Gone with the Wind, a 1939 American epic historical romance film, was adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel. It was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming. Vivien Leigh gives a magnificent performance as a Georgia southern belle with a quick-tempered, selfish, yet determined personality through the character known as the protagonist, Scarlett O'Hara. Overall, Scarlett is viewed as a narcissistic and shallow spoiled brat, though her unceasing and determined need to survive is most respectable. Throughout the movie I often frowned upon the countless selfish acts she committed, such as kissing her friend's husband, marrying her sister's fiancé, and flirting with every man accounted for in town. Yet, when it comes to the things that matter most, she gives it her all demonstrating devout loyalty and hard work. She alone survives the terrors of the Civil War losing many friends, family members, and even her beloved home. Scarlett teaches the viewer to never give up through her endless fight for survival. This film does a magnificent job of teaching important lessons all while providing an accurate representation of life during this trying time in history. Although a bit lengthy, sitting through the four-hour run time was worth every minute. In the classic film Gone with the Wind, Victor Fleming helps portray the essential lessons taught to the viewer about letting go of the past, making the best of every situation, and never giving up.
Although Gone with the Wind was filmed in 1939, the movie is set during the early 1870's when the Civil War and the days of Reconstruction were in progress. Margaret Mitchell stated, "The book and movie are not strictly about the war, but about the effect of the Civil War on a set of characters who lived in Atlanta at that time." It was an extremely difficult time for the people who lived through that era.