Will and Jane Go South
Apr 29th 2008
Sabrina JeffriesGoddess Grins
I read Gone with the Wind as a teenager while on a trip with my family. I was about 40 pages from the end when Mom called curfew in the motel room we were sharing. I sat on the floor in the bathroom to read the rest, sobbing the whole time. I think you could say it had an impact.
I still love it, both the book and the movie, though I always wish she won him in the end. But Rhett Butler …. yum!
So, did you ever read GWTW or do you just know it as a movie? Did the ending ruin it for you or make it only more poignant? And did any of you read any of the Mitchell-estate-sanctioned sequels?
62 Comments »
Margaret on 29 Apr 2008 at 5:56 am #
Hooray! Will & Jane are back and brought Rhett with them. Seriously, Sabrina, you have a Rhett character? I didn’t even know there were any.
I did read GWTW as a teenager. What else could you expect from a born bookworm? I hadn’t seen the movie and was bittterly disappointed that the ending left me hanging. Wasn’t Margaret Mitchell writing a sequel when she was killed? I did a quick Wikipedia search and didn’t find any reference to one. I was surprised to read that she was killed by an off-duty drunken taxi driver in his own car. Not by a taxi as I’ve always heard.
I read one of the sequels but found it pretty unsatisfying. Nothing new as I’ve felt the same way about other books I’ve read where a 2nd person picked up the literary rains of a deceased author. Not the same thing at all.
Rhett & Jane do cut a striking pair today. Poor Will. Such a schlump.
elsiehogarth on 29 Apr 2008 at 7:49 am #
There’s something to say about an “older” man and Will still got at 444 yrs.old.
I loved GWTW as a teenager. I still have my original copy…it’s beyond yellow but I do have a hard cover that I reread. One of the local theatres, by me, that has closed down for years, use to play GWTW, on Ms.Mitchell’s birthday, and it was great to see it on the big screen. There’s nothing like it. The theatre would be packed with all the diehard fans. I loved that they use to have 2 intermissions due to the length of the movie and hearing all the comments during the breaks. A wonderful classic. To me, it never needed a another book because you just knew she would get him back.
SuzyQ on 29 Apr 2008 at 7:57 am #
I loooove Rhett! Sabrina I am so jealous you have a figure of him! I saw GWTW as a little girl with my mom, and I’ve loved it ever since. Every time it is on, I seem to get glued to the TV. I didn’t read the book until I was in college. As for the ending, at first I was disappointed but then I came to realize what elsiehogarth said, “you just knew she would get him back.”
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:10 am #
Hi. My name is Karen Hawkins and I’m an Anti-GWTWite.
I think it’s brilliantly written and deserves all of the acclaim it has garnered, but . . . I hated Scarlet. Hated her, hated her, hated her. When she was simpering and playing off all of the local men against one another, I hated her. When she stole Ashley, I hated her. When she tricked that rich guy into marrying her, i hated her. When she went after Rhett just because he had money and not because he was SO DARN HOT, I hated her. When she got him and treated him badly, I REALLY hated her.
My only regret was that, when Atlanta burned, Scarlet didn’t.
That said, you can tell I was obviously engaged in the story though I didn’t like the heroine and I, too, wept during the last chapters, especially when the their child dies. I adored, adored, ADORED Rhett and he shouldn’t have been with that selfish ninny, but with me, ME, MEEEEEE!!!!
Ahem.
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:14 am #
Elsie, I’ve always loved that movie format, too, where they had intermissions and people would gather to talk. They would sometimes play GWTW in theaters in Atlanta when I lived there and a few performances would do it the ‘old’ way. It made it so much more fun!
And there’s NOTHING like that movie on the big screen. The costumes were fabulous. I think the green curtain dress is one of the most recognized ever.
doglady on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:30 am #
Gee, Karen, don’t beat around the bush. Tell us how you REALLY feel! Poor Will having to compete with one of the greatest romance heroes ever written! Jane could do a lot worse than Rhett Butler. I too read GWTW as a teenager. I have read the sequels and was not all that impressed. It is hard to compete with a classic.
I tend to side with Karen. I loved Rhett. For all of his cynicism he was a good and honorable man and Scarlett was a spoiled brat. I like it when a heroine like that is made to see the error of her ways, but I just don’t see that happening to Scarlett. It was ALL about Scarlett and I tend to want to slap girls like that!
