Gone With the Wind Has Returned to HBO Max With Prologue About How Film ‘Denies the Horrors of Slavery’
Gone With the Wind is no longer gone from HBO Max, having been restored to the streaming service’s library with a new prologue about the film’s problematic themes and depictionof the antebellum South.
Jacqueline Stewart, host of TCM’s “Silent Sunday Nights” and a professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago, leads the four-and-a-half minute intro, which starts off with a general cinematic lesson — recounting the eight Academy Awards (including for Best Picture) won in 1939 by the “highly anticipated” adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel, as well as its inflation-adjusted standing as the highest grossing movie of all time.
Then, Stewart acknowledges that the film “was not universally praised,” seeing as it “paints the picture of the antebellum South as a ‘romantic, idyllic setting that’s tragically been lost to the past.'”
Stewart notes how producer David O. Selznick assured the NAACP at the time that he was “sensitive to the feelings of minority peoples,” yet proceeded to deliver a film that depicts a “world of grace and beauty, without acknowledging the brutalities of the system of chattel slavery upon which this world is based.” Stewart says that “the treatment of this world through the lens of nostalgia denies the horrors of slavery as well its legacies of racial inequality.”
Stewart concedes that while watching Gone With the Wind “can be uncomfortable, even painful,” “it is important that classic Hollywood films are available to us in their original form” to “invite viewers to reflect on their own beliefs when watching them now.”
“Gone With the Wind, with its landmark production values, signature scenes and iconic characters has shaped the way generations have pictured slavery and the reconstruction period that followed,” she says in conclusion. “It is not only a major document of Hollywood’s racist practices of the past, but also an enduring work of popular culture that speaks directly to the racial inequalities that persist in media and society today.”
Is Stewart’s prologue fair, juxtaposing Gone With the Wind‘s strengths as a piece of cinema with its weaknesses as a portrayal of the antebellum South?
Good. Some r*c*sts might learn something now.
Exactly. And I commend the way they went about this – tasking the absolute best person possible to deliver this necessary context in a frank and persuasive way. Now all the pearl-clutching bigots can calm down out of their collective tizzy and maybe – as you say – learn something.
Nobody was making a big deal out of this movie until the race nutters came along. Now you’ve made this film MORE popular with your idiocy!
Indeed, when I first heard of its removal, I downloaded a BluRay file of it in a .mkv container, just in case it got pulled off of shelves as well.
Along with “Song of the South” , “Fritz the Cat” and the original DUMBO because they left out one song from the original in the live action remake.
It’s called fiction for a reason. Is it racist? Yes. But no one ever called the movie a historically accurate film. It wasn’t a true story.
Nonetheless it is common for fictional representations to be treated as more accurate than they actually are and sometime even be cited as sources. On a very different scale Blackadder Goes Forth, despite being a comedy series, has often been criticised for reinforcing the “lions led by donkeys” viewpoint of the First World War, and even today most medical dramas portray Defibrillation inaccurately and lead people to belive that it can restart the heart.
Luckily I can fast forward through the unnecessary disclaimer. See how that works? No one has to buy what you’re selling.
No one is buying what you are selling either.
Oh yes they are, that’s why you’re so angry. HBO is a company owned by white men, they’ll say anything to sell their products and line their pockets with whiny snowflake money. They’ll only get more rich and powerful making people, they’re just catering to the flavor of the day think they really care.In a few months they’ll move on to something else so enjoy your 15 seconds while it lasts.
Must be hard being an angry, spiteful troll all day, everyday
Imagine being so committed to racism that this is how you react to someone telling you the actual truth.
I would not automatically say someone is racist simply because they’ll FF through that part. Many of us know full well this is a fictional tale of romanticism. From the time I was 7 & first saw it, I never thought that the slaves depicted in it were true to form. Why? Because it was what I was taught by my parents. I don’t have a problem with them adding this in. My only issue is do we need to do this with every film, tv show ever made? WE need to be responsible for learning & knowing the difference between factual history & fiction. Otherwise we should just get rid of anything fictional & THAT would be kind of sad. Part of watching, and/or reading fictional tales is to take us away from real life.
