Gone with the Wind (70th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
by Victor Fleming
![Gone with the Wind (70th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]](/images/Gone-with-the-Wind-70th-Anniversary-Edition-Blu-ray-B002XF9C54-L.jpg)
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Blu-ray details
Actor: Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Vivien LeighDirector: Victor Fleming
Brand: WHV
Performer: Hattie McDaniel
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Unknown); Spanish (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, Full Screen, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.37:1
Running Time: 238 minutes
Published: 2009
Blu-ray Release Date: 2009-01-01
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Blu-ray Reviews of Gone with the Wind (70th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
Blu-ray Review: Good barebones Blu-Ray for those of us who don't want to pay for the fluff
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, I think it's great that barebones editions like this exist, when studios seem terribly keen on special editions of single movies that charge 2 and 3 times what a reasonable price for a single film is.
This disc is currently only available at Target stores, but is hitting wider release on 2/2/10. So check back then if you want to get this from Amazon. It probably would not pay to buy this from the "other sellers" right now, because most are charging near the price of the multi-disc edition.
OK, onto the disc itself.
The Film:
I must be one of those people who somehow had avoided seeing this film. Well, this Blu-Ray was my first exposure to it. And all I can say is, yes, this certainly belongs in the top 5 American movies ever made. It truly is epic and sweeping, with heaping helpings of history, romance, melodrama, and beauty.
Both of the primary actors are very good, and they have an interesting chemistry on screen. Vivien Leigh's performance is a tour de force in that she is able to keep us caring about her character despite the character's many shortcomings. The supporting cast is more than competent as well, although I will say I wish Ashley could have tamed his obvious British accent a bit more than he did. I was particularly impressed by the significant roles played by black actors - for 1939, no mean feat. Granted, they are almost all slaves, but many of the actors invest their characters with great depth and feeling.
Also very impressive was the portrayal of the Civil War from the Confederate perspective. The suffering of the soldiers and the effects this has on the populace are very starkly portrayed.
Many visual compositions are quite beautiful, especially sunsets, the blazing infernos of burning Atlanta, and the exquisite matte paintings of the manors and estates.
This truly is one of those movies everyone should see before they die. It's an unforgettable experience. At 3 hours and 53 minutes (a tad less if you speed through the overture, intermission, and exit music), it's quite a chunk of film to get through in one sitting. But the story is so absorbing, you may just find yourself wanting to.
The Blu-Ray:
This film is presented in a 1080p, 1.33:1 aspect ratio encode. This is the proper aspect ratio for the film, and thank goodness no one attempted to create a faux-widescreen image.
While shots that contain optical effects suffer a bit in detail (due to the double and triple passes on the film elements to layer the effects), most of the film is impressively detailed. It's not going to beat you over the head as "high definition," but if you really look, you will see a lot of little things. The cloth of the costumes is particularly nice to look at. The early technicolor process is preserved well, with its slightly hazy but very lush color scheme. Reds and oranges in particular really pop off of the screen. Comparing this transfer with films of a similar vintage (e.g. Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz), it comes off very nicely.
The audio is presented in both Dolby TrueHD and the original mono soundtrack. It is a tad quiet, and I watched this film at a level about 20% higher than most movies. It was, however, well balanced between dialogue, music, and effects, and the booming of cannon in the rear surrounds and subwoofer channels was quite impressive.
I frequently check out the subtitles on home video, and wow, were these subtitles ever WAY off. I realize there is a lot of dialogue in this film, but literally 20 to 30 percent of it is lost in the transition to the subtitle track. I just don't get why studios do this, especially on a classic film like this. If I were a member of the deaf community, I'd be pretty peeved.
Conclusion:
Warner Bros. has really delivered the goods, with a respectful transfer of the film that both delivers on quality but also doesn't overdo things like Digital Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement. This is a terrific Blu-Ray, and it's a classic film. And I don't mean classic in the way that some old films are a little boring or their writing doesn't stand up today, or it might not be appreciated by a modern audience. I mean, this is a CLASSIC, and anyone should be able to enjoy it mightily.
Description of Gone with the Wind (70th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
Period romance. War epic. Family saga. Popular fiction adapted with crowd-pleasing brilliance. Star acting aglow with charisma and passion. Moviemaking craft at its height. These are sublimely joined in the words Gone with the Wind.This dynamic and durable screen entertainment of the Civil War-era South comes home with the renewed splendor of a New 70th-Anniversary Digital Transfer capturing a higher-resolution image from Restored Picture Elements than ever before possible. David O. Selznick?s monumental production of Margaret Mitchell?s Pulitzer Prize-winning book can now enthrall new generations of home viewers with a majestic vibrance that befits one of Hollywood?s greatest achievements.
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