A FORMAL MOVIE REVIEW

GONE WITH THE WIND 1939 220m........Drama/Historical/Romance Selznick (U.S.) Rating:*****/PG Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Vivian Leigh (Scarlett OHara), Hattie McDaniel (Mamie), Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes), Olivia De Havilland (Melanie Hamilton) p, David O Selznick; d, Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood; The best remembered and most publicized film in Hollywoods flamboyant history, the biggest of David O. Selznicks good obsessions, and quite probably the most beloved movie of all times. This star-studded Civil War epic, based on Margaret Mitchells immensely popular novel, is nearly as powerful and moving today as when first released in 1939. Beneath the surface of a lavish and sometimes aweinspiring production lies a deftly handed story about an endlessly fascinating-if not always attractive heroine. Though shes frequently dismissed as a simpering belle, Scarlett OHara (Vivien Leigh) is a resilient, resourceful protagonist, equal to acts of real heroism but incapable of cliched nobility. And for many of us, theres a lesson in her story - that buying into romantic obsession almost certainly guarantees that well end up with the last person we need. Leigh won the most coveted role in film history from a field that included Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow, among some 2,000 women in a much ballyhooed two-year talent search. Shes nothing short of perfection. As Rhett Butler, co-star Clark Gable likewise couldnt be bettered. The only player among the major who disappoints is Leslie Howard - he just isnt handsome or vigorous enough to motivate so much of Scarletts energy. Supporting performances are generally in high order, though McDaniels heart rugging mammy is rather cloying. From a directorial standpoint, the sequences shot by womens director George Cukor are the best. His style is more lyrical, and more attentive to the literary qualities of the source material, than that of Victor Fleming. Nowhere is this more evident than the barbecue at Twelve Oaks and the announcement of war-possibly the best sequence in the piece. Later GWTW under Fleming seems to settle into itself and just tell the story. Despite some excellent sequences - Scarletts attempt to get Dr.Meade to leave the railroad station springs immediately to mind many of the films purely narrative sequences verge on the mundane. Cukor began at the films helm but was replaced by Fleming (whose WIZARD of OZ was released in 1939). During the course of the production Fleming suffered a nervous breakdown and Sam Wood stepped in until Fleming was well enough to return. Although its historical set pieces (e.g. the burning of Atlanta) are brilliantly realized, GWTW should not be mistaken for history - it romanticizes the slave-owning south and caricatures Reconstruction. Still, its the peak example of the collaborative artistic achievement for which Hollywoods Golden Age is justly celebrated. To quote Olivia de Havilland, Every time I see it, I find something fresh, some shade of meaning I hadnt noticed before... How fortunate that so many gifted people found immortality in GONE WITH THE WIND. (from The Ninth Virgin Film Guide) Civil War The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the mostly northern states of the Union and the southern states of the Confederacy that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the Union. The Union prevailed in the Civil War. Reconstruction In the history of the United States of America, Reconstruction was the period that followed the Civil War when the southern states were reintegrated in the United States.

A READING COMPREHENSION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Paraphrase the underlined words and phrases. Is Gone with the Wind one of the most beloved movies of the time in your opinion? Motivate your answer. Why do you think Scarlett OHara is always dismissed as a simpering belle? Why is Scarlett thought to be fascinating, while not always attractive? Do you think the reviewers opinions on the cast are accurate? Motivate your answer. How can you comment upon Olivia de Havillands statement Every time I see it, I find something fresh, some shade of meaning I hadnt noticed before... How fortunate that so many gifted people found immortality in GONE WITH THE WIND.?

B VOCABULARY 1. Fill in the blanks with words and phrases from the text above: 1. GWTW was first _______ in 1939. 2. Many of the films purely narrative sequences verge on the __________. 3. The movie ________ the slave-owning south and ________ Reconstruction. 4. Vivien Leigh is nothing ________ of perfection in this part. 5. McDaniels heart __________ mammy is rather ________. 6. Scarlett is frequently dismissed as a __________ belle. 7. The movie can be seen as a ________ Civil War epic. 8. The main heroine is a _________ resourceful protagonist. 9. The only player among the _______ who disappoints is Leslie Howard. 10. From a directorial ________, the scenes shot by Cukor are the best. 11. Cukor began at the films _______ but was replaced by Fleming. 1. Provide definitions of your own for the following theatre/cinema terms: 1. A dress rehearsal is 2. A title role is 3. A walk-on part is 4. A stagehand is 5. An understudy is 6. A prompter is 7. A stage manager is 8. Props are 9. A continuity girl is 10. A clapper-board man is 11. Extras are 12. Credits are 13. The set is 14. The cast is 15. A flop is 16. A trailer is 17. Subtitles are 18. A close-up shot is 19. A stuntman is 20. A box-office hit is 21. An audition is 22. Editing is 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Choose the right word: My mother is a very exacting teacher: she does not ______ fools gladly. A. take to B. suffer C. condone D. accept He ________ after wealth and appreciation despite the success hes had lately. A. crave B. covet C. hanker D. yearn Dont be so _______! She wont notice you unless you do something. Try offering her something to drink. A. daft B. deft C. dank D. dire If you dont _______ and claim your inheritance, youll be left penniless. A. chip in B. barge in C. cave in D. step in She _________spread her slice of toast with marmalade. A. heavenly B. lavishly C. gloriously D. luxuriously

6. 7. 8. 9.

If you have settled ______the wallpaper, we can now choose the furniture for the new house. A. for B. on C. in D. into He appeared to be the proud owner of skills of the highest _______. A. range B. species C. type D. order The money he is supposed to receive are taxed at__________. A. origin B. source C. start D. onset I think Ill try my luck at winning the big prize. Are you equal _______ the task? A. for B. at C. of D. to

10. Every time I watch this movie there is a new ________ of meaning that springs to mind. A. tint B. taint C. tinge D. tingle 3. POLYSEMY: TO BUY. Translate into Romanian: 1. The bank wouldnt help when I was starting the business but they want to buy into it now. 2. What this new approach buys you is enough time to let the project develop. 3. I cant buy her flimsy excuses, sorry. 4. Unless he drops the charges, well have to buy him off. 5. A pound today buys much less than it did a year ago. 6. He bought all his partners out and is now the sole owner of the company. 7. The passengers survived the accident but Im afraid that the driver bought it. 8. His fame was bought at the expense of health and happiness. 9. Ill have to buy in potatoes for the winter. 10. Best buys of the week are carrots and cabbages, which are plentiful and cheap. 5. COMPOUNDING. Match the items in the first set to the ones in the second so as to obtain verbal compounds (some of the items in the first set can be used more than once). Explain the meaning of each compound you have obtained by trying to find a context for it: back, sweet, pussy, double, day, blue, cross, man, side, brow, down, match, white, head. pencil, beat, talk, make, hunt, cross, dream, breed, step, fire, load, dress, date, bite, stab, foot, wash, handle.