Flying to Georgia, I'm Gone with the Wind
GOING GOING GONE WITH THE WIND
I appreciate great movies. Well, I even appreciate some not so great movies. As a (former) make-up artist, I love watching films and evaluating the make-up artistry and costumes. In addition, I have dear friends who are filmmakers. This is the second Free Journal I have chosen to write about a film. I find this film poignant - with my current psychological enlightenment - because of my newfound awareness and knowledge of American history and the sordid details of African Americans' plight here.
Gone with the Wind is of course a classic. Now that I live in Georgia, I relate in a totally different way. It is no longer some southern distant experience faced by unknowns. I share in some part of the history now.
There is so much I love about this film. I love Scarlett's character. She is such a spoiled princess, she even puts me to shame. Her dramatic personality is both endearing and annoying. I find myself snickering when she plays the little brat role, when she fake cries to get attention. Her determination when Tara lies in ruin shows a strength in her character we as viewers had not seen. Her vow to do anything in order to never be hungry again, to get Tara back and not ever be without money again is more than believable. We watch her character become even more "heartless" and unethical in order to get back on her feet and prosper.
Rhett Butler is a favorite, too. His hopeless love for such a "bitch" as Scarlett is romantic. He tries and does what someone of his class, and age (which is older) would he could to get her to love him back. It seems at times they may make it when one softens, then the other comes back with a hardened harsh response ending in an argument. His forcefulness with Scarlett, physical at times, also is interesting to observe because he is truly the only person she would put up with treating her that way.
One of the most famous lines of all times, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," is the last thing he says in the film. His character has finally made a decision he is leaving, no matter what Scarlett does or says. He has lost all trust and hope in their relationship. As Scarlett finally softens (her expression, makeup and dress make sure she appears so) , it is too late.
This film is a classic based on a Pulitzer-winning book worthy of reading.
MAKE UP
Vivien Leigh is absolutely gorgeous, having close to structural and symmetrical perfection. Her blue eyes with the dark hair provides a natural contrast to build on for a makeup artist. Her makeup in the film is perfect, from the dirty face of the broken down Scarlett facing the devastation of the war on Tara, to the most dressed up Scarlett off to the latest gala event to show off.
The other characters also had impeccable makeup. Her sister, Millie, a simpler woman, wore conservative and neutral makeup, adding to her natural beauty. Mammie wears a dark, appropriate makeup and lip color in some scenes so as not to look made up, but complimenting her features. The lip color used on her by the way would have been very very dark plum. On a lighter skin it would look almost black, but on a dark complexion this color is the way to go to achieve a natural look.
COSTUMES
WOW. Need I say more? The dresses were amazing, so beautiful. Of course, Scarlett's dresses were meant to shine above all others, which they did. The bold and vibrant colors, the styles, the fitting were all fabulous. The other characters who weren't as glamorous wore more simple garb, usually less vibrant in color. In one scene, Millie is actually wearing a drab brown, matronly dress with no frill at all. Scarlett dons in the same scene a most fancy dress. Belle, the local good time gal, also wore wonderful dresses, but were much less classy although stylish, and usually red - the tell tale color of a woman of her profession. Mammie's dress was sadly appropriate for a servant, former slave. She wore the traditional "mammie" uniform, including an apron and a rag on her head. She was also portrayed much more round (overweight) then she actually was in order to solidify the stereotype.
MUSICAL SCORE
Absolutely beautiful was the music. Sometimes in films the music can be distracting at points, or too loud, or too stimulating, etc. I find the music moving and at times melodramatic. However, Scarlett's character is so melodramatic, the music has to match the overall feel of the film and that it does.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The filming of Gone with the Wind was done mostly in California, contrary to fans' fantasies. Filmed in Technicolor in 1939, the clarity and color were superior. There is a softness to the film's images, yet clarity in color and definition. The way the movie was filmed draws the view in, almost unable to look away. The scenes do not move too quickly so each character has ample time to be viewed.
Gone with the Wind is of course a classic. Now that I live in Georgia, I relate in a totally different way. It is no longer some southern distant experience faced by unknowns. I share in some part of the history now.
There is so much I love about this film. I love Scarlett's character. She is such a spoiled princess, she even puts me to shame. Her dramatic personality is both endearing and annoying. I find myself snickering when she plays the little brat role, when she fake cries to get attention. Her determination when Tara lies in ruin shows a strength in her character we as viewers had not seen. Her vow to do anything in order to never be hungry again, to get Tara back and not ever be without money again is more than believable. We watch her character become even more "heartless" and unethical in order to get back on her feet and prosper.
Rhett Butler is a favorite, too. His hopeless love for such a "bitch" as Scarlett is romantic. He tries and does what someone of his class, and age (which is older) would he could to get her to love him back. It seems at times they may make it when one softens, then the other comes back with a hardened harsh response ending in an argument. His forcefulness with Scarlett, physical at times, also is interesting to observe because he is truly the only person she would put up with treating her that way.
One of the most famous lines of all times, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," is the last thing he says in the film. His character has finally made a decision he is leaving, no matter what Scarlett does or says. He has lost all trust and hope in their relationship. As Scarlett finally softens (her expression, makeup and dress make sure she appears so) , it is too late.
This film is a classic based on a Pulitzer-winning book worthy of reading.
MAKE UP
Vivien Leigh is absolutely gorgeous, having close to structural and symmetrical perfection. Her blue eyes with the dark hair provides a natural contrast to build on for a makeup artist. Her makeup in the film is perfect, from the dirty face of the broken down Scarlett facing the devastation of the war on Tara, to the most dressed up Scarlett off to the latest gala event to show off.
The other characters also had impeccable makeup. Her sister, Millie, a simpler woman, wore conservative and neutral makeup, adding to her natural beauty. Mammie wears a dark, appropriate makeup and lip color in some scenes so as not to look made up, but complimenting her features. The lip color used on her by the way would have been very very dark plum. On a lighter skin it would look almost black, but on a dark complexion this color is the way to go to achieve a natural look.
COSTUMES
WOW. Need I say more? The dresses were amazing, so beautiful. Of course, Scarlett's dresses were meant to shine above all others, which they did. The bold and vibrant colors, the styles, the fitting were all fabulous. The other characters who weren't as glamorous wore more simple garb, usually less vibrant in color. In one scene, Millie is actually wearing a drab brown, matronly dress with no frill at all. Scarlett dons in the same scene a most fancy dress. Belle, the local good time gal, also wore wonderful dresses, but were much less classy although stylish, and usually red - the tell tale color of a woman of her profession. Mammie's dress was sadly appropriate for a servant, former slave. She wore the traditional "mammie" uniform, including an apron and a rag on her head. She was also portrayed much more round (overweight) then she actually was in order to solidify the stereotype.
MUSICAL SCORE
Absolutely beautiful was the music. Sometimes in films the music can be distracting at points, or too loud, or too stimulating, etc. I find the music moving and at times melodramatic. However, Scarlett's character is so melodramatic, the music has to match the overall feel of the film and that it does.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The filming of Gone with the Wind was done mostly in California, contrary to fans' fantasies. Filmed in Technicolor in 1939, the clarity and color were superior. There is a softness to the film's images, yet clarity in color and definition. The way the movie was filmed draws the view in, almost unable to look away. The scenes do not move too quickly so each character has ample time to be viewed.