Gone With the Wind. Round 5.

[Ceila]

Um, you can't really hold Ashley marrying Melanie against him. In that time it wasn't really looked down upon to marry a cousin. You have to take it in a historical context before jumping to a decision to dislike him because of that. If you can't really sit through the movie because of that maybe you shouldn't attempt to watch it again.

Wow! So if she doesn't like something - even though it's historically accurate - she shouldn't watch it at all? I think you're taking this movie waaaay too seriously!

 

[DVCisME]

I love GWTW! What does everyone else think of Scarlett?

Has anyone read Roses? It reminded me of GWTW even though it is totally different...lol

 

[nmmom95]

GWTW is my favorite book of all time! I lost count of how many times I've read it now.

 

[Karibeth19]

Every summer I watch "GWTW". Then I read "GWTW" and "Scarlett". This year I watched and read "GWTW", "Scarlett", and "Rhett Butler's Family", all at the same time frame. I know "Rhett Butler's Family" was authorized by the Margret Mitchell family, but there are quite a few inaccuracies that bother me. An example is it had Rhett's mother dying before Bonnie. When we read "GWTW" we know Mrs. buttler was at Bonnie's funeral. There were other instances as well. I think "Scarlett" is a better follow up than "Rhett Butler's Family".

That's so funny, because I think the exact opposite. I couldn't stand "Scarlett", because I kept thinking the whole time, "No! It's not supposed to happen that way!" I guess I liked "Rhett Butler's People" because the storyline agreed with my own personal idea of how the story should play out. Plus, it had been so long since I read GWTW, I didn't notice any of the inaccuracies.

I love Clark Gable because he reminds me of my grandfather. I have pictures of him as a young man where he looks just like Gable, including the same devilish grin.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Timely thread! The kids were reading Number the Stars and there's a reference to GWTW in that book. I realized that they've never seen GWTW, so we rented it from Netflix last week.

It is such a long movie that we watched half of it one night, and half the following night. Both kids enjoyed it! Even ds said it was a good movie. I thought the romance stuff would be a bore to him, but I guess there were enough war scenes to keep him interested.

I read the book about 20+ years ago. Didn't Scarlet have more children in the book than she did in the movie? Who were the fathers of the other children?

 

[mdsoccermom]

I would have taken Rhett over Ashley any day. Rhett was good looking, smart, confident, and strong. Ashely was a wossey whimp IMO. Clark Gable was a good looking man. So is Timothy Dalton (?) who played Rhett in Scarlett.

"Scarlett" - one of the greatest travesties of all time.

 

[legalsea]

A true story: while casting GWTW the studio, which had already settled on Clark Gable for the Rhett Butler role, thought to get Margaret Mitchell's input, reasoning that she, a known lover of movies, probably had some male movie star in mind for Butler while she was writing the book. If she said Clark Gable, they could publicize her answer.


When contacted Ms. Mitchell said "Why yes, I did have a person in mind while creating Rhett Butler".

Director: "Really? Who?"

Mitchell: "Groucho Marx"!


The studio decided to not publicize her answer.




When I next read GWTW I actually could see where she might have had Groucho in mind, given Rhett's sarcastic nature.

 

[tlbwriter]

I read the book about 20+ years ago. Didn't Scarlet have more children in the book than she did in the movie? Who were the fathers of the other children?

Yes, it's been a long time since I read the book, but I believe she had a son with her first husband, and maybe another one with a second husband?

I agree with the OP that Ashley, in the movie at least, is a horribly insipid, wimpy little thing.

 

[pampam]

Timely thread! The kids were reading Number the Stars and there's a reference to GWTW in that book. I realized that they've never seen GWTW, so we rented it from Netflix last week.

It is such a long movie that we watched half of it one night, and half the following night. Both kids enjoyed it! Even ds said it was a good movie. I thought the romance stuff would be a bore to him, but I guess there were enough war scenes to keep him interested.

I read the book about 20+ years ago. Didn't Scarlet have more children in the book than she did in the movie? Who were the fathers of the other children?

Her first child was Charles Hamilton's son, Wade Hampton.
The second was a girl Ella, who was Frank Kennedy's.
Bonnie, the third was of course Rhetts. It seems that Scarlett concieved very easily.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Her first child was Charles Hamilton's son, Wade Hampton.
The second was a girl Ella, who was Frank Kennedy's.
Bonnie, the third was of course Rhetts. It seems that Scarlett concieved very easily.

Thanks! I should re-read the book someday.

