Casting Scarlett O'Hara & Vivien Leigh's Oscar

[@bkrewind]

So it turns out that IMDB has a picture of George Cukor listed as David O. Selznick on D.O.S's page and I FELL FOR IT...Which is the worst because Cukor is literally one of my favorite directors and that's just the dumbest mistake. Anyway - wanted full transparency on that! I hope you all still enjoy the video!

[@myittaraye4584]

Be Kind Rewind I was wondering about that too.. I read on Cukor’s imdb page that he looked a lot like Selznick before he lost weight.. so it’s not anyone’s fault. We love your work. Bless ya.

[@kevlow9494]

Beautiful work as always!

[@Ktwood1]

Be Kind Rewind do you do this just for fun ?

[@2345678902345671]

IT'S RUINED FOR ME NOW! jk love this channel.

[@judycustodio4512]

@@Ktwood1 I heard that it's her passion and she would love to be a part of the film industry.

[@0theredqueen0]

Vivian Leigh is in my opinion one of the most beautiful women of all time. And I know Scarlet was not described in the book as extraordinarily beautiful, but on film - she needed to beautiful and she needed to know it. It's Vivian's cat-like feline charm that's alluring combined with a real beauty that is irresistible. And Scarlet has to be irresistible.

[@kimberlypatton9634]

And she WAS Scarlet..in every mannerism,every facial expression,every flash of stubbornness and attitude! What a 1000% correct casting of a perfect person in a role..there is no equal to her beauty or talent- period!

[@eagleeye2300]

She was... PERFECTLY cast!

[@onemillionpercent]

she stands out among older stars. even among those who look similar, like hedy lamarr (talented, beautiful, and intelligent in her own right). it's something to do with her personality and talent. a lot of charisma in her that isn't easily found elsewhere.

[@annemccarron2281]

I think Hedy Lamar would have done a great job too.

[@TheRapnep]

​@@annemccarron2281Hedy was Autrian-Hungarian and her accent would have been too noticeable. Smart lady, though!

[@TimeIdle]

Vivien Leigh was a movie Goddess. Even with her limited filmography, she still gave us two of the most iconic roles in film history... This and Blanche DuBois.

[@daniellemhall1358]

I keep forgetting she did that movie.

[@paxdomini6061]

If you have a chance, check out Waterloo Bridge”, 1940, and “That Hamilton Woman”, 1941. She is perfection👍

[@TheRapnep]

@@paxdomini6061 Yes, she was brilliant in those movies! Also, there is "St. Martin's Way", which is an earlier picture she did with Charles Laughton, before Gone With The Wind. Excellent as well!

[@TheRapnep]

@Ed Miller Thank you for the correction. I knew what it was, but didn't realize I said "Way." Love her in that movie! Stay safe, stay clean. PEACE+

[@TheSongwritingCat]

I do enjoy Wuthering Heights with Merle Oberon but Vivien would have been a brilliant Cathy as well.

[@lhpkazuha]

I keep forgetting that Vivien Leigh was British. That’s how iconically American her Scarlet O’Hara is

[@VanaeCavae]

Vivien had east indian blood as well.

[@christopherbrown2706]

Anglo-Indian

[@andrewbrendan1579]

...and her Blanche DuBuois too! VIvien was outstanding as both Southern ladies. In an interview Vivien Leigh said that Scarlett was an "overcomer", as I recall, while Blanche "succumbed"

[@andrewbrendan1579]

@@christopherbrown2706 I've read about that also, that the Indian part of VIvien's lineage was from her mother. I saw a picture of VIvien Leigh from when she had long hair and she had that beautiful, rippling, wavy dark hair that I see on people from India and that part of the world. If people had known about Vivien Leigh's ancestry I wonder if she would have been considered "colored" and not given the role of Scarlett.---Merle Oberon's Indian heritage was concealed, her own mother had to dress like a maid as part of the secrecy.

[@christopherbrown2706]

@@andrewbrendan1579 I was referring to Anglo Indians like Kipling- British settlers in India and their descendants. That said, you made an EXCELLENT point about Merle Oberon and Vivien's possible rejection (or typecasting à la Myrna Loy, IMO) had her complete heritage been known. Also, I wonder how Olivier would've reacted; would he have matured her anyway or distanced himself from her for his career and reputation?

[@mentak2593]

In the age before plastic surgery, Vivien Leigh's facial symmetry and bone structure were quite remarkable!

[@kimbrannon914]

Alys Tarot Moonscape She really was beautiful. I’ve always thought her beauty was very unique. This lady new how to “act” using just her eyes 🙂

[@Rita1984]

Alys Tarot Moonscape it’s funny you mention that. Plenty of people before the modern era had excellent bone structure. Looking at the bones of hunter gatherers, they seemed to have far superior jaw growth and facial bone density. They also had perfect neck and tongue posture, as do modern hunter gatherers. It is with the introduction of processed foods and unnatural lifestyles where we see asymmetry in faces. Vivian Leigh has excellent neck posture and was most likely breastfed (as opposed to being bottle fed). She also probably had a pretty tough to chew diet.

[@kalebchavez3279]

Absolutely flawless!

[@LivLaugh]

Well, plastic surgery has existed in the way we understand it since the 20's. And it's been used in showbusiness even earlier than that. It just wasn't as widespread.

