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In 1939, “Gone with the Wind” swept the Oscars. The year of its release, it saw unprecedented success. Most people believed that the film would fail. It had too many things going against it. Vivien Leigh was almost completely unknown and she was playing the role of Scarlett with a major star like Clark Gable. Many doubted whether she could hold up her side of the narrative. Also, the cost of production on the film seemed like more than could ever be made back in the box office.
This description from the 1939 Oscars gives a portrayal of the success of “Gone with the Wind.” The film was nominated for ten Academy awards, more than any movie before it. It ended up winning eight of those ten. One of the Oscars given out that night was Best Supporting Actress, given to Hattie McDaniel for her portrayal of Mammy. It was the first Oscar ever given to a Black woman.
“Gone with the Wind” had record setting success. This chapter in the book demonstrates that success. It lists the various award nominations as well as the winner. It also gives some details about that year and the events surrounding it. This information leads to an understanding of the impact of the film.
In chapter three of this book, Donald Bogle analyses the performances of the black servants in “Gone with the Wind.” He argues that the roles of the black servants in this film are more realistic than other black roles that came before it. He sees the characters and the performances of most of the black actors as an advancement of blacks in film.
Before “Gone with the Wind,” Bogle states that most of the characters in Civil War films were shown as only slaves. He sees the relationship shown between the black servants and white masters in “Gone with the Wind” as more accurate portrayals of the relations between actual blacks and whites in ante-bellum south.
Bogle looks most closely at Hattie McDaniel in the role of Mammy. She does not play the role of the entirely subservient slave, as in other movies. Instead, she is one of the family members, and has a voice of her own which she uses quite boisterously throughout the film Her character acts as a sort of mother to Scarlett. Bogle sees this as a major advancement in the role of blacks in film because she is not just a slave but a real character. She is simply comic relief but a major part of the film.
Bogle also looks at other black characters in the film such as Prissy and Pork. Overall, Bogle is pleased with most of the character portrayals, though he does see some of the servant characters as perpetuations of stereotypes. This view gives light to the racial implications of “Gone with the Wind” and actually sees them as moving in a positive direction, unlike other views.
This article looks at the reception of “Gone with the Wind” by the African American Press. It analyzes the response of this particular group and what that meant for the film as a whole. There was a lot of criticism on the film by the press. However, the portrayal of some of the African American characters was received favorably.
Hattie McDaniel’s role was praised by the press. The movie as a whole was not entirely criticized for its portrayal of African Americans. The press saw it mostly as a step up from other portrayals of the racial group. However, there was resistance to the favorable representation of the plantation culture. The hegemony of the film was not looked upon favorably by the African American press, especially since it seemed to condone it throughout the film.
Overall the film was both accepted and criticized for many reasons by the African American press. It allowed Hattie McDaniel to win the Academy Award. The African American response to the film also helped Hollywood shape future films. The portrayal of more complex Black characters was well received and expected after that film.
This article explains the view of the African American culture. It looks at something other than the majority for an opinion on the film. This is not always a view given on something that was so favorably received by popular culture. It provides insight into the different types of spectators and to the opinions of other groups.