Revisiting GONE WITH THE WIND in 4K

GONE WITH THE WIND (4K UHD)

1939 / 223 min

Warner Bros

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Paws😸

I’m have no illusions here. With the possible exception of my wife, absolutely nobody cares about my critical opinion of Gone with the Wind, and even she just nods politely when I hop on my soapbox to blather over the film’s overly-romanticized depiction of slavery in the Civil War era south, to say nothing of questionable elements related to marital rape. 

But even keeping in-mind the context of the era in which it was made, I’ve never been bowled over by its story, characters or performances, and nobody cares about my opinions on that, either. Why would they? Over the course of nearly 90 years, Gone with the Wind has become “critic proof.” So I’ll spare you the usual plot synopsis (which self-respecting classic movie lovers know by heart anyway) and personal assessment of the movie itself. The last thing anyone reading this needs is one guy’s "hot take.” (a stupid, meaningless term that reeks of self-importance).

Besides, I never said Gone with the Wind wasn’t a great film. It remains a stupendously epic cinematic achievement that deserves its status as an inarguable classic. There hasn't been a movie quite like it before or since, and even countless contrarians who’ve enjoyed retro-condemning its themes and misguided nostalgia must concede it’s brilliantly made (if they’re being honest). It’s okay to acknowledge a movie’s greatness without actually loving it.

Here's the part for those who do love the film, who know the dialogue by heart, stay clued to the set whenever it pops up on TCM, or have owned it in every home video format dating back to the VHS days. Gone with the Wind is now available in long-overdue 4K UHD, available in three different versions, no less. The film has been released and re-issued countless times in various formats over the years, which of-course prompts the obvious question: Is this upgrade worth owning? The answer to that would be a resounding yes.

*slurp*

There's a version for every level of GWTW fandom, the most elaborate being a Collectors Edition loaded with additional physical swag. But for those whose pockets aren’t quite so deep, it’s also available as a standard 3-disc release, which is the version reviewed here. The most obvious reason to upgrade is the video transfer. The film has always been visually stunning, with (still) jaw-dropping production design, special effects and creative use of color, all of which are beautifully rendered in 4K. Simply put, it has never looked better on home video. Even this ol’ party pooper enjoyed revisiting the film for the image quality alone.

I’m also impressed with the two English audio options, especially the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which nicely showcases Max Steiner’s iconic score (always my favorite aspect of the film) without sacrificing other audio elements. A 2.0 Mono mix is also included in three different languages. 

Fans will also enjoy some brand new bonus features, along with some substantial archival material (all outlined below). While the new features are entertaining, they mostly serve to confirm GWTW’s place in movie history without really delving into the controversies it generated. Like it or not, those controversies are definitely a part of its legend and objectively acknowledging them would’ve provided a more complete historical picture without diminishing the film’s importance. 

All that being said, this 4K edition of Gone with the Wind is the definitive version for fans and collectors. Whether it’s your favorite film or you simply appreciate its sweeping cinematic impact, this is a must-own.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NEW KIBBLES - In Gone with the Wind: The Influence The Endures, several critics and historians discuss the movie’s impact on Hollywood and pop culture; Scarlett O’Hara: A Woman Ahead of Her Time features most of the same participants, this time focusing on Vivian Leigh’s iconic character; Gone with the Wind: Restoring and Preserving an Epic is the best of the new kibbles, which takes a look at the film’s 4K upgrade.

OLD KIBBLES - The Making of a Legend: The Restoration of Gone with the Wind is a retrospective making-of doc; Gone with the Wind: The Legend Lives On features many filmmakers and critics discussing the movie’s impact and legacy; MGM: When the Lion Roars focuses on some of the studio’s history.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By historian Rudy Behlner.

THE 1939 ATLANTA PREMIERE is a vintage newsreel.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE DUBBER CLIP

HISTORICAL DOCUMENT NEWSREEL FOOTAGE

TRAILERS

DIGITAL COPY