman of the South. And despite his charm, he hates himself for what he is. Ashley has created a complete dream world of the past in which he lives. And he admits it! Scarlett is incredibly non-well-meaning! I have nearly gagged when she bought slave labor consisting of Confederate prisoners. Brrrrrr. Nevertheless, Rhet really loves her because she is a "selfish rascal like himself". Which is sort of like telling a woman, "I love you because you're ugly like me." Melanie is the heroine. As Rhett states in the book, "Her eyes are like two good deeds looking out on a dark world." She is unselfish. The others are, well... Only Rhett really spots this. And Gable plays his part brillantly (and without enough credit). Howard is a bit stagey but gets away with it. DeHavilland pours the syrup a bit thick but also manages to pull off her portrayal of Melanie brillantly. All in all, this is a superb film. Buy it and try to "feel" what the characters are really going through. Forget all the music and all the fluff and pay attention. The charter portrayals are great. But realize what you are watching. Except for Melanie, these are not happy people. Watch it again but get under the skin of these characters. It's really a different movie when you do so.
  
  
• Great Movie, below average DVD
  By A2MY2I2S1J4V73 on 2000-12-25
  Wonderful movie, but below average DVD. When one buys a DVD they not only want to see the movie, but a bunch of little extras too. This DVD has virtually none of the extras that make a DVD worth buying.

  I was at least expecting a "Making of" segment.

  Just my humble oppinion.
  
  

• Where's the 5-Star Version?
  By A8T21IR0E5JJI on 2001-04-30
  I've just watched the magnificent DVD restorations of "Cleopatra," "Lawrence of Arabia," "Ben Hur" and other Hollywood masterpieces. All of them had extraordinary documentaries, screen tests, extras. But what in the world is holding up the 5-star DVD version that all of us fans of "Gone With the Wind" are waiting impatiently for? As 2 other fans have noted, there's nothing extra on the present DVD. A two-minute preview. Wow. Thanks a lot.If studios are able to give spectacular restorations and care to all-time favorites like "Sound of Music" and "Spartacus", then we demand an even more outstanding DVD treatment of the greatest movie of all time. Say, come to think of it, where's the DVD version of "Doctor Zhivago"--another much beloved classic? Get with it Ted Turner, who owns GWTW, and all you other people in charge. We want our 5-star edition of GWTW--like yesterday.
  
  
• I must have been missing something...
  By AACV8ZQ54AY19 on 2001-08-06
  Because I'd heard nothing but great things about "Gone with the Wind," the "greatest love story/movie of all time." I'd watched it recently and saw hardly any redeeming qualities amongst the mediocrity...and I wrote this review. The following was the original, rated 3/5 stars.

  "I've heard for my whole life that the tale of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara was a heart-wrenching love story between two charismatic leads, Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. In truth, they weren't even in love. At all. Scarlett's affections belonged to another man, and she didn't realize she just MIGHT have feelings for Rhett until the very end.

  "Scarlett O'Hara was one of the most detestable characters I have ever watched onscreen. She was bitter, cold, and cared only for herself and money. And while she was surrounded by wonderful people (Olivia de Havilland's TERRIFIC portrayal of Mellie, and, of course, Rhett Butler), they had no effect on her; their kindness was unappreciated and unmatched.

  "Historically, the film was quite accurate (except that slaves were usually treated horribly in the 1800s), and the war scenes sent chills down my spine--the wounded soldiers, screaming for painkillers, screeching in agony as limbs were amputated with no anesthetic.

  "The first half of the movie was very well-done, and I actually LIKED Scarlett before watching the conclusion. However, the second half was unnecessary and focused only on the petty affairs of Scarlett and Rhett and their daughter. I don't understand why this film was so hyped up--and still is--but I suppose I must be missing something. Before you hit the "no" button below "was this review helpful to you?" remember that I am only 13, and I will definitely rewatch the film when I'm older, as I'm almost positive I'll like it better then.

  "GwtW--the best film of all time? No, not in my opinion. But decide for yourself."

  Okay. In the days that followed this review, I thought about the movie. I thought and thought and finally came to a conclusion--it really WAS a great movie. I have no idea why I didn't like it at first, because, on rewatching, I LOVED it.