Of course the fact that we all have such strong feelings about these characters is a testament to Mitchell’s prowess as a writer.
I WISH she had written a sequel. I have no doubt she would have redeemed Scarlett in a way we could have found believable. I have a very visceral reaction to drunk drivers for obvious reasons.
Freshechelle on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:37 am #
did I read it? You betcha. I wear Verbena perfume because I learned of it as Ellen O’Hara’s signature scent.
I took a picture of a grave at Pere LaChaise in Paris just because it had the name Robillard, Mrs. O’s maiden name.
I read it when I was 11 and again when I was 19 during had long stretches spent at the library between college classes. IT was that our the New York Times Index which doesn’t have a good ending.
I did my senior thesis on Passive Resistance in American Slavery citing GWTW’s 50th anniversary as my inspiration for the topic.
I’ve already told here the story of my hand-me-down BOMC 1966 double column edition that my mom had leather bound for my best Christmas gift ever.
It’s not a romance which so many misclassify it as which, despite being a romance fan, is exactly why I like this misunderstood book or should I say tome.
Susan M on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:39 am #
I have to say that I’ve only watched the movie. At one point I had the book but I’m not sure why I never read it. I do enjoy the movie but I have to agree with Karen in not liking Scarlett.
Karen Rose on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:39 am #
I read GWTW when I was in junior high and hid the book in my locker at school so that my mom wouldn’t know I was reading a book with bad words (I’d heard how the movie ended you see).
I didn’t hate Scarlett then. I hate her now, for all the reasons KarenH so eloquently cites. Manipulative you know what. (Scarlett, not Karen H.)
I wish I could see it on the big screen!
Karen Rose on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:42 am #
Poor Will - can’t we put some Miracle-Gro on him or something?
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:49 am #
Karen, I think it really is all about Scarlet. If you like her, then you love the book. I don’t know why I liked her. Maybe I wouldn’t like her now. I think I liked that she was such a strong woman, determined to save her plantation at any cost. And maybe I liked that she did as she pleased.
SuzyQ, I have to confess that the Rhett Butler figure isn’t mine. Like the Murphy Stout bottle, it belongs to my friend Suse. She is a HUGE GWTW fan. Unlike me, she adores UNhappy endings, so GWTW is right up her alley. And she’s a fan of Vivien Leigh.
Fortunately, she didn’t mind my borrowing Rhett. She bought him at the GWTW museum, I think.
Lori on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:52 am #
I read GWTW, and also hated Scarlett. Hated her in the movie, too. She didn’t deserve Rhett. I felt that even more strongly when I read Rhett Butler’s People a few months ago. Interesting book, and wow, it made Rhett into quite the hero, but a full-bodied one with cracks, flaws and serious issues. I thought it was a really interesting portrait of the reconstruction era, and such a sad commentary on that period in our history as well. But it was such an interesting take on Rhett as a person. Made me love him as a hero all the more (and hate Scarlett even more LOL!). Anyway, if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. The author was handpicked by the estate to write it. I was pulled in immediately.
krystal on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:00 am #
I love GWTW. It’s one of my favorites. I will admit, I’m a junkie. I collect GWTW stuff and have all sorts of different item like snow globes, music boxes, a lunch box and figurines. Rhett Butler is probably my favorite character of all time. My boyfriend laughs at me because I think he’s very dashing.
I did read both of the sequels that came out. I thought that they were okay, but not as good as the original. I loved the movie too. However, I did think that between the book and the movie, Scarlett was more likable in the book than in the movie. I thought that the book made it more clear as to why Rhett might have fallen in love with Scarlett than the movie did.
I heard that Margaret Mitchell had never intended to write a sequel to the book. I wonder how she would have felt about the sequels that have come out.
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:01 am #
Lori, that’s the only sequel that looks interesting to me. If I didn’t have such a huge TBR pile, I’d probably read it.
One set of sequels to a known literary work that I DID enjoy was the Pride and Prejudice trilogy about Darcy by Pamela Aidan. LOVED it. I’d read some other Austen sequels that didn’t impress me, but these filled in all the story on Darcy in a way that I found compelling.
