Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Gone With The Wind BR Review

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Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-03-2009, 01:23 PM:

The first online review:

DVD Beaver - GWTW

Notice in the comparison screen caps that the full width of the frame provides extra image on the sides.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-03-2009, 01:32 PM:

Wish I could be enthusiastic about GWTW on Blu-ray. Unfortunately I hate the movie and have never been able to watch it all the way through. I'm sure that makes me a bad person. [Razz]

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-03-2009, 01:50 PM:

David - that makes you and my mom. When was the last time you gave it a try? Admittedly it's primarily a chick flick but Clark Gable elevates it by portraying Rhett Butler as someone to whom a man can relate. Add to that the historical context of the story and the fantastic production values and performances all around and it's quite an achievement.

Obviously no movie can be everyone's "cup of tea" but GWTW is one of my favorites.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-03-2009, 07:50 PM:

I saw GONE WITH THE WIND for the very first time at the California Theatre in santa Barbara in 1961 when I was studying photography at Brooks Institute and loved it! Funny, I never considered GWTW a chick flick although it was about a very beautiful young woman who was attracted to a happily married man who did not share her affection. This is one of very few movies I had seen every time it was re released to theatres. I even saw the dreaded 70mm release and walked out after watching about an hour of it.

Joe, it seem from the screen captures, the four disc DVD set picture looks sharper than the Blu Ray. I am fully confident, I will be happy with the BD when it is released in two weeks. By the way, did you pick up NORTH BY NORTHWEST on Blu Ray today? I did along with the BD of FORREST GUMP and can hardly wait until tonight to watch them.

-Claude

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-03-2009, 10:06 PM:

I've always felt that GWTW is a movie one only sees in a movie theater that has really comfortable seats [Cool]

. Not for TV watching I'm afraid...

Mark

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-04-2009, 10:15 AM:

Mark - I would have agreed ten years ago.

Claude - Not sure I agree about the sharpness. Perhaps because the DVD caps are smaller they look a little sharper? Look at the picture where Scarlett is talking to Big Sam in Atlanta and compare the bricks on the buildings.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-06-2009, 10:09 AM:

I added it to my netflix queue, will give it another try.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-06-2009, 12:22 PM:

David -

I'll be looking forward to your opinion.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-12-2009, 02:58 PM:

I just learned the Target Blu-Ray edition of GONE WITH THE WIND will be single disc and priced at about $30.00 [Frown]

If it was the expected two disc, it would have included all of the special features about the movie including the documentary about MGM during 1939. The only thing missing would have been another copy of WHEN THE LION ROARS and a CD of a few musical tracks from the movie. If Target was selling a two disc set, it would included new stuff that were not in the previous four disc DVD that I would love to have. The Target single disc will only have the movie only and commentary. What is a person to do when the choice is between a $20.00 bare bone set at Target and a fully loaded box set that costs over $50.00?

-Claude

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 11-12-2009, 04:14 PM:

I don't exactly hate the movie, but I always felt it was way over acted and melodramatic, which I found annoying beyond tolerable. If it wasn't for the great score, I probably wouldn't have been able to sit thru it even in the theatre. Running it was a pleasure, however.

I remember thinking, too bad they couldn't have just cut out everything except the opening title, the scenes just before the intermission, the intermission music and the opening scenes of the the second half and then the closing scene and exit music. As a projectionist, that was all I was really interested in. All the gurlie whining in between was pretty painful. And I've run it enough times to know that seeing it again on Blu-Ray or any other format won't change my opinion much. I'll just listen to Max Steiner score and that will be more than enough for me.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-12-2009, 09:29 PM:

Frank,

The reason GONE WITH THE WIND does not appeal to you and David and many that are much younger than I am is due to the fact that you all belong to a different generation. Compared to more modern films, yes GWTW is a overdramatic film but is keeping to the way books, were written and films made during that period . Although I was in my late teens when I saw the film for the first time in 1961, I could still relate to it because life at that time was not as faced paced as it is now and very much like it was in the thirties and forties except rock music was exciting all of us 'young people'.