  Scarlett was not so detestable after all--I realized that she just really, REALLY didn't want to experience once again the hunger that had once taken over her body. She was naive and thought she was in love with Ashley Wilkes, the husband of Mellie, until the end, when she finally realized that she DID love Rhett Butler himself...and I really felt for her.

  A timeless story and a great movie that I will hopefully soon be adding to my video collection, GONE WITH THE WIND is a cinematic masterpiece on nearly every level. If you don't like it at first, perhaps you'll be like me and Scarlett and have a change of heart. ;)
  
  

• The Classic Classic of Classics
  By A1X7Z57YMYGUU6 on 2002-02-05
  How can anyone seriously criticize this film? Well, some people can, but that's not my point. The point is that this is the greatest American film since "Birth of a Nation." Watch in awe as Scarlett and Ashley pine for the bygone days when the soft high sound of Negro laughter rises like the Louisiana marsh mist from the decrepit, rat-infested slave quarters swimming in lice and feces. Chortle with Rhett as he sprays misogyny across Georgia like an alley cat with a urinary tract infection. Pray with the Confederacy as it bravely attempts to defend time-honored traditions of patriarchal subjugation, racist contempt for human life and belligerent arrogance bordering on the psychotic. Boo and hiss as uppity Negroes humiliate the once proud South by asking for things like civil rights and a decent standard of living. Cheer for Scarlett (again) as she pops all her scruples like over-ripe zits in her pathological quest for a goal even she doesn't understand. And finally, share in the triumph of the filmmakers as they achieve the astounding feat of creating sympathy and admiration for one of the most sordid and shameful chapters in American history. Can you think of any reason modern audiences might not be totally pleased with this sugar-coated atavism? I sure can't.
  
  
• more glorious than ever before.......................
  By AX9J0U8J6XTCY on 2004-11-07
  WELL, I WILL NOT SAY WHICH MAIL ORDER HOUSE BROKE THE STREET DATE, BUT MY COPY ARRIVED FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AND WAS I EVER THRILLED TO RECEIVE IT! IF ANY OF YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT BEFORE, WELL, STOP AND THINK AGAIN! I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MAGIC WARNER BROS/MGM USED TO PULL THIS OFF, BUT WOW! IT IS GORGEOUS NOW FROM THE BREATHTAKING PALATE TO THE 5.1 AC 3 SOUND, A BREATHTAKING JOB HAS BEEN DONE HERE, FOLKS. DO NOT WALK-RUN TO YOUR VIDEO STORE OR ONLINE STORE AND BUY WHAT IS SURE TO BE THE NUMBER ONE HOLIDAY GIFT THIS YEAR. ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID AND NEED I REMIND ANYONE WHAT A REALLY GREAT FILM GWTW STILL REALLY IS?? I THINK NOT. KUDOS AND BRAVOS TO THE RESTORATION TEAM FOR TURNING A CLASSIC INTO THE MOST SPLENDED DVD EVENT OF THE YEAR!.
  
  
• Gone With The Wind DVD Review
  By A2CEX7784M8YSU on 2005-10-29
  Movie: Okay, lets just get this out of the way: "Gone With The Wind" was, is, and will always be the best movie ever made. There, I said it. Ever since its premiere in 1939 "Gone With The Wind" set the bar for which all motion pictures after it. There would be no "Star Wars," "Ben Hur," "Titanic," or "Lord Of The Rings" Trilogy if "Gone With The Wind" had not been such a grand achievement. Every frame of the film drips with sheer perfection. The sets are grand, the acting marvelous, and the direction impeccable. My favorite thing about "Gone With The Wind" would have to be the cast. Hattie Macdaniel was marvelous as Mammy, Olivia DeHaviland heavenly as Melanie, Leslie Howard great as Ashley, and Clark Gable is sheer perfection as Rhett Butler. Last but certainly not least, Vivien Leigh IS Scarlett O'Hara. Isn't it obvious that I love this movie? With that said, let's take a look at the DVD.
  Movie: (Ten Million/5)
  
  Picture: If you already own the previous single disc release from MGM, you can safely throw it away in favor of this set. Simply put, the picture is marvelous. The film has been painstakingly restored from the original 3-Strip Technicolor Negatives. When the three Technicolor negatives are re-aligned, there is a level of clarity that has never been seen before. There is a featurette in the supplements section that explains just how this process was accomplished. Compared to previous VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD incarnations, the results are truly startling. The colors are wondrous, the picture is sharp, and there are no faults to be found at all. Simply amazing! (6/5)
  
