To say that Gone with the Wind is one of the most successful, important, and widely recognized films of all time wouldn’t even be an understatement. While the film has received some criticism over the years for its depiction of African Americans, for the most part the movie is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. At the time of its release, it even won 10 Oscars. Not only was it critically loved, but it’s also one of the most successful films of all time. When you adjust for inflation, it’s actually the highest-grossing film of all time. So, what is it about Gone with the Wind that has caused it to become such a cultural phenomenon? I was slightly dubious of the movie going into it, but after watching I can easily say it’s one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen.

The movie has a very long and complex tale, so it’s hard for me to give a plot summary. So much happens in this movie, so I’ll boil it down to the bare essentials. The movie is set in southern America during the Civil War, and it follows the story of Scarlett O’Hara, a plantation owner in Georgia. Scarlett is strong-willed and is easily able to get what she wants. The one thing she can’t seem to have, though, is Ashley Wilkes, a man that sends her mixed signals while being married to his cousin Melanie. Scarlett later meets Rhett Butler, a man that doesn’t put up with her crap but seems to take interest in her just the same. Aside from this love story, though, a large portion of the movie depicts the struggles of the time period, as we witness Scarlett and company have to endure some really harsh trials throughout the movie. This is the kind of stuff that makes the movie so special, but I don’t want to spoil any of it.

Before I go any further, I feel like I should bring up the big elephant in the room. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to Gone with the Wind that’s going to scare off most viewers is its length, clocking in at a run-time of just under 4 hours. I recognize that this is a big ask for any casual viewers out there, which is why I only recommend Gone with the Wind under certain stipulations. Indeed, the run-time is very intimidating, which is why you really do need to dedicate the time to watch the movie in order to be able to enjoy it. However, when some people think of a 4 hour old movie, they’re probably imagining something boring where nothing happens, but that’s not even close to being true. I can promise that if you choose to devote the time to watch the movie, it’s an epic masterpiece that hooks you in and keeps you engaged for the entire time. Some people criticize the movie for being too long, but in the end I was thankful for the run-time, because it allowed me to feel like I went on a real, meaningful journey with the characters. No one is the same by the end of it, and it was enthralling to be able to witness that transformation throughout it.

Now, a movie like this couldn’t possibly work without some great characters and actors attached to them. Now, the whole cast is interesting, but the obvious stars here are Vivien Leigh as Scarlett and Clark Gable as Rhett, the two stars of the movie. These characters are extremely interesting on their own, but together they’re a whole different breed. It’s not often that you feel real chemistry between actors like this, but the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett quickly became one of my favorites in film history. It’s such a complex and interesting relationship, and this is because of the personalities and feelings that both are bringing to the table. These two each have their own problems that they deal with throughout the movie, and so mixing them together is an interesting recipe. The actors behind the characters also contribute to them being as engaging as they are. I’ve seen Clark Gable before in It Happened One Night, so I was already familiar with how great of an actor he is, but I felt like he delivered one of the best performances of all time with Rhett. He brings so much charisma into the character. Vivien Leigh is also just fantastic as Scarlett, and seems like the perfect fit for the character. She’s the true lead of the movie, and so it helps that we have such an interesting character to follow with her.

Aside from that, the movie is just plain impressive. This is no joke one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. It came out the same year as The Wizard of Oz, and it blows that movie out of the water. There are so many absolutely gorgeous shots in the movie, and it looks way better than even a lot of movies today. I have no idea how they got some of the shots they did for the movie, because it’s just an absolute delight to look at. Even aside from that, the movie just has a tremendous amount of scale. Aside from the sheer amount of footage in the movie, the number of impressive shots is just crazy. There’s shots of a giant fire, shots of a battlefield filled with injured soldiers, and quieter shots of scenes brewing with romance. This was just such a large-scale production, and it’s not often that you see movies on this level, especially ones that are this old.

I do recognize that the biggest barrier to this movie for a lot of people is going to be its length, and to a certain degree I understand that. However, a lot of people have no problem binging through hours of a TV show, so this isn’t far off from that. My point is, if you can get past this barrier, then you’re in for a real treat with Gone with the Wind. I never thought I’d like the movie as much as I did, but it’s honestly one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. I can’t even begin to describe my sheer love and admiration for it. I adore this movie, both because of its epic scale and beautiful visuals. I got lost in this movie in a way that I haven’t with many others out there. Give it a shot if you have the time for it, because it’s the true embodiment of the word “masterpiece.”

5/5