Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"A 'Gone With The Wind' Anniversary"

Today is the 73rd anniversary of the publishing of my all-time favorite book (and my husband's), Margaret Mitchell's classic, romantic drama, "Gone With The Wind." It was published on June 30, 1936 by MacMillan Publishing Company.

The epic story of "Gone With The Wind" was Margaret Mitchell's first and only published book, and it took her over ten years to write it. Sadly, she died when she was hit by a speeding automobile while attempting to cross the street; some say it is because she stepped out into the road without looking. She had confessed for years that she had a feeling that she was going to die in an automobile accident someday. How tragic that her own prophecy was fulfilled.

"Gone With The Wind", which is the story about the life of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of an Irish immigant plantation owner, and her struggles during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, has sold over 30 million copies and has also won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

In 1939, David O. Selznick went on to produce the blockbuster version of "Gone With The Wind", starring: Vivien Leigh; Clark Gable; Olivia de Havilland; Leslie Howard; Alicia Rhett; Thomas Mitchell; Barbara O'Neil; Ellen Keyes; Anne Rutherford; George Reeves; Fred Crane; Hattie McDaniel; Butterfly McQueen; and Oscar Polk. Some of the notable Oscar awards won by/nominated for that film and some of the actors/actresses are:

  • Won — Vivien Leigh — Best Actress in a Leading Role

  • Won — Hattie McDaniel — Best Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Won — Victor Fleming — Best Director

  • Won — Sidney Howard — Best Writing, Screenplay

  • Nominated — Clark Gable — Best Actor in a Leading Role

  • Nominated — Olivia deHavilland — Best Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Nominated — Max Steiner — Best Music, Original Score

  • Nominated — Thomas T. Moulton (Samuel Goldwyn SSD) — Best Sound, Recording


  • and finally...
  • Won — Gone With The Wind — Best Picture


If you have not read this book, you are missing the most wonderful book ever written. Every page is filled with action, adventure, drama and sometimes even romance. Trust me — you are not going to want to put this book down. It is so much better than the movie ever dreamed of being, and if you want to learn how to write so that you can keep your readers spellbound, then this is the guide you should follow.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please check out my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

2 comments:

dellgirl said...

Great memories here, Cynde. I read the book in high school and really enjoyed watching it on television (even if it was in black & white). It was on again last year and I couldn't settle down long enough to watch it again, maybe next time.

Have a great 4th of July weekend!

Cynde L. Hammond said...

Hi, Leona!

Gosh--the only way I could watch "Gone With The Wind" on television is if there were NO commercials, because otherwise it would drive me crazy. How about if you bring some "poppie corn", and you guys can come over and watch it with me and Dion some time? We have it on DVD in color!

You have a safe and wonderful 4th of July weekend, too, ok?

~Cynde