-Claude

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-12-2009, 10:28 PM:

quote: Claude S. Ayakawa
The reason GONE WITH THE WIND does not appeal to you and David and many that are much younger than I am is due to the fact that you all belong to a different generation.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the same generation as those guys...and I think it's a great film...not just good, but great.

[thumbsup]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-13-2009, 09:39 AM:

I'm probably older than you think Claude. [Wink]

I love some old movies like Wizard of Oz and Casablanca and many others. But something about GWTW just doesn't work for me or at least not when I tried to watch it.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-13-2009, 01:27 PM:

Where do you have your fountain of youth stashed, guys [Smile]

-Claude

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 11-13-2009, 01:44 PM:

Claude, I am sure I am only a few years younger than you, if that. Now mind you, I appreciate GWTW on many levels, top of the list in my mind is the great Steiner score -- I swear it's better than Viagra. I can't run that picture without getting goosebumps at the crescendos of the main title theme at the opening and the lead-in to the intermission and finale. And I certainly can appreciate all the other inventive and well executed elements of the film, it's the acting style that just rubs me the wrong way, not to mention that incessent whineyness of it; can anyone say soap-opera?!

And you are right, it is an acting style that was accepted much more during that period. But then again, CASABLANCA and CITIZEN KANE are its contemporaries, yet that broad acting style is much more pulled back and controlled in those films than it is in GWTW. Maybe it just that in the hands of really talented directors it doesn't get quite as out of hand as I perceive it to be in GWTW.

As for it being a "great" film, well, I always contended that what was most masterful about GWTW was the brilliance of the MGM marketing department. They had the hutzpa to announced flat out that GWTW was the "Greatest Film Ever Made" And it seemed to stick. They used a re-release schedule that consistantly reinforced that tag every time they brought it back to the screen pretty consistantly very seven years or so, always making that "greatest film ever made" claim.

No doubt GWTW does resonate with a good portion of the population, but it sure wouldn't be on my top 10 or even my top 100 for that matter.

Using that proverbial "what if" scenario of surviving a shipwreck and being washed up on an island with only one film that I would be able to watch (presumably a DVD, not to mention a battery powered DVD player and monitor, also washed ashore with me as well), I think if I discovered that the DVD was GWTW, I would just jump back into the sea. [Razz]

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-15-2009, 09:39 AM:

Target has the best price deal on GWTW. $34.99 for the two-disc Blu-ray set (which means ALL the GWTW video material extras) in a standard Amaray case. The cover art is terrible but if you don't want to spend $10 more for the book and other extras this is the best deal.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-15-2009, 02:27 PM:

Joe, where did you get the information about a Target Exclusive two disc edition of GONE WITH THE WIND? There was no mention of it in their Sunday newspaper tabloid advertising today. I have only been hearing about Target offering only a movie only on a single disc at various DVD forums. It makes more sense however for Target to offer a two disc set like they did for the WIZARD OF OZ and Walmart offering a single disc set.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-15-2009, 06:38 PM:

Claude - I found it on page 22 of the "Local Ad" section online:

This link should take you there

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-15-2009, 09:12 PM:

Joe, I am afraid the Target exclusive of GWTW on Blu Ray will be a single disc set and not two. When I went to the Target link and typed "GONE WITH THE WIND 2 DISC TARGET EXCLUSIVE" in the search box, ordering information for the movie it did direct me to the movie. In addition to the deluxe set, it offered the special exclusive edition but the words "Two Discs Special Edition" was crossed out. I think the Target set will be only one disc as people are reporting including some Target employees who had handled or seen the product.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-16-2009, 03:14 PM:

Claude - you remind me of the people I support at work. [Wink]

Just follow the instructions Buddy! Go to the link, go to page 22 of the flyer and find and click on the item. Now it may vary in your market but it clearly says 2-disc. It specifically says "stores only" so it doesn't show up on their site for online ordering. I will know for sure tomorrow morning.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 11-16-2009, 03:53 PM:

I clicked the link, went to page 22, and saw nothing about this title. I saw some Twilight junk and some new DVDs and PC games.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-16-2009, 04:12 PM:

Chris - you don't see the "Tune in Tuesday" section? It's immediately to the right of "Bruno".