  Sound: The film's soundtrack has been remastered in a wonderful new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. There results are simply splendid. In a comparison, this is the same track that appeared on the single disc DVD. However, that is not a bad thing. The dialog souds great. There is no hiss or distortion of any kind. Surround activity is limited (What do you expect? The soundtrack was recorded in 1939!) The surrounds benefit the most from Max Steiner's wondrous score, and in the evacuation of Atlanta sequence. For purists, the film's original mono soundtrack has also been included, and it sounds great. (5/5)
  
  Extras: Rejoice! Fans at long last have the definitve version of "Gone With The Wind!" There are tons of goodies in this set. Discs One and Two house the film itself. They also contain an excellent commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer. His commentary is interesting and informative that is filled with fascinating bits of information about the production.
  
  Discs Three and Four house the bulk of the extras.
  
  "Making of a Legend: Gone With The Wind" is the best documentary on the making of a film I have ever seen. There are interviews with many of the kehy people in the production as well as screen tests, Oscar footage, archival footage, and much more. This is worth the price of the box set alone.
  
  Next up is "Restoring A Legend." This takes you inside Warner's restoration facilities to see firsthand the painstaking restoration that went into this set. This is one of my favorite featurettes simply because it is so nice to hear about all the hard work, sweat, blood, tears, and most of all love that Warner Brothers Home Video is putting into making "Gone With The Wind" and other classic titles so they can look and sound their best for years to come. Bravo!
  
  On disc three you'll also find "Dixie Hails Gone With The Wind!" short, "Civil War Centennial" short, "The Old South" short, the international prologue to explain to other countries what the Civil War was, brief international language dub scenes, and a trailer gallery.
  
  On disc four you'll find "Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia DeHaviland." Ms. DeHaviland is a gracious hostess, and it is a joy to hear her recollections. "Gable: The King Remembered" is a 1975 documentary on Clark Gable. This is very classy and quite informative, and was an excellent addition. "Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond" is next. This is also a great documentary on the legendary actress, and is quite well done. Next are numerous mini documentaries on the supporting players that run from under one minute to around five minutes in length. These are nice to have, and really help to round out the set. Also included is a reproduction of the original 1939 souvenir program. Very classy. (10/5)
  
  Overall: The greatest film ever made gets, in my opinion, the best DVD ever produced. Thank god Warner knows how to preserve these this and other classic films so people can continue to appreciate them for generations to come. A superb restoration and a plethora of extras make this a no-brainer. If you only buy one DVD in your life, buy this one! This is the best DVD I have ever seen, and I am so happy to have it in my collection. Thank you Warner Brothers for getting it right! (10/5)
  
  
• The Great American Classic
  By A2F7XTL4KHDZME on 2001-04-07
  What more can you say about one of America's most celebrated films? Plenty. Taken simply as a romance with the Civil War as a backdrop for the life and times of Scarlet O'Hara (Vivian Leigh) it's superb entertainment. And that after all is what this film is about. Critics of its not being historically accurate, miss this point entirely. After more than 60 years, Gone With the Wind remains one of the most compelling narratives in film history. The script, worked on by just about everyone in Hollywood, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ben Hecht, has some of the best dialogue ever written. The splendid cast (with the possible exception of Lesley Howard as Ashley Wilkes) acts up a storm with Leigh a stunner in this her American film debut. Clark Gable's Rhett Butler is appropriately roguish and charming at the same time, and it's easy to see why the public (and producer David O. Selznick) couldn't see anyone else in this role. Olivia de Haviland shines as Melanie creating one of the film's most memorable characters. In the hands of a less competent actress, she would have been too good to be believed, but de Haviland created a real three- dimensional character: we can't help but admire her strength. Hattie McDaniel gives a strong characterization as Mammy, the no-nonsense servant to generations of the O'Hara clan. McDaniel's role was awarded an Oscar for best supporting actress (she was up against de Haviland) and she is remembered as the first African-American to be so honored. The film is filled with wonderful supporting performances by some of the best actors of the day including Jane Darwell, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, and Ona Munson. For a film that is almost four hours long, it goes by quite quickly. The production is first rate and the video restoration is superb, looking as fresh as when it was first released in 1939. As pure entertainment, it's hard to do better than GWTW; it's easy to see how this classic has become a part of the American psyche.
  