Julia London on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:03 am #
I am a romance novelist and I am outing myself: I never read GWTW. I started to one summer, but my older sister took the book for herself and wouldn’t give it back. Then the pool opened and well….
But I’ve seen it five million times.
I read all the John Jakes books, too — North and South, and what was the other one? Love and War? Something like that.
Maybe I will read GWTW now. That might be kind of fun.
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:03 am #
krystal, I agree. I think the book makes her a very compelling character. The Karens obviously don’t agree, but I did like her more in the book than in the movie. But the movie was SO spectacular as far as pageantry goes. What wonderful cinematography and dramatic scenes!
Freedom Writer on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:07 am #
I have never read the book, and could barely made it through the movie. I watched it mostly because of my father talking about how Rhett’s last line was so controversial, and when I got through it I found out that all he did was say the word “damn”.
I too am a Scarlet hater. I really hate women like her who appear to have some intelligence, but who purpose turn stupid in front of men to try to impress them of trick them into doing their bidding or to feed her own ego. I can far easer live with a manipulative woman who uses her intelligence rather than to act stupid. I am ranting now and making little sense so I will stop.
I did like the costumes in the movie.
Freshechelle on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:09 am #
Poor misunderstood Scarlett. The evolution from spoiled, overindulged girl to survivor who will do anything, even marry a spaz like Frank Kennedy, to support her family to opportunist for marrying Rhett to a someone who realizes his value only after its too late. In the words of Rhett Butler for those of you who hate Scarlett, “That’s your misfortune”
krystal on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:09 am #
I totally agree with you Sabrina. The movie was spectacular and it’s also one of my favorites. I think that it’s one of the few movies that was just as good as the book. I think that part of it was the cast. I love Vivian Leigh as Scarlett and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
Clark Gable is so wonderful in that movie… *Sigh*
Kim on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:36 am #
Karens come on over here and let me explain the complexities of our fair heroine Scarlett. She was such a manipulative witch because she needed to survive. Okay, after the war got bad. At the beginning she was just spoiled rich girl who wanted her way. But I liked that gutsiness of her. She went from a girl who didn’t know how to pour her own lemonade to a fighter and a survivor!
No, I haven’t read the book but I’ve seen the movie lots.
My favorite scene is when Melanie goes into labor and the maid says “I don’t know nuthin’ bout birthin’ no babies miz Scarlett.” LOL. I used to be able to do that exact!
Claudia Dain on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:37 am #
I didn’t read GWTW until I was an adult. I wonder if that makes a difference in how we react to it? I thought it was a great novel, enjoyed every second of my time there. I wouldn’t classify it as a romance, though.
I thought Scarlett was a riveting main character, and for my money, Melanie was equally mesmerizing. The way the book plays these two “types” fascinated me.
When I imagine the story playing out beyond the last page, I never see Rhett and Scarlett getting back together again. He’s very pragmatic, one of those line in the sand guys; he’s done with her and he’s not going to change his mind. And the last scene rings so true: Scarlett’s true love is Tara. That’s what will always come first, last, and always with her. She’ll get over losing Rhett. The only thing she wouldn’t get over is losing Tara.
amy1242 on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:55 am #
Karen H, I thought all that and more. I thought I was the only one who hated that shrew. I mean, come on…you can be a strong character without being so nasty. Now, reading the comments here, I finally “get” what this all stood for. Maybe I didn’t look deep enough into the story to figure out the character fully. But, I still hate her. Sorry.
amy1242 on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:04 am #
I do enjoy Will and Jane’s Excellent Adventure though, Sabrina. Thanks for the fun.
Claudia Dain on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:06 am #
Scarlett in the book is even less likeable than the screen version, imo. I don’t see her as a heroine, just the main character. That means I can watch her and be interested in what she’ll do next without having to identify with her and think her admirable. Big diff!
Margaret on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:12 am #
Wow, Claudia. I love your post today. I never would have thought along the lines of Scarlett’s true love being Tara. But you are dead on. And she can definitely get over Rhett in time. I wasn’t into romance novels back when. So, I never thought of GWTW as being one. It was probably Mitchell’s Great Americn Novel. We’ll never know. And wonder if she could have written anot her novel which could come as close to perfection as this one.