I am going to try to paste a screen cap. I will probably do it wrong...

...or maybe not. The background is the page and the inset is the detail on the title. Maybe that lame artwork threw you off?

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 11-16-2009, 08:27 PM:

You're right. It was there; I just didn't recognize it.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-17-2009, 08:20 AM:

The online ad is wrong. I checked at a Target store this morning. The clerk opened the item to confirm. It is only the movie disc.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-17-2009, 11:40 AM:

Thanks for the information, Joe

You just saved me a trip to the Target store in my area. I guess I will have to go to Best Buy and get the deluxe set because I want the 1939 documentary. For just a little over twenty dollars I can get that and all of the other good stuff that is not included in the Target single disc edition. How can Target justify selling a single disc of GWTW for thirty five dollars when Walmart charged only twenty dollars for a single disc THE WIZARD OF OZ?

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-17-2009, 11:55 AM:

I asked the clerk that and he felt that someone screwed up somewhere. I ordered a UCE from Amazon for $45.49

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-17-2009, 08:06 PM:

I could have ordered the special edition of GONE WITH THE WIND in Blu-Ray from Amazon at the price Joe had mentioned but with the extra shipping costs and the fact I have to wait a couple of days for the discs to arrive, I bought a copy at Best Buy this morning. The discs and the other contents are in a huge box. Although I did not open it yet, I was very impressed with the packaging. I will try to watch all of the movie tonight and post my comments tomorrow.

-Claude

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-18-2009, 03:23 PM:

It is a no brainer to get the SE of GONE WITH THE WIND instead of the Target exclusive single disc set. The Target single disc sells for $34.95 and the SE where I bought mine from Best Buy costs $56.99 . For the extra twenty two dollars, you will get tons of extra stuff about the movie in a gorgeous book and other literature in the set as well as over three to four hours of extra special features on a 2nd Blu-Ray disc. A lot of that stuff is new in HD and was not on the previous four disc set like the 1939 documentary and the Tony Curtis movie about casting Scarlet O'hara. On top of that, a original soundtrack cd running over an half an hour is also included. Although over sized, the velvet lined box is beautiful.

The movie as advertised in Blu-Ray is just gorgeous and is just as I remember seeing in theatres. In fact I think the BD is a lot better. The set is expensive but this is a "must have" if you love the film as much as I do.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-18-2009, 03:24 PM:

Claude - How do they handle the movie on one disc? Do you select Part One or Two? If you choose Part One does it kick you back to the menu at the intermission? Is there a "Play All" option?

Amazon hasn't shipped mine yet.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-18-2009, 03:42 PM:

Joe,

I only spot checked the two discs and did not watch the entire movie last night as planned because my shipment of Gordon Scott Tarzan movies I had ordered from Warner Archive also arrived yesterday and I wanted to check them out too. I think GWTW like all other road show films play right through without pausing after the intermission. They only thing that really 'bugs' me about the way how Waner Brothers presents road show movies on DVD and Blu-Ray are the stupid "Overture", Entre Acte" and Exit Music" title cards they use instead of a blank screen like the original theatrical exhibition. Fox has alway done it correctly and I think Columbia with FUNNY GIRL and OLIVER. Seeing these stupis cards on the BD of GWTW is the only thing I did not like about that new release.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-18-2009, 04:13 PM:

Most of us here understand what a roadshow presentation is but the vast majority of people are either too young to remember or simply uninformed about such things. I'd bet a surprising number of people would think there was a defective disc if nothing was on the screen while they were hearing music.

Because we are who we are we also consider the musical segments part of the entire experience and most people probably think it's time to pee or talk or get more snacks without ever thinking about it.

In "The Ten Commandments" (where is THAT on blu-ray?) did they have the overture before or after the DeMille speech? It's been so long I can't remember!

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-18-2009, 06:12 PM:

The speech came after the overture, Joe.

As for the title cards used on road show movies on DD and BDs, that was the argument for using them but Fox has been featuring blank screen on their road show dvds, laserdiscs and Bds of road show movies without any problem. Come to think of it, there is one Warner road show title with music played against a blank screen. It is 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY. Universal was aware of the situation with SPARTUCUS when the overture started with the word OVERTURE on a blank screen was shown and after a few seconds, the word faded away and the rest of the overture played against a blank screen.

