How could anyone besides Clark Gable play Rhett? The moment he first appears on the screen at the party at Twelve Oaks (28 seconds in on the trailer, but I hardly need to point this out), you could hear a deep sigh of longing from every woman of any age in the theater in San Francisco where I saw the film for the first time: teenagers like me, and mothers and daughters– and probably grandmothers too– we all swooned at the scandalous Rhett Butler.We had him pegged as the kind of bad boy who pulls women toward him like a magnet– and he makes you feel like he knows what you look like under your shimmy!! And when he carries Scarlett up the stairs… but before that when he tells her she needs to be kissed and kissed often by someone who knows how, and when he tells her he loves her and he’s waited for her longer than he’s waited for any woman…and all the heart ache and loss when little Bonnie dies and Mammy has tears running down her cheeks; and the things they say to each
other make my blood run cold, and they’re just mules in horse harness, and I don’t know nuthin ’bout birthin’ babies …and the political meeting behind Mr. Kennedy’s store and Belle Watling’s dyed red hair, and that green dress with gold fringe that doesn’t fool Rhett for a moment, because look at her hands. Great balls of fire and fiddle dee dee! And then at the end when Melanie dies and Ashley is such a wimp after all and Scarlett runs home to Rhett, but it’s too late and you want to grab them both and shake them, but he’s out the door and into the mist and says, well you have to know what he says.
Tara, Tara, Tara…
As God is my witness, I’ve never seen anything to equal the grandeur and scope of that movie. Scarlett in that red dress, with plenty of rouge. The opening scene with her in full southern belle mode, surrounded by all those young men.That heart-stopping moment when she watches her daughter on the pony and says, “Just like Pa…”
Well, I may have to watch it again soon. Maybe tomorrow. After all….
But first, one more look:
Crazy, but I’ve never actually read the book. I have it on my shelf. Maybe one day. I love, love, love the movie (though I can’t help but consider Clark Gable’s breath each time I see him, since hearing unsavory things about it). He sure is handsome anyway!
Thanks for linking, Risa! ♥
I wonder if he chewed onions or something to vex Vivian! Thanks for stopping by to read, Lisa!
You did make me want to go watch the movie again — it has been a long time. I should add it to my Kindle wish list, too.
Absolutely!