IMHO, it’s the hallmark of being a great novel when people (us) are still so het up about the characters 70 years down the road.
I think Scarlett was a true steel magnolia. I can just see her when she was older. Domination everything around her and winning. The War made her grow up and get tough. I think she was only 16 or so at the beginning.
Why she wanted wimpy old Ashley was beyond me. She would have flattened him in a blink. Then, loathed him for it. Even Melanie deserved better. LOL
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:13 am #
Claudia, those are both very astute comments (you always put your finger right on it). You are absolutely right–Scarlett is compelling, not necessarily admirable but totally compelling. Margaret Mitchell seemed to be playing with the idea that a woman could care as much for the land as a man.
And I agree, Melanie is equally fascinating–strength and character and steady will. Now THAT was a character I admired. And I understood her feelings for Scarlett, too–Scarlett had all the fire that she kind of wished she had, but knew wasn’t her.
In my heart, I know Scarlett will never get Rhett back, but the romance reader in me wants her to. I do consider it a romance–if there can be one that’s ill-fated or doomed. It’s really almost a tragedy. Maybe THAT’S why I like it. I do like tragedy sometimes.
Margaret on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:15 am #
BTW, I think Karen H. must have hit the coffee bar a tad early this morning. I pity the woman in front of her trying to order and exotic coffee. hee hee
Meg on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:17 am #
I have never read GWTW. My mom has always had a copy, and she bought Scarlett when it first came out. Never read that either. I do like the movie, though. My younger sister was the biggest GWTW fan in our house so we would watch it all the time. Even now, when it is on TV, it’s the only thing I’ll watch. I think it reminds me of being younger - kind of like a comfort movie.
Rhett was always good, Scarlett was ok, but I think I disliked Melanie even more. My favorite was always Mammie!!
Julia L–I too loved the John Jakes novels! The movies are at the top of my “All Time Favorite Movie” list!! There’s North and South, Love and War, and Heaven and Hell.
Gannon on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:22 am #
Julia, I’ve never read GWTW either, but I love the movie. Count me in as one of the Scarlett haters! What a manipulative b#itch! And really, who would choose Ashley over Rhett?! Give me Rhett any day; Ashley was a wimp.
Gannon on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:28 am #
Sabrina, I forgot to say that I loved the cartoon!
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:32 am #
I politely disagree. You can be in survival mode and still be a human being. Scarlett’s idea of surviving was to leach off various men — one after the other. I don’t see that as particularly strong behavior. Was she a survivalist? Sure. She was allll about Scarlett. So of course she fought for what she wanted and prostituted herself in the interim.
In my opinion, she never grew to the point where she was likable. Oh sure, she wanted Rhett back. But did she really love him? I don’t think so. I think she just finally realized his value.
And yes, it’s definitely NOT a romance, so no happy ever after, which was fine with me. I was rooting for Rhett to walk out that door and start over somewhere, find someone who actually loved him and didn’t just need him. He deserved so much more than that curtain-draped harlot . . . er, I mean, Scarlett.
As for Ashley, I agree - honorable, but no spark. He’d make a great brother!
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:36 am #
Btw, yup, I’m at the coffee shop.
And yup, THAT WOMAN was here.
Fortunately, she’d already ordered and was mincing her way out the door.
I thought about tripping her and stomping on her little pea-like fluff head, but I was distracted by a bountiful selection of pastries that totally undid my diet, but made me SO happy that I forgot THAT WOMAN long enough for her to make good her froofy Audi-driven escape.
But next time . . . . . . . . . . .
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:39 am #
Well, KarenH, as Claudia says, she wasn’t likable. She was compelling, at least for me. Not the same as likable.
Margaret on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:40 am #
Thinking back a bit. Didn’t the madam at the brothel really love Rhett? Or am I imagining things? It’s been ages since I’ve see the movie.
BTW, while I was reading up on it at Wikipedia, I read that Vivian Leigh wanted to play Scarlett as more sympathetic. But director Victor Fleming wanted Scarlett to be a “bitch”. They fought over it. Apparently, Fleming got his way.
LOL, Sabrina. I’ll bet this wasn’t what you expected today when you gave us Rhett.
SuzyQ on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:42 am #
Karen - you crack me up!