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 11-18-2009, 06:33 PM:

I have a friend who borrowed "Funny Girl" from me and returned it the next day saying it was defective. She is from the era of the Roadshow type movies. I asked what was wrong with it. She said it had music and no picture on it. I told her it was the overture like in a Broadway show. But sometimes you have to dumbdown the product, so everyone gets the act. I like no card.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 11-19-2009, 08:08 AM:

Bill, [thumbsup]

I play mine with the curtain closed (yah, I've got a motorised curtains in front of my screen....I can't help myself) and I just kill the video if there is a Overture card.

An Intermission card on the other hand is a different animal. It was always part of the closing of the first part of a roadshow presentation. BUT, it faded out after the curtains closed in the theatre; on Laserdiscs and now on many DVDs, they keep it on the screen THRU all the entre'act music to part 2, which of course is as incorrect as it is stupid. I just kill the video if the Intermission card is held thru the entre'act music.

If they are stupid enough to have an Exit Music card, certainly the video has to be killed for that idiotic card as well.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-19-2009, 01:12 PM:

Getting back to the topic discussing GONE WITH THE WIND, I started to watch the special features found on the 2nd disc in the special edition box set on a Blu Ray disc and now understand why WHV did not make a two disc set available as a Target exclusive. If they did, Joe and I and many others would have just purchased only the two disc set. Except for getting another copy of WHEN THE LION ROARS that came with THE WIZARD OF OZ set, all of the special features on the 2nd disc and the CD soundtrack sampler is worth much more than the approximate additional $23.00 one will need to pay to buy the box set. I just watched the ninety minute television drama MOVIOLA: THE SCARLET O'HARA WAR starring Tony as David O. Selznick last night and it was very entertaining. I do not know how much of it was true but I do know Vivian Leigh was introduced to Selznick when they were filming the burning of Atlanta scene and was hired to play the coveted role of Scarlet O'Hara. I plan to warch the 1939 documentary tonight and GONE WITH THE WIND in it's entirety either Saturday or Sunday night.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-23-2009, 12:17 PM:

I watched mine over the weekend. My only criticism is that - like the Godfather films on BR - I think they went a little too far "warming up" the color. Just too orange looking! Looked like an old Eastman SP print.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-23-2009, 02:38 PM:

Joe,

Although I praised the current Blu Ray of GONE WITH THE WIND, I was always bothered by the warm skin tone in the film. As far as I can tell, every video version I had seen of this film presented it that way so I assumed it has alway looked that way including the original IB tech prints during it's original release to theatres in 1939. Strange as it may seem, the skin tone in THE WIZARD OF OZ was gorgeous in the recent BD of that film and I was expecting the same with with GWTW in Blu Ray because both of the film was released in the same year. Yes, I was also bothered by the warm tone used on the restored GODFATHER films on the recent DVD and Blu Ray discs.

-Claude

Posted by Vern Dias (Member # 5241) on 11-23-2009, 03:04 PM:

I found that temporarily changing my projector from a 6500K color temp setting to a 7500K color temp setting completely corrected the excessively warm skin tones in the latest GWTW.

Granted, most projectors or displays probably won't allow that to be done simply, but my JVC DLA-RS35 made it a snap.

I wonder if the color timer was using a mis-calibrated display, or what could have happened, because I doubt that everone in the movie was sunburned, [Big Grin]

Vern

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 11-23-2009, 03:23 PM:

That is an excellent idea Vern. I think my TV though not a projector has a similar setting.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 11-24-2009, 01:11 PM:

I downloaded the music on the CD that came with the special edition Blu Ray set of GONE WITH THE WIND to my iPod the other day and listened to it on a bus today and the sound quality was just absolutely dreadful. It was fine at the time but I guess I kind of got spoiled with todays fantastic digital sound recordings. The music from GWTW was rerecorded in stereo and issued on CD about fifteen years ago and I had it but it somehow got lost. I recall the sound was excellent and the arrangement was exactly the same as the original soundtrack.

-Claude