Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

"Gone With the Wind" One of Indnstrij s Sensations HOLLYWOOD— Finally! "Gone With the Wind/' the film about which so much has been talked and reported, is ready for the market. Three hours and 45 minutes of it. Plus an intermission. The nation will find a new toast in Vivien Leigh, the Scarlett O'Hara of the novel. And in the film, faithful to the last to Margaret Mitchell's overwritten novel, the industry will find one of its outstanding attractions. That goes for this year. In fact, it goes for a lot of years. David O. Selznick, the producer, had a genuine problem on his hands. He was aware of that when this reporter spoke to him about his plans for "Gone With the Wind" here about two years ago. That problem was one of what to retain and what to eliminate. Now that the job — at approximately $3,800,000 — is completed, the answer is that he has done exceedingly well with a gargantuan production jawbreaker. In two parts, the film substantially outdistances its second half by the first. It is very likely that the dramatic nature of the material encompassed up to the time Scarlett, having passed through the crucible out of which her selfish womanhood finally emerged, returns to Tara is responsible. In that first half are war, pestilence and death — formidable backgrounds for any drama. In the second, removed as it is from the shattering blows of armed forces, the dramatic texture is not so compact. It becomes overextended and, because of excessive detail, does not hold so tightly as the stirring depiction ahead of it. In terms of production, "Gone With the Wind" is superb at every turn. It is rich in the panoply of the pre-war South. It is magnificent in its panoramic and spectacular sweeps. Its breath-taking Technicolor photography by Ernest Haller is probably without rival in the history of color on the screen. So unusual were some of the effects that several of those engaged in production who managed to sneak into what was supposed to be strictly a press preview here are still endeavoring valiantly to figure out how they were achieved. The man behind the camera, quite definitely, becomes one of the heroes of the occasion. Another, and easily, is Victor Fleming for his intelligent direction. And a third, the late Sidney Howard, for the screenplay. While on the heroic content, it is Miss Leigh who dominates the screen. More blessed in histrionics than in physical appeal, and this is by no means designed to be lacking in gallantry toward a very attractive actress, she succeeds in capturing and projecting the torrent of conflicting emotions which the author wrote into her pivotal character. Whatever the public might have imagined Scarlett ought to look and talk like. Miss Leigh, hands down, is it. Clark Gable, of course, is Rhett Butler. He is tailormade for the role. Olivia de Havilland, as Melanie, plays v/ell what is strictly a story book character. Leslie Howard pleases, as usual, in his quiet way, but, by any and all counts, acting honors in a magnificent enterprise swing to Miss Leigh without serious competition. — KANN. "Gone With the Wind" ( SelznickInternational Production. Released by M-G-M.) CAST Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes, Olivia de Havilland as Melanie Hamilton and, in order of their appearance: -George Reeves as Brent Tarleton, Fred Crane as Stuart Tarleton, HaMie McDaniel as Mammy, Everett Brown asi Big Sam, Thomas Mitchell as Gerald O'Hara, Oscar Polk as Pork, Barbara O'Neil as Ellen O'Hara, Victor lory as Jonas Wilkerson, Evelyn Keyes as Suellen O'Hara, Ann Rutherford as Carreen O'Hara, Butterfly McQueen as Prissy, Howard Hickman as John Wilkes, Alicia Rhett as India Wilkes, Rand Brooks as Charles Hamilton, Carroll Nye as Frank Kennedy, Marcella Martin as, Cathleen Calvert, Laura Hope Crews as Aunt "Pittypat" Hamilton, Harry Davenport as Doctor Meade, Leona Roberts as Mrs. Meade, Jane Darwell as Mrs. Merriwether, Albert Morin as Rene Picard, Mary Anderson as Maybelle Merriwether, Terry Shero as Fanny Elsing, William McClain as Old Levi, Eddie Anderson as Uncle Peter, Ona Munson as Belle Watling, Isabell Jewell as Emmy Slattery, J. M. Kerrigan as Johnny Gallegher, Cammie King as Bonnie Blue Butler, Mickey Kuhn as Beau Wilkes. CREDITS David O. Selznick, producer; Victor Fleming, director; Sidney Howard, screenplay; William Cameron Menzies, production designer; Lyle Wheeler, art direction; Ernest Haller, photographer; Max Steiner, musical score; Hal C. Kern, supervising film editor; Frank Floyd and Eddie Prinz, dance directors; Eric G. Stacey, assistant director. 16 BOXOFFICE : : December 16, 1939