Laura on 29 Apr 2008 at 10:50 am #
Sabrina, Thanks for pointing me to Pamela Aidan’s Darcy books. I haven’t read them yet but am looking forward to doing so. On today’s topic, no I haven’t read GWTW. Saw the movie on the big screen. Loved loved loved the look of it. The colors were so saturated and vibrant. The cinematography was wonderful. Did not like Scarlett. I guess I’m one of those people who can’t step far enough away from the story to be able to just observe the action. If I wouldn’t like the character in real life I find it really difficult to care what happens to them in the story. Which probably shows why I can sink up to my neck in the Goddess books! Thank you all very much!
anneriailin on 29 Apr 2008 at 11:24 am #
I never read GWTW, but I saw the movie. HAD to go see the movie because all I had EVER heard was that it was so great and so wonderful…yada..yada..yada. After seeing it I couldn’t understand what all the hubbub was about. Maybe it had been talked up too much. I don’t know. All I know is now I can’t even stand to see the movie. I appreciate it as a classic movie and I do think Clark Gable and Olivia DeHaviland did a superb job in it. Other than that, I have no use for it.
–dorothy
Sheridan LA on 29 Apr 2008 at 11:38 am #
I actually just bought GWTW (the book) a few weeks ago to read since, even as a lit major, had never read it! I have seen the movie.. and I agree, I can’t stand Scarlet….BUT I loved the costumes in the movie. I always wanted a hoop skirt and to go to a ball and dance.. and to have Rhett come in and dazzle me with his seemingly wicked ways - but find the good man underneath. *sigh*
And how cool is this? I walk past where they filmed GWTW every day on my way to work (they also filmed Wizard of Oz there.) http://www.theculverstudios.com/landing_pages/9,3.html
I just imagine Vivien Leigh running through the front lawns of Tara in her billowing hoops skirt… ok.. it is all about the dresses - no matter how uncomfortable those pesky corsets were (are)
Claudia Dain on 29 Apr 2008 at 11:39 am #
I love hanging out in a place where people call me “astute.” That never happens at home. I need to work on that.
“Astute, kids, I am ASTUTE!”
Sheridan LA on 29 Apr 2008 at 11:42 am #
oops. correction… Wizard of Oz was filmed at MGM, which is now Sony Studios, which is basically next door to the Culver Studios… my bad. (I walk past both)
Julia London on 29 Apr 2008 at 11:55 am #
I think Scarlet was totally compelling as a character.
I used to have a Scarlett O’hara doll. She was wearing the dress she wears to one of the first balls.
I also think Ashley was a wimp. A gentleman, but a wimp.
Margaret on 29 Apr 2008 at 12:09 pm #
I’m back from the coffee shop of my choice and I am very happy (not to mention relieved) to find out I’m not the target of Karen H. coffee lady “issues”. I don’t own an Audi and I don’t believe I have minced my way anywhere ever in my entire life. I don’t think my 1999 Dodge Stratus could be called “froofy” either. What kind of word is that? I’ve got to take a better look at Audis.
Whew!
PJane1031 on 29 Apr 2008 at 12:39 pm #
Before I found TGB, GWTW was in my TBre-R pile. . . . it still is, but now it’s buried on the bottom of the stack!! Eventually I will get to it again! I love the movie as well. I have a New Year’s Eve tradition every year (or at least most) where I pour over cookbooks the week before, and pick out a meal that sounds good but that I’ve never had, then pick up the groceries and make it for dinner on December 31st. Once dinner is done, I curl up with an old movie, which more times than not is GWTW, and watch it to ring in the new year. Between that movie and my trips to DC in high school, my ‘dream house’ is a southern colonial mansion. I even drew sketches of it and everything! I did read the sequel “Scarlett” and saw the TV movie, but really did not care for it AT ALL. After reading/seeing it, I would have been happier with the ending of GWTW and just imagining what ‘could have been’. I’ve heard mixed opinions on Rhett’s story, so I’m not sure if I’m going to read that one.
evlqn on 29 Apr 2008 at 12:44 pm #
Karen,thank you I thought I was alone in my antipathy for Scarlett.
Loved Rhett, who wouldn’t. But “Assley” Wilkes should have put on his big boy panties and told Scarlett to hit the bricks running, he was taken. He enjoyed the power trip of having two women in love with him. Melanie was so sweet she put me into sugar coma. Again knock her “friend” on her ruffled behind and be done with her.