  
• Hello? Warner?
  By A1Q0DWEWELHG2 on 2003-10-16
  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.
  
  

• A disappointing box set
  By A1YIWDKM1292L4 on 2004-02-18
  Please note that my disappointment was in no way with "Gone With the Wind" itself, which is, as we all know, is one of the greatest movies of all time. I couldn't say anything about this wonderful film that hasn't been said already. This big, lush, box set, however, left a lot to be desired.

  Let's start with the 8 original limited edition lobby card prints. They're obviously colorized, and hideously so. Mammy in a neon pink headdress? The same neon pink as the stripes on the soldier's pants at the charity bazaar? I don't think so. And excuse me, the dress Scarlett wore when she fled from Atlanta and for some time after that was lavendar, not French's mustard yellow. Nor is anyone's skin that "flesh" color, ever.

  Moving on to the 6 original black and white photograph cards (and why would you print black and white photos of a beautiful color movie like this, anyway?)...I could have done a better job on my home computer, with screen captures. The pictures, which include Rhett at the bottom of the stairs seeing Scarlett for the first time, are very blurry. Even the close up of Rhett and Scarlett about to kiss (after Frank Kennedy's funeral) isn't clear.

  The 35 mm film frame I received was of Rhett bidding Scarlett farewell on the road to Tara; the accompanying art graphic is very dark and muddy. I have to hold the film cell up to bright light to even see it, so forget about framing it.

  The 27x40 movie poster was very nice, and I'll end up getting a frame to display it.

  The DVD lists its "special features" as interactive menus and scene access; isn't that pretty much standard by now? The extras consist of a trivia game (you don't guess the answers, they'll give them to you on the next screen) and the movie trailer. That's it. One of the greatest films of all time, and that's the best you can do? What about the excellent documentary "The Making of a Legend: Gone With the Wind"? I have that on VHS and it's wonderful. That could have been added to make a two disc set.

  I'd wanted "GWTW" on DVD for a long time, and instead of buying the much less expensive DVD (where I could have had a choice of standard or widescreen versions), I had to hold out for the big box set. I wonder now why I bothered.
  
  

• Historically inaccurate and racist
  By ANNCLJCMWNVVE on 2001-12-05
  The portrayal of African Americans in this movie is a disgrace. The movie is glorifying the old south and thus glorifying slavery. When I watched this racist flick--I rooted for General Sherman! Slavery was wrong--the south was wrong--the right side won--get over it! This is like a sugar coated "Birth of a Nation". (and the story is boring as well)
  
  
• Red Earth of Tara gets Remastered
  By A2ZSC81MXLBELX on 2002-10-20
  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
  
  
• All Time Classic
  By A3ADUOVTY3TIRU on 2006-07-12
  This fantastic film shot in 1939 is probably the best movie ever made.Some of the scenes in this movie are so realistic,long before computorization.
  The acting and script are second to none.
  The only thing i didnt like about the movie was when the little girl died and they broke up,frankly my dear i dont give a damn.
  Kinda leaves a bitter sweet feeling,concidering all the struggles Scarlett had gone through,i thought she deserved a happy ending.
  She wasnt exactly a sweetie,she stopped at nothing to get what she wanted.But she had to be hard and cunning,due to a senseless war.
  Its hard to imagine one half of a country fighting the other half nowdays.The closest Australia ever came to a civil war,was when the South Australians were holding up "Kick A Vic" sighns at interstate footy matches,tisk tisk.
  The wonderfull costumes and settings for this movie reflected on a time when slave labor was a way of life.
  This was fortunatly filmed in color,to realy capture the surroundings at its visual best.Not too many films were filmed in color those days.
  This is definitly a different movie to the ones i have reviewed,but if you are going to review the best movies,you cannot go past this classic.
  