Interestingly, the only people whining and acting like snowflakes here are the ones that don’t want to watch the disclaimer lmao.
Right? I didn’t realize a simple disclaimer bothered some people so much.
Do YOU like being patronized?
It’s a disclaimer. It’s something that flashes on the screen for a second. It’s not something to throw a big hissy fit over. Good god, settle down.
I can assure you, people like me are happier that a silly disclaimer is being put up rather than the film is being edited or banned.
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You can be annoyed at one thing and relieved about another.
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People are ‘settled down’ just fine.
Which is why the commentary should have been placed in the streaming interface as additional material. One thumbnail for GwtW and more thumbnails right next to it for other videos. That way nobody is having anything shoved down their throats. If they voluntarily decide “I wonder what this video says” click, then they are going to be much more receptive to the message than if it’s some nuisance that is shoved at them like a Geico ad.
I hope it can be skipped or fast-forwarded.
Oh good, another wonderful comment from people not getting the point.
Actually, it’s a very good point and shows why adding the commentary to the movie itself was a bad move. That makes the commentary a nuisance, something to be fast forwarded like an ad. People are used to fast forwarding ads now, and the commentary will psychologically be in that category for many people. Some crap to be avoided as fast as possible. They will reject it out of hand.
But streaming interfaces allow videos to be placed next to the show or movie as additional material. A thumbnail image for the movie, and more thumbnails for various commentary videos. Then it becomes a voluntary choice, and if people do make that choice, then they are likely to be in a receptive mood.
I concur. Fast forwarding is a good idea!
Sure. Why would you want to learn anything or let the truth get in the way of your gross romanticization of chattel slavery?
We can tell fact from fiction, you know?
If you’re learning the history of the Civil War era from Gone with the Wind, you have bigger problems.
I never would have been able to figure out that this 1939 film, made while segregation was still legal, might have some problems depicting America’s racial dynamics, including the legacy of slavery. I’m thankful they’re spelling it out for me so I didn’t have to do any thinking of my own.
Not just spelling. They chewing it up for you lol
Parents don’t wanna be bothered to explain things. It’s hard.
Whose kids are going to sit through a four-hour soap opera from 1939?
TCM has segments all the time intro-ing movies and giving context. What HBO Max is doing, with a TCM person, is no different. You didn’t complain that they explain why movies like Holiday Inn air with blackface scenes included and offer context for them. You don’t complain about the other TCM movies that give context and discussion pre-film. Do some thinking about the nerve this issue touched, Tim. They’re not spelling out why it particularly bothered you so much so, lucky guy, you get to figure it out yourself.
I don’t believe in censorship under any circumstances, but I do think disclaimers like these are necessary. Warner Bros did this before with old Looney Tunes cartoons; the thing is, it’s usually not black people asking for these things to be removed or censored, it’s white people because it makes them uncomfortable. It’s also really easy to wipe away our racist past than it is to just do better in the future because one requires us to admit we’re wrong while the other is simply clearing us of any wrong doing in the first place.
I don’t believe in censorship of any form period. I do believe in good teachers( who might be parents as well) who teach people to think for themselves.
ah yes. the type of person that ok with child porn,rape video,be heading…. you type those words online. seeing if in person with other people you would not say a word coward
This isn’t censorship! It’s literally saying “this isn’t okay, but it’s our history and we shouldn’t censor it”.
Putting a short introduction before Gone With the Wind is not “censorship.”
stupid people will say other wise….
Did I SAY it was censorship? God, SOME people -_-
I believe they were responding to Kat, just saying. The threading does become confusing. @Brennan
Did I SAY it was censorship? God.
Maybe they should take back Hattie McDaniel’s award because she played a black stereotype and not the real thing.
Shame on the people who have the time to destroy history. This movie was a classic. All Lives Matter
shame on people who actually go around thinking all lives matter when it hasn’t been the case for communities of color in this country for centuries. Show me when white people held up their end of the social contract, then we can talk.
