Gone with the Wind:The High Water Mark for the Lost Cause

Dr. Bruce Clary

Thursday, January 3, 2013

The Novel• Sold 1.7

million copies in 1st year

• 1937 Pulitzer Prize winner

Northwest Ordinance1787

•Established territory west of the Appalachians and north of the Ohio River as free territory

The Film•Adjusted for inflation, still

the largest grossing film ever•On the forefront of movie

making: Technicolor, gorgeous musical soundtrack

Slavery a benign institution

Film moderates novel’s overt racism•N-word omitted

•The most malign racist insults and stereotypes omitted

•KKK never mentioned

But…•benign view of slavery emphasized

•stock characters and less offensive stereotypes retained

Mammy (Hatty McDaniel)

The Film•Adjusted for inflation, still

the largest grossing film ever•On the forefront of movie

making: Technicolor, gorgeous musical soundtrack

Big Sam

The Film•Adjusted for inflation, still

the largest grossing film ever•On the forefront of movie

making: Technicolor, gorgeous musical soundtrack

Pork

The Film•Adjusted for inflation, still

the largest grossing film ever•On the forefront of movie

making: Technicolor, gorgeous musical soundtrack

Prissy

The Film•Adjusted for inflation, still

the largest grossing film ever•On the forefront of movie

making: Technicolor, gorgeous musical soundtrack

Rhett – Not a Southern gentleman

Scarlett – Not a Southern lady

Honor retainedSuffering South

Honor retained

Honor retained

Honor retained

Honor retained

Honor retained“Another invader…”