Gone With the Wind 4K review by Bobby Blakey
There are iconic films that stand the test of time as cinematic masterpieces. One of the all-time greats is the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard and Hattie McDaniel went on to win 10 Academy Awards and remains history’s all-time domestic box-office champion (adjusted for inflation) with more tickets sold than any other film. In 1989 the Library of Congress selected the film for its inaugural list for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Now the film is finally getting the 4K treatment for a whole new generation.
Gone With the Wind follows rich, beautiful and self-centered Scarlett O'Hara on the eve of the Civil War, who has everything she could want - except Ashley Wilkes. As the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves - and who truly loves her - until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost ... and tries to win him back.
This is a film that doesn’t need explanation as it has been reviewed and discussed to death for over eighty-five years. It’s a film that everyone knows its name and various quotes from it whether they have seen it or not. So instead of a full film review, I want to just go into this specific release and why it’s a must have even with it being one of the longest films in history.
The performances are perfection and the scope of the film, especially for the time, is a sight to behold. Gone is the sensitivity opening that has been on previous releases which lets it be seen as it should be. The opening overture harkens back to a different time for feature films and lets you bask in the perfection to come through a beautiful visual. With an old print of film like this that has been remastered and released over and over this new hi-def version is among the best. They have remastered this latest version from the original camera negatives for the best-looking version yet.
This is easily the best release of the film and brings it visually to the glory and heights it already stands on its own. In addition to the film this release offers up new bonus content including numerous featurettes behind the film and its restoration.
Grab your copy of Gone With the Wind when it hits 4K and digital for the first time ever on November 3rd from Warner Bros Home Entertainment.