Scarlett and Rhett still sizzle after 59 years

MOVIE REVIEW

By Aurora Mora, On-line Forty-Niner

July 16,1998

Margaret Mitchell's epic love story, "Gone With The Wind," has blown back onto the big screen.

Revered as one of Holly-wood's most legendary films, it was first released in 1939 in Technicolor.

This time around the Technicolor print has been restored for a more brilliant look, and the sound has been digitally re-mastered.

This blockbuster film, starring Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh, takes place in the old South, prior to, during and after the Civil War.

The story begins on a Georgian plantation called Tara, which proves to be the leading lady's source of strength. Scarlett O'Hara, played by Leigh, is a beautiful, head-strong young woman who is the object of many young men's affections. The opening scene captures two young suitors competing for O'Hara's attention.

The story picks-up again at another plantation, Twelve Oaks, where there is a party, and excitement of the impending Civil War mounts. At this party O'Hara captures the affection of all the bachelors except the man she truly loves, Ashley Wilkes.

Here O'Hara discovers that Wilkes, played by Leslie Howard, intends to marry another. After she confesses her love to Wilkes, but is rejected, a quarrel between the two ensues. Meanwhile, Gables' character, Rhett Butler, observes from the side-lines.

Butler, a refined gentleman of great wealth, is instantly smitten with the young O'Hara. Unrequited love has struck again, however, because O'Hara is not so taken by Butler. At this point, arguments between Butler and O'Hara begin, but so does courtship and romance.

The Civil War actually breaks-out while the party is in progress and all of the young men, except for Butler, leave Twelve Oaks to enlist.

Soon, the Civil War spreads through the South like wildfire. From here the plot takes-off to focus on the tumultuous love story between Butler and O'Hara.

This film is simply fantastic containing some of the greatest dialogue ever spoken, including one of the most famous and repeated lines ever, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

The film is definitely worth a second look, especially on the big screen and especially because it has been re-vamped.

Schedule ahead for its four-hour running time, plus intermission.