You need to learn some real history on the slave trade and the US involvement with it. Here is a good article to learn from. https://theconversation.com/american-slavery-separating-fact-from-myth-79620
Non-white people have been free since 1865 and equal since 1964.
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A white-populous America TWICE elected a black man to the PRESIDENCY.
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GET OVER SLAVERY AND JIM CROW ALREADY.
nice telling BIPOC who are out in the streets protesting for a just society where they are viewed equal to ‘just get over slavery and jim crow already’, as it slavery and jim crow haven’t morphed themselves into other forms of oppression.
What the hell is BIPOC?
I thought you didn’t like being patronized by having things spelled out for you.
Black Indigenous {even though Hominids/Humans are NOT indigenous to the Americas} People Of Colour.
Tell you what, black people can “get over” slavery and Jim Crow when white people decide to “get over” clinging to anything relating to the Confederacy flags and having meltdowns over them being removed because, “MUH SOUTHERN PRIDE!”
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You seriously have some nerve telling black people to get over two very horrific time periods from our nation’s history, time periods the effects of which are still being felt in many ways today. Maybe you should take your own advice and get over yourself and quit telling black people what they’re allowed to be angry about.
Confederate flags and statues aren’t hurting anyone though. And if you are so offended by this, the local populace can peacefully vote to remove public displays instead of letting vandals destroy their property.
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You act as if black Americans were the only oppressed group ever in the history of the world. Grow up!
They are a representation of an awful time in this nation’s history. There is no reason to keep clinging to that time period. My point is that you can’t tell other people to get over the past when you and others keep clinging to it yourself, and keep clinging to the awful parts to boot, the parts that hurt other people and which led to other problems this nation still faces today.
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There is nothing wrong with pulling down statues or flags. Votes are good, too, but as we’ve seen, we can’t always be guaranteed the people in charge will listen to what the people want. They’re not hurting anyone by removing the statues or flags. Once again, property can be fixed/rebuilt. People who die can’t come back.
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You act as if black Americans were the only oppressed group ever in the history of the world. Grow up!
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1) Show me anywhere where I said that in my post.
2) We are talking specifically about an issue that involves black people at the moment, hence why they’re the particular focus of this current discussion. Do try to keep up and pay attention.
“They are a representation of an awful time in this nation’s history. There is no reason to keep clinging to that time period. My point is that you can’t tell other people to get over the past when you and others keep clinging to it yourself, and keep clinging to the awful parts to boot, the parts that hurt other people and which led to other problems this nation still faces today.”
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Are any of these harmless statues or flags in any way infringing upon the hard-won rights of non-white Americans? The flag wavers and statue visitors aren’t harming black people.
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The catalyst for this whole movement didn’t even begin in the South! And many of the statues being torn down were of abolitionists too!
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Give me a better reason to take them down other than your personally find them distasteful.
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“There is nothing wrong with pulling down statues or flags. Votes are good, too, but as we’ve seen, we can’t always be guaranteed the people in charge will listen to what the people want. They’re not hurting anyone by removing the statues or flags. Once again, property can be fixed/rebuilt. People who die can’t come back.”
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There is everything wrong with vandalism. You are promoting mob rule by decrying the democratic process—especially when it comes to removing harmless artifacts like flags and statues.
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And why is it an either/or? Be against police brutality and racism while also being against anarchic property damage?
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“1) Show me anywhere where I said that in my post.
2) We are talking specifically about an issue that involves black people at the moment, hence why they’re the particular focus of this current discussion. Do try to keep up and pay attention.”
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I know slavery and Jim Crow were awful but it is over. African-Americans are not the only oppressed group in world history so they need to move on like every other formerly oppressed group out there.
Did you actually say “shame on people who actually go around thinking all lives matter”? You may want to re-think your position. Or do you really believe that not all lives matter, or perhaps some lives matter more than others?
Black Lives Matter
White Lives Matter
Yellow Lives Matter
Police Lives Matter
All Lives Matter
Out of all the groups you mention, which one has the greatest chance of being killed during a random encounter with a cop?
Probably the black or Latino one since too many are criminals and then they too many of them will not peacefully surrender to the police.
