Turner, George. "Behind the Curtain." American Cinematographer. Vol. 79, No. 12 (December 1998), pp. 100-106. 30 November 2008. <http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2659/hww/results/results_single_fulltext.jhtml;hwwilsonid=QTVLBPRU40CVFQA3DIMCFF4ADUNGIIV0>.

George Turner's article, entitled "Behind the Curtain," details the various advanced technical processes required for the production of The Wizard of Oz. Included in these production techniques were the use of Technicolor, pyrotechnics and smoke machines. When added together, production costs for the film exceeded $2,700,000. While this does not seem like an excessive film budget today, Turner notes that this was an enormous expenditure at the time, especially in light of the Great Depression and the prospect of another World War. Turner also discusses many of the mishaps, accidents and necessary retakes that occurred during production of the film. Turner seems to maintain a point of view which suggests that while the costs involved with creating The Wizard of Oz were a bit excessive, the film ultimately did achieve great success, notwithstanding immediate negative reactions by many film critics.

Turner fails to explain why critics reacted to poorly to the initial screenings of The Wizard of Oz, however, there is a possible explanation for this occurrence. As Turner says himself, many film viewers "claimed that color films gave them headaches" (Turner, 100). Audiences were simply unaccustomed to viewing such elaborate, multicolored sets and may have found the drastic change quite discomforting. This would also explain the films eventual widespread success in the decades following its initial release because as color films became the norm, audiences could re-watch the film without the potential feelings of discomfort experienced in previous viewings. It is also interesting that Dorothy not only returns home but also to a land of black and white. This may represent a desire in the late 1930s to cease progressing forward with advancements in color film and, instead, return to the black and white medium. While this does not directly reflect the economic or political situation of the United States, it does showcase that Americans were constantly affected by cinema, both by its technical advancements as well as by its subject matter.

Gone with the Wind is a film that continues to be relevant because of the time period portrayed, its social influences, and overall importance in the history of film. The release of Gone with the Wind on DVD is significant for a number of reasons. The enhancement of the actual film and the special features added make the DVD an important addition to any film library and just as significant as the film's initial release.

Included in the DVD's content is an in depth interview with Olivia de Hallivand, who plays Melanie. She was nominated for an Academy Award, however, she lost to Hattie McDaniel, who played Mammy. (There is speculation that the reason McDaniel won was as compensation for not being invited to the movie's Atlanta premiere.) In de Hallivand's interview, she reveals the chaos which occurred behind the scenes during the production of the film. For example, directors and writers came and went with alarming frequency.

The most impressive part of the DVD, which makes the DVD "vital and gorgeous", is the attempt to revert to the quality of the original Technicolor process in which the film was shot. The evolution of Technicolor is a significant facet of film history. Gone with the Wind was to be the test of the new Technicolor technology. The production of the film centered around brilliance and contrast of color as well as intricate scenery shots. Much of the original impact of the film lay in the quantity and quality of color schemes throughout the production. As the technology of film progressed, Technicolor was deemed old fashioned and new technology improved upon the once spectacular visions produced by the once unique color delivery system. The Gone with the Wind DVD has resurrected the original screen's Technicolor version of the film.

I feel that it is of great significance and interest for today's audience to see the film just as it was presented in its original form. The use of Technicolor had a significant impact on the audience of the time. Every aspect of a film contributes to the way in which an audience views, comprehends, and appreciates the film. With all the technology available today for production quality enhancement, it is important to have the ability to revert back to the original film version and screen it in its purest form. With every generation producing new audiences with interest in the film, the release of the DVD has made this important piece of film history readily accessible to an even wider audience. The attraction of the DVD lies in its special features. For film buffs and people who are knowledgeable about the history of film and production values, the remastering of Gone with the Wind in Technicolor is an important feature which, perhaps, trumps all of the other aspects of the DVD.