🟨 15 curiosities about the movie "Gone with the Wind" that you didn't know!
"Gone with the Wind" is a cinematic masterpiece that has marked generations and continues to captivate audiences to this day. Released in 1939, the film adapts Margaret Mitchell's eponymous novel and has become a milestone in the history of cinema, winning numerous awards and the hearts of millions of people around the world. However, behind the iconic scenes and captivating plot, there are fascinating curiosities that reveal the backstage of the production, the challenges faced by filmmakers, and the peculiarities of the characters and locations. In this analysis, we will explore some of these curiosities, delving into the rich and complex universe of "Gone with the Wind."
1 - SCRIPT ISSUES
From the outset, those responsible for the script faced a formidable challenge: condensing Margaret Mitchell's vast work into a film with an acceptable duration for the audience. The original script had a projected length of six hours, a clearly unfeasible prospect. Aware of this, a production group secluded themselves in a room for an entire week, dedicating themselves to the arduous task of adjusting the plot. Producer David O. Selznick adopted a bold approach: recognizing that excess food could distract the team from the creative process, he restricted the food supply during this intense period. On the fifth day, while savoring a banana, David collapsed from exhaustion. And on the sixth day, one of the directors, Victor Fleming, accidentally burst a blood vessel in his eye.
2 - OVER 1000 ACTRESSES AUDITIONED FOR THE LEAD ROLE
More than 1400 actresses auditioned for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, and Vivien Leigh was not initially among the favorites. Furthermore, filming began without a decision about the lead actress being made. During the shooting of the Atlanta fire scene, Leigh was brought to the director and introduced as the potential Scarlett O'Hara. At that moment, he reportedly recognized in the actress the embodiment of the character described by Mitchell in the book and immediately invited her for a screen test.
3 - VIVIEN LEIGH WAS ALMOST FIRED TWICE
However, Vivien Leigh's journey was not without challenges, as she faced the risk of being fired on two separate occasions, both related to her British nationality. The actress's accent presented an obstacle to the director, and her foreign origin bothered some viewers who longed for a Scarlett who embodied "the beauty of the Southern states," as described in the book.
4 - GARY COOPER TURNED DOWN THE LEAD ROLE
Gary Cooper declined the role of Rhett Butler, expressing disbelief in the film's potential success. He even stated, "It will be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. And I'm glad it's Clark Gable who falls flat on his face, not me." Imagine someone who must have regretted it for the rest of their life.
5 - "THROW THE DAMN BOOK AWAY!"
At the beginning of the filming, Vivien Leigh was quite unhappy with the replacement of the original director, George Cukor, by Fleming. She took the initiative to bring the book to the set, showing the new director that the creative solutions he was proposing were not up to the original source. According to Leigh, the director allegedly told her to "throw the damn book away."
6 - MULTIPLE DIRECTORS
The film's production was exceptionally challenging, resulting in the need for three directors throughout the process. Victor Fleming shared with a friend his despair, admitting that at times he felt like driving his car off a cliff. The situation became so intense that he had to temporarily step away due to exhaustion. It was then that Sam Wood took over the responsibility of completing the filming.
7 - ACTOR HATED BEING IN THE FILM
Actor Leslie Howard, who played Ashley, faced his own challenges during production. He expressed his discomfort in a letter to his daughter, admitting, "I hate this role. I'm not handsome or young enough to play Ashley, and I feel bad about being forced to try to look attractive."
8 - CLARK GABLE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO CRY IN THE FILM
Clark Gable was extremely annoyed to discover that his character would have to cry in one of the scenes. He even threatened to quit the filming if they continued to insist on it. The director then adopted a cunning strategy and filmed two versions of the scene: one with tears and one without. He convinced Gable that the alternative version, with the character crying, would not represent weakness but would instead make him more human in the eyes of the audience.
9 - PRANKS DURING FILMING
Hattie McDaniel and Clark Gable developed a strong friendship during filming, which led the actor to often play pranks on the actress. On one occasion, Gable replaced the tea, normally used to represent alcoholic drinks on set, with a real drink as part of a joke.
10 - SOLIDARITY
In addition to their playful interactions, moments of solidarity also marked their relationship. Clark Gable was deeply outraged to learn that Hattie McDaniel was not allowed to attend the film's premiere in Atlanta due to the color of her skin, reflecting the social restrictions of the time in the United States. He even considered boycotting the first screening of the film in protest until McDaniel personally convinced him to abandon that idea.
11 - BIAS AGAINST THE OSCAR WINNER
Despite the severe racial segregation policies in place at the time, Hattie McDaniel defied barriers by attending the Oscars, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Upon winning the award, she became the first black actress to receive an Oscar. However, she was embarrassed to be seated in a segregated area, separated from the other actors, and was not allowed to give her acceptance speech.
12 - MANNEQUINS AS EXTRA BACKGROUND ACTORS
The magnitude of the production resulted in various challenges. For example, for a scene involving wounded soldiers, 2,500 extra background actors would be required. However, due to restrictions from the Screen Actors Guild, the director had to resort to using around a thousand mannequins to lend some authenticity to the scene.
13 - VIVIEN LEIGH HATED KISSING LEADING MAN CLARK GABLE
Vivien Leigh had an aversion to scenes where she had to kiss Clark Gable due to his bad breath. There were speculations that this could be caused by his dentures, a consequence of excessive smoking that might have led to tooth loss. However, Clark Gable was known for his sense of humor. To Leigh's dismay, he sometimes intentionally ate garlic-laden dishes before scenes, heightening the actress's discomfort.
14 - HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM IN CINEMA HISTORY
If we adjust the film's box office earnings to compensate for inflation since its release, "Gone with the Wind" would become the highest-grossing film of all time. In an estimate conducted in 2012, this value reached an impressive $4 billion.