  
• One of the Greatest Classic Movies of All Time
  By A6T1RHMQ9NSE4 on 2008-01-03
  This is one of the most beloved classic romatic movies of all time. This movie is as beautiful to the eyes as it is to the ears. The story told of Scarlet and Rhet has stood the test of time. I remember the very first time I watched this movie. It was with my mother. I have very fond memories of it now and I did then.
  
  I won't include any "spoilers" and I don't want to give too much away. There is a beautiful cast of characters with a rich story line. It's hard not to love this story.
  
  I'm not sure how many people haven't seen this movie, but to me, it is one of the best if not the best classic movies of all time.
  
  Heartfelt romance, love, laughter, tears...this movie has it all. It's a staple in my collection.
  
  This movie has southern charm and a true account of that time in history. You will love this movie from beginning to end. Follow the romance of Rhett and Scarlet. You'll be glad you did.
  
  
• Time to defend a classic
  By A25YSQIY1R0YG8 on 2001-12-30
  Now, I love both this movie and this book. I would recommend it to everyone not only because I think that most people would like it, but also because it's a classic that I think everyone should see at least once.

  However, my opinion matters little (except to me!), although many share it. It received 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture over The Wizard of Oz. Both critics and viewers have heralded it as a classic for over 60 years. For those cynics who believe that it may have been a masterpiece for it's time, but is now unimpressive, it was recently ranked the second best film of all time by the American Film Institute, second only to Citizen Kane. It has continued to impress, inspire, and touch people all over. It is regarded as a classic, one of the best films ever made-and by many, the best.

  I also have rebuttals to a few of the attacks thrown at the movie. People have been complaining about the length of it, saying that 5 hours is too long to sit through a movie. Well, while I would be willing to sit through 5 hours of a movie that is able to stay interesting for the full length of the movie, Gone with the Wind does not run 5 hours. It runs 3:53 and each minute is important. Also, people have been complaining that it is not shown in widescreen, but the fact of the matter is that wide screen wasn't even introduced until 1952, and wasn't widely used until even after that. The reason they started to release movies in widescreen is because the new invention, the television, was taking business away from the movie industry, so to fight back, they made the movie screen larger than ever, giving people a reason to get out of their houses and back into the movie theatres. One thing I do agree with is that there could be more extras on the DVD. Of course this was one of the earlier DVDs released, before they started getting really generous with the extras, but I do wish they would release a new version with interesting extras.

  Of course not everyone is going to like this movie. Is it historically accurate? I couldn't really answer that question, but I do believe that on the whole it is. Does it require some willing suspension of disbelief? Certainly. While there is a lot to say for movies that are accurate down to the tiniest detail, there is more to a movie than that. It is the heart and soul that touches people. And those who watch movies only to scrutinize and look for mistakes are missing the point. When watching a movie-- any movie, it is necessary to let yourself be swept up in what is happening. This is not a documentary, nor does it claim to be an authority on life during and after the civil war. It is a fictional story with fictional characters and events that happens to use the tumultuous time of the civil war as a vehicle for an interesting plot. I can't speak for Margaret Mitchell, but I believe that she did not write the story in this time because she wanted to do a thorough history of the south during the war. I believe she used this particular time and place because before the war started, Tara was a perfect place-the perfect foil to the destruction that the war brought on. To quote (or paraphrase if I don't get it absolutely right) Ashley Wilkes, "Most of the miseries of the world were caused by war." Also, Tara before the war represented everything about Scarlet O'Hara's life growing up. She was, quite frankly, a spoiled brat who grew up never knowing what it was to go without anything. Why would we sit through almost 4 hours of watching a character like this? To see her courage and strength tested over and over again, with her overcoming every obstacle in sight. She may not be the most likeable of characters, but she sure is one of the strongest and most resilient ever to grace the screen, and that is something we can admire. Of course, Scarlet is not the only reason to watch this film. In fact, people would probably argue that her character is the worst part of the film (although I would disagree). This movie is about the people of an era. About who can survive hardships and why. Other characters, such as Rhett, Melanie, and Ashley (who people often critique as being one-dimensional-and again, I would disagree), Ellen O'Hara (Scarlet's mother), or Gerald O'Hara (Scarlet's father), the servants, or countless other less appreciated but noble characters such as Ashley's father that remain in the background of the film, make it worth watching. Plus, to see how much the world changed just in one generation humbles me. Not only that, but I would recommend the movie to anyone if just to see the beautiful costumes and scenery!