More whites than blacks have been killed by police. And stay away from all the statues, it’s our history.
Define “random encounter.”
Guarantee, no matter your definition, the answer to the question is not what you think it is.
I believe in our white supremacist society that yes, some lives are valued more than others. That is the problem with saying All Lives Matter because if we truly believed that, there would be equality. If you think there is equality, read a book sometime.
According to any U.S. History text book, non-whites have been equal since July 2, 1964.
I must stop reading the woke comments on here. I wish I had someone to blame for my struggles.
How is the movie being destroyed? The disclaimer is at the beginning. And young people today tend to take movies and sound/video bites on Instagram as fact rather than doing any research. Lord knows their parents aren’t telling them anything (worthwhile).
The movie, which is hardly “history,” hasn’t been changed at all. I really can’t believe how many people find a five minute introduction to a four hour movie so hard to deal with.
We’re dealing just fine. There is nothing wrong with taking a minute to vent on how patronizing this all is. We acknowledge that the film has not been edited nor can you not fastforward through the disclaimer.
In 8th grade my middle school decided to mix things up and turned one of the class blocks into an elective hour. There were lots of classes available, from rocket club to gaming. I picked rocket club the first semester, and a film class the second. The added prologue to this film was exactly how the teacher at the time introduced Gone with the Wind during our film class. She talked about all the awards, the technical feats – but she also talked about the depiction of slavery and the south and the problems with the film. The discussion before the movie did not detract from my enjoyment of the parts of the movie I liked (such drama! those dresses with all the frippery!). We discussed the movie afterward with the whole class and it was framed within the context of history, rather than the beautiful fiction we’d just watched. I feel this is the best way to watch these things, and I prefer that to them being lost or put in a vault. For one, it was the first time I’d ever seen the “southern view” of slavery, which I think the film depicts well. There are still people who talk about how kind owners were to their slaves, and how good the slaves had it. That’s not an outdated or forgotten philosophy. A startling number of people actually still think this way. This film is a good illustration of that kind of thinking, and the discussion around it helps contextualize it and helped us as students understand why some people in the south still think the way they do. The class was very mixed in terms of race, roughly 50/50 – and there was lively discussion about how the film made people feel after we watched it. Being able to hear from people of color about the way movies like this made them feel helped me to see things with a more critical eye for inherent biases. It also made me conscious of how the world tends to look back on things with a filter on – making all the harshness and ugliness into sweeping landscapes and beautiful scores. It’s a shame that cruel and unsympathetic portrayal of slavery was kept in such a gorgeous film. It mars what could otherwise be considered a masterpiece of cinema by many. But it’s important to see it and remember what willful blindness leads to. When Americans, who can talk until the end of time how important their rights and freedoms are, can also convincingly (as in, they genuinely seem to believe it) tell you how good slaves had it, then you can recognize the power of these kinds of systemic depictions of “gentle slavery” in cinema. I’m glad this conversation has been added to the film.
That was film class not HBO Max. Anyone watching that so-called classic movie thinking it was a Documentary and Slavery was good won’t be moved by a 4.5 minute disclaimer. Maybe the disclaimer should just say, “If you watch this movie and think Slavery was Good and the Confederacy who fought for Slavery, Segregation, and Racism are the good guys and there Cause was Noble, then you are an idiot. Enjoy the film.”
Maybe disclaimers like these wouldn’t be necessary if the South would stop teaching kids in school about “The War of Northern Aggression”. Also, ANY time there’s a movie that depicts real life events it’s always picked apart as if it WERE a documentary, this is nothing new. This film is literally how the South saw themselves back then and sees themself now.
Sees themselves now? How many Southerners-white or not-are using the film or its source material, as am educational tool?
Parents should be teaching as well. In everyday life, it’s the parents who can show-today-why lives of different races are on different levels. AND why they really should NOT be. Right in front of their faces-the parents can show kids this. I said before I don’t have a problem with what was added to the film. But just like when people wanted to blame video games for everything-when will people take on their own responsibility-to know the differences between a fictional story & real factual life?
The Civil War should be called The War of Southern Aggression. Would be more accurate since it is the truth.
