Gone with the Wind - Trailer [1939] [12th Oscar Best Picture]

Scarlett is a woman who can deal with a nation at war, Atlanta burning, the Union Army carrying off everything from her beloved Tara, the carpetbaggers who arrive after the war. Scarlett is beautiful. She has vitality. But Ashley, the man she has wanted for so long, is going to marry his placid cousin, Melanie. Mammy warns Scarlett to behave herself at the party at Twelve Oaks. There is a new man there that day, the day the Civil War begins. Rhett Butler. Scarlett does not know he is in the room when she pleads with Ashley to choose her instead of Melanie. Written by Dale O'Connor
[IMDB.COM]

Release: 17 January 1941
Running Time: 238 min
Awards: Won 8 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations
AFI Recognition:
100 YEARS100 MOVIES #4
100 YEARS100 STARS #16
100 YEARS100 PASSIONS #2
100 YEARS100 MOVIE QUOTES #59
100 YEARS100 MOVIE QUOTES #31
100 YEARS100 MOVIE QUOTES #1
100 YEARS OF FILM SCORES #2
100 YEARS100 CHEERS #43
100 YEARS100 MOVIES 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION #6
Producer: David O. Selznick
Director: Victor Fleming
Writer: Sidney Howard
Cast: Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O'Hara ), Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes), Olivia De Havilland (Melanie Hamilton), Hattie McDaniel (Mammy)
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Domestic Total Gross: $199 million
Worldwide Total Gross: $400 million
[AFI.COM][IMDB.COM][BOXOFFICEMOJO.COM]

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Ted Chalfen]

so this is what was shown to that audience that caused the thunderous ovation i've heard so much about?

[sethscoot32]

incredible movie!!

[Morte Imperator]

Vivien Leigh was barely known in World Cinema outside of Great Britain before this film. This film would cement her status as international star and forever a legend in the realm of movies.

[Morte Imperator]

Multiply that at least 100% more for a movie thats an adaptation for a mega bestseller critical hit as big as Gone With the Wind which just counting the novel by itself alone WAS (and still is) a phenomenon at the time.

[Morte Imperator]

Have you read the book?If you thought the movie was RACIST already and the characters were flawed enough, oh you'll be shocked to the point of sheer speechlessness if you read the book.

[Morte Imperator]

I was watching the doc "A Making of the Legend" and it stated tat the moment Margaret Mitchell's name popped up on the trailer, people were already screaming like crazy! One witness at the event was interviewed and he was shown commenting the event sitting in the EXACT ROOM where the trailer was aired. He stated exactly waht you said-enthusastic fans were screaming so loud the music practically couldm't be heard.Selznick had a hard time getting the crowd's attnetion upon the trailer's end.

[Morte Imperator]

So for some random people in some small theater of no significance to suddenly see the first official airing of the trailer, it was an EPIC event comparable to a President visiting town at least. Gone With the Wind WAS that BIG and thats just counting the novel's popularity alone at the first airing of this trailer. The move woul propel its fame to LEGENDARY heights that no other film can match even today.

[Morte Imperator]

It may not seem a big deal today, but back at the time this trailer was aired in a specifically selected theater, Gone With the Wind (the original novel by Maragaret Mitchell) WAS a HUUUUUUUUUGGGGGEEEE phenomenon. It was such a mega bestseller and critical hit that NOBODY believed that Selznick could even hope to get as far as airing a trailer

Even people on Selznick's production team had doubts if the movie was gonna be finished.

[P.W. Oliver]

The music from 'The Prisoner of Zenda' (1937) was laid over the credits for this sneak preview. The crowd was so loud when they say it was GWTW...they drowned out the music...though it was at max. volume.

[BeachBabe3033]

I love this movie! I wish it was this decade right now. I wish I had a time machine.

[pconde619]

Thank you for your deep, thought provoking analysis of this great film. I only hope your subtlety is not lost on others...