It’s always a joyous occasion when a classic film is restored in high definition; it’s like experiencing it for the very first time. And with advances in technology, these timeless films have never looked better. Victor Fleming’s landmark epic Gone with the Wind has been beautifully remastered and released for the first time on 4K UHD.
Based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel and adapted for the screen by Sidney Howard, Gone with the Wind is a trailblazing cinematic achievement that remains one of the greatest and most important films in American history. It won over 10 Academy Awards (the most ever awarded to a single film at the time) and set the record for the highest-grossing film. Its cultural impact and historical legacy made it one of the first films inducted into the National Film Registry in 1989.
Set during the American Civil War and its subsequent Reconstruction period, the film follows the life of Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), the stubborn but resilient daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, as she strives to restore her family’s former glory and navigates a turbulent romance with the charming but cynical blockade runner Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).
The on-screen chemistry between Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable is the beating heart of the movie, and both deliver powerhouse performances. Scarlett and Rhett are far from perfect, which makes their complicated relationship so captivating. Despite all their trials and tribulations, you want things to work out for them simply because Leigh and Gable are so irresistible. Even amid the sourness, there’s a tender sweetness which makes you yearn for a happy ending for the two of them, regardless of the inevitable.
Without a doubt, the film’s breakout performance is Hattie McDaniel as Mammy. McDaniel broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, and after watching, it’s not difficult to see why she took home that prestigious honor. It’s easy to shrug off her character as a dated stereotype, and while that criticism has merit, there is no denying that McDaniel brings emotional depth and compassion to the role. Her passion and dedication to giving her all yield astonishing results and one of the most memorable character performances in film history.
Packaging – 4/5
This edition of Gone with the Wind comes in a standard amaray 4K UHD case with a flip tray holding three discs. The first pressing includes an O-ring slipcover. A digital copy code pamphlet is included.
The cover art improves the uninspired artwork used on both the 70th and 75th Blu-ray editions, using the artwork for the 1967 re-release poster featuring Rhett Butler embracing Scarlett O’Hara. It’s an iconic, striking piece that combines simplified design with a retro throwback.
Video Quality – 5/5
The film was scanned in 8K for preservation and archival purposes, while the new restoration and color timing were completed in 4K for this release, breathing new life into Ernest Haller’s magnificent cinematography.
Fine details are preserved, at least to my eye. Unlike its past Blu-ray release, the film is split across two 100-gigabyte 4K UHD discs, maximizing video quality and offering a superior viewing experience.
Technicolor and HDR are a match made in heaven, and Gone with the Wind does not disappoint. Through Dolby Vision, the colors are eye-popping, with some of the film’s most iconic shots, including fiery sunsets and Scarlett’s green dress, lighting up the screen.
The 4K screenshots do not accurately represent the HDR and should only be considered for comparing detail and aspect ratio improvements.
Audio Quality – 5/5
This release offers two incredible audio tracks: remastered DTS-Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and the film’s original mono soundtrack.
Max Steiner’s iconic score sounds better than ever, with its grandeur greatly enhanced by immersive surround sound and reference-quality audio for the authentic theatrical mono.
Both options are exceptional, but for the true 1939 experience, mono is the way to go.
Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Polish dubs are also included, along with subtitles in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, and Swedish.
Special Features 4.5/5
This 4K release includes both archival and newly produced special features, all of which, aside from the audio commentary, are allocated to their own dedicated Blu-ray disc.
Audio Commentary by Historian Rudy Behlmer – an archival audio commentary by the late Rudy Behlmer originally included on the 2004 collector’s edition DVD
- Turner Classic Movies Intro – A short introduction for the film presented by TCM host Jacqueline Stewart.
- Gone with the Wind: The Influence That Endures – a brand-new featurette that touches on the film’s enduring legacy, featuring interviews with scholars and historians such as Leonard and Jessie Maltin, Steven C. Smith, and Mary Mallory.
- Scarlett O’Hara: A Woman Ahead of Her Time – a brand-new featurette centered on actress Vivien Leigh and her breakout performance as Scarlett O’Hara, featuring interviews with scholars and historians such as Karie Bible and Dr. Emily Carman.
- Gone with the Wind: Restoring and Preserving an Epic – a brand-new featurette discussing the restoration process of the film, featuring interviews with historians, senior colorist Jan Yarbrough, sound supervisor John Yanez, and mixer/sound editor John Aspinall.
- The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind – narrated by Christopher Plummer, this 1988 documentary explores the production history of Gone with the Wind
- Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On – originally produced for the 70th Anniversary Blu-ray edition, this half-hour documentary explores the legacy of Gone with the Wind seventy years later, featuring interviews with Leonard Maltin, Ted Turner, and Rudy Behlmer
- Melanie Remembers: Reflections by Olivia de Havilland – Melanie’s actress, Olivia de Havilland, sits down for a retrospective interview, originally included on the 2004 collector’s edition DVD
- The Supporting Players – a portrait of the supporting cast members of the film, originally included on the 2004 collector’s edition DVD
- Dixie Hails: Gone with the Wind – an archival newsreel showcasing the film’s December 1939 premiere
- Atlanta Civil War Centennial – a 1961 newsreel covering the film’s reunion with the surviving cast members
- International Prologue – the original text crawl that gave context of the Civil War for the film’s international release
- Foreign Language Versions – a short reel showcasing the film’s many foreign language dubs
- Gone with the Wind: Hollywood Comes to Atlanta – originally included on the 75th anniversary Blu-ray, this short documentary features restored footage of the film’s Atlanta premiere
- TCM Presents The Complicated Legacy of Gone with the Wind – a panel discussion about the film’s polarizing elements to commemorate its then 80th anniversary, hosted by film historian Donald Bogle and featuring guests film producer Stephanie Allain, author Molly Haskell, and historian Jacqueline Stewart
- TCM Presents A Conversation about Slavery in Film – a short retrospective examining the history of slavery as portrayed in films from the silents to the talkies, presented by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz and featuring Donald Bogle
Despite the massive amount of supplements included, there are a few omissions from past releases. Had they included them, I would have given this a perfect score. But what is included is still substantial enough to recommend.
Overall Thoughts
Cinephiles can rejoice knowing that this masterpiece has been restored and presented in the best possible quality, with enough supplemental material to satisfy any film buff. Warner Bros.’ newest release of Gone with the Wind delivers magnificent video and audio quality, plus an excess of extras. Frankly, my dear, this release is worth a damn.