I love it when racists show up in the comments.
What racist comments?
Yours, if you are looking for an example
He knows this. Look at the totality of his comments on these topics. The last gasps of a dying racist breed.
Never a positive comment about black people or the push for equality. Racist trolling every time.
Not for nothing he responded when not called out specifically.
But black people are already free and equal. No need to push anything.
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And I was curious about what racist comments have been posted on this thread.
Huh? I have not made any racist comments here.
I think you need to reexamine your comments across TVline on all of these topics.
Your comments drip with contempt, every time. You refuse to listen to what people, black and white are saying around issues of race.
Oh and then there’s this:
“American says:
June 24, 2020 at 5:14 PM
Probably the black or Latino one since too many are criminals and then they too many of them will not peacefully surrender to the police.”
You are part of the problem. You show up every time to rail against every attempt to move forward. You have nothing positive to say (show one thread where you’ve said something positive about these subjects). You’ve gone so far as to suggest black people want “special” privileges or that decisions to remove blackface or include a disclaimer are punishing white people (“innocent” white people) and condescending.
You have made several racist comments and it’s not gone unnoticed.
Contempt for cancel culture and white guilt-tripping? Then YES. I don’t get how that is racism though.
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I listen to both sides on their comments on race. What makes you say otherwise?
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What is wrong with that comment? Too many criminals are, unfortunately, black and Latino. And police STOP criminals so…
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Censorship, hiring double standards, and, to a far lesser extent, patronizingly silly disclaimers before old movies, is NOT moving society forward.
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…So why WOULD I say anything positive about ANY of these AWFUL recent developments???
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Racism is not me disagreeing with you.
“Racism is not me disagreeing with you.” Correct.
It is often displayed in your attitude. And defenses.
Usually book adaptations rise or fall on their faithfulness (or lack of) to the novel itself. There have been several “show what slavery was really like” movies in recent years. I don’t need an explanation of GWTW’s lack of realism or the facts of slavery’s barbarity. The novel was written in 1936, only 70 years after the Civil War’s end. Maybe Margaret Mitchell should have done a tell-all about slavery as it really was, but it would not have sold (or even been published) if she had.
Great! Does this mean “Roots” will get a disclaimer also as it has been accepted as historical fact when it was actually a work of fiction?
Alex Haley was forced to settle the case when he was sued by the author of the book “The African” for plagiarism when the judge advised him to do so or he would be forced to charge him with perjury. The African was a work of fiction written by a white author. Haley himself referred to “Roots” as faction — part fact and part fiction. Interesting story.
But but but black people are all victims and never lie, cheat or steal.They are the only ones that matter because no other ethnic group has EVER been discriminated against or endured hardship. I’m being sarcastic of course, if any BLM snowflake bothered to do research beyond the info they get on social media they would know every race, even white, have at some point been slaves to others throughout history and many have endured far worse. But of course the only ones that matter are blacks, no one else.
Troll. You’re behind the times. Societies changing and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Truthfully, I never liked the movie in the first place. I saw it once years ago, and thought it was a bunch of crap, and never understood why it was so highly praised. I still don’t. And I still have no intention of watching it again.
I am ashamed to say I never say this film depicting the shorts of slavery I saw it as love story between two screwed up adults I believe all the black actors were wonderful
I Truely don’ t believe they saw in any form except to be the best they could be. I hate the racialism we see. I Truely hope we can get to be the America were are meant to be. All should be free of hate for any race.x
Frankly, my Dear. I don’t give a damn.
The irony of people complaining about slavery while still living a life full of debt working to pay them off like a slave.
And don’t forget the North was no better. They had slave labor and cheap immigrant labor, who were treated not much better then slaves. And while HBO and everyone wants to teach us the history of slavery, let’s not forget that there were white slaves and Indian slaves as well in early America. Not just black slaves. And that feuding African tribes that lost battles and wars in Africa got sold to Europeans by those African tribes that conquered them.