  Whatever the reason, this is a movie one should see. Some people just won't like it and, while I disagree with them, they are not wrong unless they say that the movie sucks or was poorly made. There are just too many sources that disagree with that. Speaking as an 18-year-old girl (who has loved the movie for at least 8 or 9 years), I believe that my generation has become so accustomed to bad teenage movies that only have enough content to fill an hour and a half that many people's attention spans are just long enough to accommodate that, and they can no longer appreciated a long movie with so much to say. That is not to say that a movie has to be long to be good, but it just so happens that this, along with many, has 4 hours worth of action, wisdom, and entertainment. Watch this movie and allow yourself to learn something.
  
  

• THIS is a REAL SPECIAL EDITION!!!
  By A81P47EIXM8HA on 2004-11-09
  WOW!
  special edition is tossed around far too often in this day of sales and hype...NOT so in the case of this marvelous collection! First..the movie...A STUNNING mastering job...of a DVD that frankly I thought was already pretty darned good in its previous edition. Second..the BONUS features...are jaw dropping...the making of film , which has been available on LD and VHS is thankfully included....as well as several other documentaries on the film itself...
  
  NOW the most amazing of all...are the bios and featurettes on the supporting cast AND the main stars...which are all extremely well done! But the real highlight is MELANIE REMEMBERS....amazingly they have a recent interview of the star Olivia DeHavilland. I had no idea this legend was still alive...but ALIVE is what she is in this fascinating segment which she vividly recalls the filming of the movie ...she is animated and quite charming!
  
  all in all the most comprehensive DVD set ever issued for a movie and as WB have lavished this attention on perhaps the most beloved film in history...KUDOS! 50 stars....
  
  don't even think twice about this purchase and buy them for christmas gifts...I just ordered several copies for such!
  
  
  
• You know already you have to have it...
  By AWRNBQ0OPOJZ1 on 2004-11-11
  An amusing irony is that this Selznick International Picture, once distributed by MGM is now out on a Warner Bros. DVD. Somewhere in the outer cosmos, Bette Davis must be furiously puffing away on a perpetually smoking cigarette thinking that Scarlett could have been hers after all...
  
  However, without intending disrespect to Bette the Great, after all these years there is still no visible seam between Vivien Leigh and Scarlett O'Hara, a point that could be made about the entire GWTW cast.
  
  The DVD presentation is worthy of the material, particularly the recent interview with Olivia de Havilland. You can still sense her awe that she was privileged to be part of something extraordinary - something that has the hint of immortality about it as much as these things can. I had read that she and Vivien Leigh did not approve of Victor Fleming as director after Cukor had been taken off the picture. She dispels this by crediting Fleming with giving her the key to Melanie's character. I won't spoil Miss de Havilland's surprise, but the advice was simple and ultimately made tangible in her performance.
  
  What the new re-mastering has done reminds me of the recent restoration of the Sistine Chapel - all the colors are brighter, maybe even a little more garish when compared to the previous incarnation which I always felt to be overly dark. I think this current edition must be closer to the original intent. At a time when Technicolor was still relatively rare, I think Selznick wanted to knock his audience out with the brilliance of the colors. The WB technicians have made it all seem brand new.
  
  Hopefully, this will be the last time I have to buy Gone With the Wind, unless of course, they find the missing scenes Selznick cut from the preview print...or a few more Scarlett screen tests...or...perhaps even an alternate take with Mammy in an different color head rag...Yes, I must have it all in full excess!
  