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 12:58 pm #
eviqn, “Assley” Wilkes … hahahaha. Love that! Yes, I think you’re right about him. He just loved the idea that two women loved him. Dork.
doglady on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:22 pm #
I have ALWAYS known that Claudia is astute! Shows in her writing. The only time you want to run into Karen H in a coffee shop is if you have a huge plate of pastries in your hand!
eviqn - “Assley?” Love it! You definitely hit the nail on the head. Poor guy got off on stringing Scarlett along. No backbone. Compared to Rhett whom I am certain did not get back together with Miss Scarlett.
Still both of the ladies in GWTW are Southern women archetypes. You have the sweet, steady, somewhat naive (on the surface) woman who sits like a boulder in the stream and lets life batter at her without moving. Then you have the tough as nails, I’m going to go out and get mine and damn anyone who gets in my way type. She rolls over everyone like white water and God help you if you can’t swim.
Claudia Dain on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:32 pm #
I see Ashley as a classic pleaser. He just couldn’t outright blow Scarlett off because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings or create an uncomfortable moment. Every decision he made was the one he felt would please the most people—heck, it’s why he went to war, why he married Melanie, etc.
He was so nicely matched with Melanie because she recognized his pleaser personality, loved him in spite of it, and was the emotionally and morally stronger of the two. Melanie was classically *good*, but she was willing to displease. Her moral center was stronger than his.
Of all the characters, Scarlett was the most blind. To everything. If it wasn’t about Tara, she had the attention span of a gnat.
Most observant? Melanie and Rhett. They saw each other clearly and respected what they saw. I love the dynamic between those two.
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:36 pm #
Eviqn, about ‘Assley’ and his ‘big boy panties’ — BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That was absolutely spot on!
Btw, you are ALL safe in not being the coffee lady. I guarantee she only reads Oprah books. Nothing uplifting, nothing even vaguely ‘fun,’ and she probably only skims. You can tell by the vacant look in her eyes.
Sabrina, you’re right about Scarlett being compelling — almost every character in GWTW is compelling, even the ones that aren’t likable — a true testament to Mitchell’s writing skill. Better yet, I finished the book even though I hated the main character — which NEVER happens. I was just enthralled.
And whoever said it was all about the dresses — ABSOLUTELY! That movie is a costumers dream!
Freshechelle on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:38 pm #
A fun fact of the film is how Leslie Howard’s loathing for the part of a wimpy Ashley comes off him in waves (i.e., he didn’t even try to do southern accent). He only took the part of a deal to be able to do a remake Intermezzo with Ingrid Bergman, a face worth a few sacrifices I guess. He was so great as the Sacrlet Pimpernel and in a few Bette Davis pics. I’ll defend him but not the milksop Assley (well done evlqn!)
Karen Hawkins on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:49 pm #
Oh Fresh, he was AWESOME in The Scarlett Pimpernel! I looove that movie!
Suzanne Enoch on 29 Apr 2008 at 1:57 pm #
Oh, dear. I’m just not a GWTW fan. I think it’s because I wanted so much for it to be a romance, and it wasn’t. And I wanted a happy ending, and it didn’t have one. I wasn’t surprised that it didn’t, but I just prefer a story where the h/h don’t have to be perfect, but are redeemable, where they learn from their actions and somehow earn the right to be together.
anneriailin on 29 Apr 2008 at 2:11 pm #
Interesting side-note from GWTW. They had so many costumes left over after the making of this movie that when they made the 1940’s version of Pride & Prejudice, they used the left over costumes from GWTW. Granted they were used mostly in the crowd scenes, but there they were.
–dorothy
Caren Crane on 29 Apr 2008 at 2:30 pm #
Well, Sabrina, you know I’ve seen the movie many times but may not know I have read the book. Actually, I read it when I was in 7th grade and the throes of hormones, so that probably affected my opinion of it. I loved it.
Now, I thought Scarlett made some bad choices, but as a budding 12-yr-old I thought it was FANTASTIC that she could manipulate men like she did. That was the only power a woman had and Scarlett USED IT! Go Scarlett!