No. The North was unquestionably better. The South literally seceded from the country because of slavery; they cited slavery more than 75 times in its secession documents. Moreover, there were not “white slaves.” There is a world of difference between indentured servants and slaves. You’re also ignoring that blacks were specifically enumerated in the Constitution as being worth less than a person, and that police departments were first created for the express purpose of enforcing laws written to control blacks–where they could live, where they could enter; you know, the Jim Crowe laws.
Your post is just boilerplate white supremacist rhetoric. It’s old. Read a book and develop some empathy.
You can fast forward past it.
How wonderful! Because without this prologue, we’d all think that slavery was such a wonderful & positive part of our countries history. Yes, that’s sarcasm.
Correction – country’s history
This is beyond stupid! The movie was based on a work of fiction, against a historical backdrop. The ups and downs of the romance between Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara was the heart of the story, not the horrors of slavery! Get a grip!
Sure. All fair. It’s a debate that’s gone on since the book was written. Though I think it’s only problematic if one were to believe it was wholly representative of the time in which it was set. Those who think it is, whoever they might be, aren’t likely to watch this intro anyways. The movie is purely romantic in all it’s depictions. Why would the issue of slavery be any different. I suppose the absence of a more stark display of slavery’s horrors makes it uncomfortable viewing to some. But despite it’s epic size, it’s rather insular. Little outside Scarlet’s view gets much consideration. If she didn’t see the worst of slavery, then, given the self-centeredness of the character, it wouldn’t have crossed her mind. Only once in the movie, when the camera pulls back in that massive shot of all the confederate wounded, does her own perspective widen. After that, she returns to her own personal struggle and has little use for other perspectives..hence Rhett’s classic line at the end. She’s never been a particularly sympathetic character. Alluring, yes, but not exactly a heroine. At the end of the day, Gone With the Wind isn’t Gone With the Wind if it isn’t romanticized. The people for whom it may have represented some antebellum dream, are long dead. (Atleast in so much as those who might still see it that way are just good old fashioned, south-will-rise-again racists.) But it’s most continuous aspect is simply it’s profile. Which is why HBO made a decision based more in public perception than any actual concern. I love film history, so the discussion is nice, but if it’s a real concern, why stop there? Tell us the opinions we need to form on a hundred other movies. I have no issues with the argument. My problem is with the self serving motivation behind it. A network like TCM gives history and consideration before every movie they air, because it matters to them. HBO is just trying to appear “woke”.
[COMMENT REMOVED BY SYSTEM DUE TO USER OF MULTIPLE USER NAMES]
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Tropic Thunder yet where Robert Downey Jr plays a black man. Or all the old movies where the actors put on black face.
Downey was playing the parody of a method actor and not mocking black people in the movie.
Yeah, but none of these situations are mocking black people, either (30 Rock, Scrubs, etc.). In fact, in many instances, they’re doing the opposite by pointing out how ridiculous and offensive blackface can be. That doesn’t seem to matter, though.
You are correct. Those removals are wrong too.
This the best way to do it. People still can watch movie in the original form, no censorship and also learn about actual history. That if they couldn’t fast forward it, which all the racist will do anyway, so it will be for nothing. But at least they tried to educate people, if they’re too stupid to listen there’s nothing more to do.
Thanks HBO MAX for returning
GONE WITH WIND for viewing
I always considered the film a history lesson ,besides the wonderful acting,actors,the clothes and living conditions
Thank God sanity prevailed. If we do not see the history, we are bound to repeat it. Trite but true.
So tired of all this race bs. I fortunately own two DVDs of GWTW which predate this Orwellian intro addition.
I think everyone’s tired of this race bs. So do something to change it. What you’re saying is you’re being made uncomfortable by being forced to confront the racist reality we ALL exist in. If you think this is oppressive, try and imagine how tiring it is to be a nonwhite person. I mean you’re choosing to complain about an intro. The history of this country has been stacking the deck against nonwhite people. A lot of them are tired of it. Enjoy your DVDs!
You don’t know this person!
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For all you know, she hires diverse employees, patronizes non-white businesses, and promotes interracial romances!
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She just should not be made to apologize for being white-assuming she even IS white!
God bless you. You reveal yourself every time.