  
• Special Features GALORE on Collectors Edition - BRAVO!
  By A2FU48DTHMR0CV on 2004-12-08
  Of course "Gone With The Wind" is hearlded as the best motion picture of all time. That fact alone makes "Gone With The Wind" worthy of a 5 star rating - but this Collectors Edition DVD Collection: ABSOLUTLEY AWESOME. The color and sound have been restored and both have NEVER been better. Aside from the beautiful DVD foldout box that the DVDs come in, you're given a replica of the 1939 theatre program that was used the night that GWTW premiered in Atlanta, GA. It includes several portraits, essays on playing Rhett and Scarlett by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, bio's on the main cast, a cast roster and a quick summary on the making of the film by its producer, Hollywood's legendary David O. Selznick. Disc 1 & 2 are the movie itself. You can choose to watch the movie with or without commentary narration on the making of the movie by film historian Rudy Behlemr. Disc 2 includes a GREAT documentary "The Making of A Legend: Gone With The Wind" narrated by Christopher Plummer. That alone, is worth the purchase - but wait, there's more! Also included are a documentary on recent restoration of the film, the 1939 Atlanta premiere newsreel, Foreign Language versions, the theatrical trailers for 1939, 1961, 1967, 1968 and 1987 - PLUS MORE. Disc 4 includes a new interview with the only living main cast member, the legendary Olivia de Havilland (Melanie). She tells some very great stories about filming the movie. Also included are the documentaries "Clark Gable: The King Remembered" and "Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond". I enjoyed the newer of the two most, "Vivien Leigh: Scarlett & Beyond" which is narrated by actress Jessica Lange. It is truly a facinating look into her life - a really, really facinating woman and brilliant actress. Lastly, the rest of the cast's bios, read by Christopher Plummer, which shows pictures and footage of each and tells of their film careers and what became of them after GWTW. Do yourself a favor and splurge for the special features on this collectors edition - you'll be so glad you did. It's a shame that not all DVD's have such great features included such as this!
  
  
• I Know That I'm Commiting Heresy, But.........
  By A1MUNVPTR4H1UM on 2005-10-30
  I just can't understand the high praise given to the movie. To the book, yes. But the movie?!? Let me start by saying that I LOVE the book version of GWTW. I've read it at least 20 times since the age of 16 (MANY years ago!).
  
  However, the movie version does no justice to the book. Interestingly, I've learned over the years that many people who love the movie have never read the book. So maybe that's where the high praise for the movie comes from.
  
  And now, I'll commit the worst heresy. Clark Gable is just AWFUL as Rhett Butler!! Yes, he does look like him, but the resemblance ends there. I'm wondering if he was brought in for "box office draw." Gable does not even begin to capture the character of Rhett. First, Gable refused to play the part of Rhett with a Southern accent. How arrogant! This was a character born and raised in the deep South, who emphasized his drawl when angry. Also, Clark Gable is one-dimensional in the movie. The only part of Rhett Butler's character that he manages to successfully play is the mocking, sarcastic part. However, he plays Rhett's character completely in this mode. Much of Rhett's character is very subtle; shown only in a glance or an expression. Gable either does not understand this, or chooses to ignore it.
  
  Vivien Leigh is much better. She puts a great deal of effort into her part. The other parts that are left in the movie (and many are deleted) are fairly well acted.
  
  Incidentally, if you are really interested in "behind the scenes" information about both the book AND the movie, please read "Margaret Mitchell and John Marsh: The Love Story Behind 'Gone With the Wind'". I read this book after the first writing of this review. It revealed many fascinating facts, including the fact that Southeners did NOT want Clark Gable as Rhett in the movie; nor did he want to play the part.
  
  My advice? Skip the movie, and go directly to the book.
  
  
• Disclaimer: The Film Is On TWO Discs
  By AXXX16NGKK3DU on 2006-09-14
  You read that right. The movie is broken into two parts. It goes to the intermission on Disc 1, then continues on Disc 2, so in the middle of the film, you have to change DVDs.
  
  Despite the picture's 4 hour running time, I still hate this aspect of the DVD presentation. I always thought breaking a film up ended when DVD replaced VHS.
  
  Neither the packaging nor the product overview here on Amazon states, "Please note this feature is broken up over two DVDs." And I need not explain that the reason for this is because many would-be buyers might take a pass on such a set if this disclaimer were in plain sight. Such a disclaimer would be a service to those of us who wish to avoid such DVD sets.
  
  I've seen other 2-disc DVDs proclaim proudly: "Over 5 hours of special features!" which tells me that the discs are holding about 8 hours of data on two discs.
  
  Warner Bros., is it too hard to make Disc 1 have the whole movie and Disc 2 the supplemental features? I didn't think it would be right to write a review of the film, because there are over 600 of those here. I just wanted to give my fellow consumers a "heads up" on what I consider a negative aspect of the film's DVD presentation.
  
  

• Casablanca
• Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)
• Gone with the Wind
• Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Gone With the Wind