 

[Pakey]

"Scarlett" - one of the greatest travesties of all time.

I know. I was angry halfway through the book and It took some of the enjoyment of the original away from me.

I never read Rhett's family or whatever it is called because Scarlett was so awful.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I love GWTW! It's one of my favorite books and movies. My dog was even named Katie Scarlett.

I think the reason the book is still so popular is the characters are flawed - especially Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley. If they weren't the story would not be nearly as interesting.

I also hated "Scarlett." I think the author had no idea about the inner workings of Scarlett and her motivations. In my mind, Rhett and Scarlett do end up together eventually, but I wouldn't like to see either of them change dramatically for that to happen.

 

[FINFAN]

In the movie when they are fleeing in the carriage with Melanie/baby in the back and Rhett stops and gets oput, saying he is leaving to join the army..where he tells Scarlett he loves her and that they are so much alike...well, he's right!

 

[MIGrandma]

The movie is my all-time favorite. I remember seeing it at the theater for the first time when I was about 8 years old. I was mesmerized by it, and have seen it countless times since then.

But I've never been able to get into reading the book, the way it's written when the characters talk.

 

[luvsJack]

I know. I was angry halfway through the book and It took some of the enjoyment of the original away from me.

I never read Rhett's family or whatever it is called because Scarlett was so awful.

I must say that I totally disagree! I loved Scarlett! I didn't like the movie but loved the book. I loved that she went back to Ireland and that he came after her.

GWTW is my all time favorite book and my all time favorite movie (book more than movie).

 

[BeefJerky]

Wow! So if she doesn't like something - even though it's historically accurate - she shouldn't watch it at all? I think you're taking this movie waaaay too seriously!

Not really taking it seriously but then again to judge a character on something that was historically alright back then isn't apt. I mean, there are a lot of reasons why I dislike Ashley but to judge him because he "diddled" his cousin doesn't make sense. I suggest you not take my post too seriously.

 

[IdesOmarch]

OP I think you somewhat miss the point, if you notice Scarlett wasn't even all that interested (seemingly) in Ashley at first, until she hears he may be marrying Melanie. At that point she decides she is in love with him and wants to marry him. All of that still holds true today, how many people have you known that only want someone because they were at first unattainable, or were hard to get. When she discovered someone else wanted him, then and only then did she realize suddenly, oh I must have him because Melanie wants him. Or something like that. Rhett was always pursuing her, so naturally you don't want the better deal if it wants you. You only want to belong to a club that will not have someone like you for a member. (figuratively speaking of course.)

 

[rie'smom]

OP I think you somewhat miss the point, if you notice Scarlett wasn't even all that interested (seemingly) in Ashley at first, until she hears he may be marrying Melanie. At that point she decides she is in love with him and wants to marry him. All of that still holds true today, how many people have you known that only want someone because they were at first unattainable, or were hard to get. When she discovered someone else wanted him, then and only then did she realize suddenly, oh I must have him because Melanie wants him. Or something like that. Rhett was always pursuing her, so naturally you don't want the better deal if it wants you. You only want to belong to a club that will not have someone like you for a member. (figuratively speaking of course.)

No, Scarlett was in love with Ashley for a long time. She went to the BBQ and took time dressing because she wanted to impress him. She was devastated when she found out he was going to marry Melanie because she wanted to marry him.

 

[BeefJerky]

I must say that I totally disagree! I loved Scarlett! I didn't like the movie but loved the book. I loved that she went back to Ireland and that he came after her.

GWTW is my all time favorite book and my all time favorite movie (book more than movie).

Put me in the group that likes "Scarlett", sure it isn't in the same league as Gone with the Wind but on its own it is a very good book. I did read Rhett Butler's People and I think it gave another edge to some of the characters like Belle Watling, I always kind of sympathized with her. I found the Scarlett miniseries on youtube just yesterday.

 

[luvsJack]

Put me in the group that likes "Scarlett", sure it isn't in the same league as Gone with the Wind but on its own it is a very good book. I did read Rhett Butler's People and I think it gave another edge to some of the characters like Belle Watling, I always kind of sympathized with her. I found the Scarlett miniseries on youtube just yesterday.

I haven't read Rhett Butler's People yet. I was planning on replacing my copies of GWTW and Scarlett (lost them both in a fire), maybe I will buy the third one too!

I loved the description of Ireland and the things she did there in Scarlett. I thought that the author did capture the fire and passion between Scarlett and Rhett when she went to his home and when he came to Ireland.

Ok, I will be out today buying those books! I am wanting to reread Scarlett!