Gone with the Wind Premieres

Setting the scene

1939 is often called Hollywood's greatest year, with studios releasing prestige literary adaptations amid Depression-era escapism. David O. Selznick paid a record $50,000 for Margaret Mitchell's 1936 Civil War romance novel and spent years casting Scarlett O'Hara, testing hundreds of actresses. Technicolor, massive sets, and a four-hour running time made the production a gamble.

What happened

Gone with the Wind had its Atlanta premiere on December 15, 1939, starring Vivien Leigh as Scarlett and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. The film followed Scarlett's survival through the Civil War and Reconstruction in Georgia, ending with Rhett's famous departure line. Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress as Mammy, the first Black Oscar winner, though she sat segregated at the ceremony.

Why it still matters

Adjusted for inflation it remains among the highest-grossing films ever, but later generations debated its romanticized Confederacy and racial stereotypes. It forced conversations about Hollywood's historical myths. Memorable detail: the film used the word damn in Rhett's final line, prompting controversy before the Production Code loosened.

Background

Record attendance later collided with debates over its romanticized Confederacy.