If you read the book, you understand more the dark character Rhett was. He was NOT a good guy. But he was dead sexy and rather irresistible. *g* What I could never figure out was why Scarlett wanted Ashley. I always figured it was because Ashley didn’t want her. Matter of fact, I still think that.
Scarlett was complex and conflicted, but she was a stand-up person. She fought for what was important to her and did what she could to keep her family, friends and dependents safe. Go Scarlett! Sure, she had a wicked temper, but I can forgive her. *g*
Caren Crane on 29 Apr 2008 at 2:36 pm #
Oh, I just read Claudia’s comments. I agree with all of them! Especially that Tara was Scarlett’s true love. But with Tara came the family, the ex-slaves and all the responsibility. At least Scarlett was willing to shoulder all of that for what she believed in and loved. I never understood exactly what Rhett wanted from her. I suppose to be more important to her than her family of origin and Tara, but he should have known THAT would never happen.
I did love the Rhett/Melanie dynamic and how clear-eyed they both were. Melanie was a great character in the book and had a LOT more bite than the one in the movie.
I have a feeling if I read the book now (since I haven’t been 12 in a LONG time), I would feel less kindly about poor Scarlett. But I would still find her fascinating!
Lorena on 29 Apr 2008 at 2:42 pm #
GWTW? What’s that?
Kidding. But I don’t like it–I’m not enough of a drama fan to willingly sit and watch for hours, unless there are cops and puzzles involved. I also don’t like Civil War era stories–ever since I discovered there was one with my name, that SERIOUSLY lacked a happy ending.
It may not be a good idea to mix writers and characters, but I wonder what would happen if Jane really did meet Rhett?
Or Will, Scarlett?
Nicole Jordan on 29 Apr 2008 at 3:47 pm #
I think you hit a hot button with a lot of readers, Sabrina, lol. Looks like we all have very strong opinions.
I read GWTW when I was 12, loved the book, esp the scene in the library when Rhett overhears Sc making a play for Ashley. What great sexual tension! But I hated the ending and so never again read the book and didn’t see the movie until I was an adult. Hated that ending too, and didn’t much care for Clark Gable since I had this dislike of mustaches. (Later I married a guy with a mustache and was appalled when he eventually shaved it off, go figure.)
And I thumbed through the first sequel by AR and was appalled by that too. It seemed nothing like MM’s voice.
Great cartoon, btw. I am getting to be so fond of dear Will.
flip on 29 Apr 2008 at 4:01 pm #
When I was 12, I read Gone With The Wind. I had already seen the movie. I loved the book. I loved it so much that I promptly reread the entire book. It must have been overkill. I haven’t read the book in 38 years. But I still love it. My oldest child is named Katie Scarlett. Isn’t it fortunate that I had a little green eyed black haired girl as a first child.
krystal on 29 Apr 2008 at 4:21 pm #
By the way, I forgot to mention this earlier, I love the topic and the cartoon. It totally made my day today. I think that I’ll go unearth my copy of GWTW and reread it since I haven’t done it in a while.
Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Apr 2008 at 6:24 pm #
I’m so glad y’all are liking Will and Jane! I should see if Suse has a Scarlett character. Will and Scarlett–that would be funny. *G*
Nicole, I love mustaches myself. And beards. Always have. And Clark Gable …. drool. My favorite romantic movie with him is It Happened One Night. That one DOES have a happy ending.
I agree, Caren and Claudia, the Rhett/Melanie dynamic was fascinating. I never felt that Melanie was a weakling–just that she was quiet. And definitely a strong moral center.
I’m not surprised, Caren, that you and I loved Scarlett for the same reason. I read the book when I was 17. And thanks for reminding me that I DID find her admirable at the time, for all the reasons you give–her determination to do whatever she had to do for the survival of her family and her land.
Brenda Novak on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:02 pm #
Kim, I beg to disagree. She was a manipulative b&&& BEFORE the war. I still have no sympathy for her. And she didn’t just want to survive. She wanted to be wealthy at everyone else’s expense. Nope, don’t like her still.
Kim on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:17 pm #
Brenda–you don’t have to beg to disagree. You can just flat out disagree and I’ll still love ya!
TinaLouiseF on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:09 pm #
I’ve never really had the urge to read GWTW.
I’ve seen bits of it and the sequel; didn’t really like what I saw.