4. Gone With the Wind (1939) "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Director: Victor Fleming Stars: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable & Hattie McDaniel Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography (Color), Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction & Best Writing/Screenplay

Synopsis: Set in Civil War-era Georgia, Gone With the Wind is the stunning cinematic adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about the trials of the stubbornly sanguine Scarlett O’Hara. The Soap Opera-like epic begins set against the backdrop of the antebellum decadence of the southern upper class, but the plot quickly shifts focus as the country plunges into Civil War. Scarlett’s life, in effect, mirrors this drastic change, from an auspicious peace to an all-consuming war. She must quickly mature from a carefree teenager to take control of her family’s plantation. One thing, though, that Scarlett can never outgrow is her unrequited affection for her lifelong love, Ashley. No matter how much time passes or how many husbands she takes, Scarlett is always haunted by the star-crossed fact that she will always love Ashley, yet never have him. Just ask Rhett.

He said: At the time of its release, everything about Gone With the Wind illustrated its magnitude and excess. Its running time (3 hour and 40 minutes): Unheard of. Its production costs ($4 million): Astronomical. Its anticipation (56.5 million eagerly awaited it): Unrivaled. Its storyline (Margaret Mitchell's same-named book had sold 1.5 million copies by the movie's release): Widely beloved. Its casting call (32 actresses, including Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Mae West and Lucille Ball, did screen tests for Scarlett O'Hara's part): Unfathomable. Its windfall ($2 billion in worldwide theater ticket sales since 1939): Record breaking. Its accolades (13 Oscar nominations and eight Oscar wins): Historic. Its competition (The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Wuthering Heights, Of Mice and Men and Gunga Din): Magnanimous. Simply put, Gone With the Wind was Hollywood's finest film in its finest year. Even today, it remains the consummate silver-screen blockbuster.

She said: I would have to say this is one of cinema's crowning achievements. The stage sets are absolutely incredible, and to think this movie was made 60 years ago. The Technicolor was surprisingly not cheesy, but very well done. On par with The Wizard of Oz. I was ashamed to be a "Yankee" after watching this movie, seeing how the Yanks treated the Confederates, but then you have to remember what the Confederates were fighting for.

He said: Hold on a second. Let’s not dig down into the weeds by broaching the politics of this.

She said: Okay, okay. I just wanted to say that this movie has a way of bringing about powerful emotions and Southern pride. The plot was so much more than a simple love story. The Civil War and Restoration backdrop made this movie a historical documentary along with a tale of Scarlett O’Hara, a woman who just couldn't seem to love the right man — at least not when she could only be in love with herself.

He said: Speaking of Scarlett, I thought the real source of the film's strength came from Vivien Leigh, who made O'Hara the big screen's First Lady of Egocentrism. In what could be the finest performance ever by an actress, Leigh aptly displays Scarlett’s vanity, narcissism and avarice, but you still can’t help but root for her. Not an easy task for an actress to pull off.

She said: I want to prepare you readers for this film by saying that it is quite tragic, yet a glimmer of hope is left with us at the final scene.

He said: Well, yeah, civil war is definitely tragic. However, GWTW certainly had its fair share of cheesy moments. Two people killed while horseback riding? C’mon that’s just lame.

She said: Hey, I used to horseback ride as a 12-year-old, and I can tell you it’s a dangerous sport. Ol’ Cloppity almost threw me a few times. And need I remind you of Christopher Reeves?

He said: Alright, fine, horseback riding is right up there with base jumping off the Washington Monument and spelunking in the hills of Afghanistan. Does that make you happy? Anyway, back to Scarlett. In the end, when it's too late to recapture Rhett's love ("Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"), Scarlett turns to her true love —her family's plantation, Tara. The end is both tragic and triumphant as she embraces Tara, but mourns losing Rhett. But, as she does several times in Wind, Scarlett puts off her misery until another day.

She said: Speaking of misery, I know some women who have watched this movie when they started labor to pass the time since it is an almost four-hour film. Please DON'T watch this movie if you're in labor. It is too emotional for a woman who is about to bring a child into the world. With that said, I second the motion that it deserves a spot on AFI's list, and I would push it up to #2 if I were them. I'd put it there because of its importance at capturing a slice of American history. On my list it will find a spot in the top 20, despite the rampant adultery that made me very mad.

He said: I knew that one was coming. While it did take awhile to get rolling, this southern Soap Opera and Civil War epic really picked up strength in the second half. This is certainly one of America's finest films. However, the length did work against it — as we had to break up the film into two nights — and Gone With the Wind is REAL close to ending up in my top 10. Scarlett's resolve alone may will it there.