[@kiwi007]

Yeah and notice no balloon lips which make women look like clowns🤡

[@strawberryshortcake8382]

I asked my younger sister years ago who she thought was the most beautiful woman ever ( we were teenagers). She made a quick response and said Vivian Leigh. I thought about it and said yea, I can’t argue that. RIP Beautiful lady ❤️

[@annemccarron2281]

She was definitely one of the most beautiful. If not the most. I liked Hedy Lamar too and on top of that Hedy Lamar was very intelligent. She patented many inventions she discovered.

[@renatateofilo9887]

As I always say, Be Kind Rewind is the best channel about the Oscar on KZbin. Period.

[@solo13th]

renata teofilo what are some other Oscar related channels?

[@TheSwaggiiBabii]

Are there more?

[@mfstarr1]

Tell us the other ones!!

[@renatateofilo9887]

For you asking me about other channels, I think that in the USA, Be kind Rewind stands alone. But in Brasil we got to great channels that study and analize the history of Oscar. If you speak Portuguese or like to watch with subtitles follow these channels: MEU TIO OSCAR: Analize different years on Oscar history: kzbin.info/door/Q7ZWQ1ByvCEFUbJFyARrJg DALENOGARE CRITICAS: has a good playlist on Oscar history, the host is a cinema professor with books and acess inside the Academy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGavk5RuobKXepY

[@angelcastaneda529]

I like watching Certain Starting Place Movies who is currently reviewing all the Best Picture Winners. He’s not as analytical as Be Kind Rewind, but he is entertaining.

[@phillipgregoryburkeactor1]

The British Leading Lady who is best known for playing Southern American Belles. The only best actress winner who rightfully deserved her 2-2 record!!!

[@bernardocampos7919]

Her streetcar performance is SO UNDERRATED

[@kostajovanovic3711]

@@bernardocampos7919 it is?

[@kristopher1799]

Rightfully, indeed!!

[@Solitaire_Guy]

Hilary Swank has a perfect record too. 2/2.

[@bernardocampos7919]

@@kostajovanovic3711 yup, its not talked about enough

[@wickermanout]

i love how every single detractor is like "this british actress can't play a southern american woman!"... bruh that is literally what acting is about.

[@nataliefreeman5237]

wickermanout just stop.

[@lmolarissa]

Stop what? Wickermanout is right. Truly good actors can do that.

[@susanalopez5052]

Funny how they felt that way about a British actress playing an American woman, but didn’t mind white actors playing characters of color lol

[@coolaunt516]

@@susanalopez5052 I also notice that a lot of British actors play Americans on tv/movies and you can' tell they are British, the accents are that good. Americans(with rare exception) can't do a British accents.

[@geniehossain3738]

Seriously, especially considering British actors like Christian Bale, Emily Blunt, etc. who frequently blend like chameleons into American roles so perfectly that they seem more American than actual Americans.

[@tj28308]

Vivien is a formidable powerhouse. Despite battling mental illness and painful separation from the great love of her life, she remained a great actor until the end. Your memory is well preserved within our minds, beautiful Vivien. 💐❤️

[@TonyFontaine1988]

Actress*

[@micheleM-wn8qf]

well said

[@newtonduck1]

She was born for the role that was written for her. The universe or whatever made it happen did a great thing. She's amazing in this movie.

[@Joe-bd4xc]

Vivien LEIGH was born to play this part !!! And as GOD is my witness, she was in just one word - PERFECTION !!!!

[@liljimlambert7]

Leigh was an amazing actress and was the perfect Scarlett.

[@charlybrown5264]

Yes she WAS Scarlett O'Hara

[@MADEbySOUL]

Randon Lambert i heard that Leigh had an O’Hara mentality in real life when it comes to men so I don’t know if it was hard for Leigh to play such a colorful character.

[@screenactorsguilable]

@@MADEbySOUL 0:16 funny 4 Meryl

[@thrillingopera8125]

Vivien Leigh is amazing in Gone with the Wind. But she gives one of the greatest performances ever recorded in 1951's A Streecar Named Desire.

[@tonyphilpott9500]

Agreed.

[@blackpink.am_4792]

Excuse me but if ANYONE tries to remake the movie "Gone with the wind" you'll never make something better then the original movie. No one is replacing Vivien and Clark as Scarlett and Rhett! Do you agree?

[@katepatricetanbooc8544]

100%

[@andreasingleton9111]

There’s no way it could be done. There would have to be rewritten for political correctness. The remake would be a shell of the book and the original.

[@nckoes]

@@andreasingleton9111 the original movie is a shell of the book. I'd like to see an adaptation of the full story. Book is pretty tragic. She's so ruthless that she abandons her kids in the book.

[@joycepino5346]

Yes.

[@bluewrenreilly129]

Most decidedly!

[@Cwn41]

I was obsessed with this movie as a kid. Paulette would have prob done well, but Vivian was perfection.

[@Sassyglbeauty]

She gave one of the better southern accents. More natural than most any other actor I’ve ever seen. Most are truly cringe worthy.

[@anthonyhebisen]

It’s because the southern spoken during the civil war period didn’t really sound like the southern our ears are used to. It still retained a lot of the enunciation from England . So Vivien accent has a beautiful tone . Later when she did the accent for Streetcar named desire, since it was modern Louisiana, her accent sounded more robust and pronounced.

[@jmo5037]

@@anthonyhebisen not true. Then why do black people sound just like Hattie McDaniel? Vivien did a great job at the accent espeically compared to the cast though it was inconsistent.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

@@anthonyhebisen Well put my dear, but it's "enunciation". "Annunciation" is a very different thing.

[@anthonyhebisen]

Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey give me a break , i had a few whiskies

[@anthonyhebisen]

Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey and I’m catholic lol

[@ShaniSpirit]

If you read the book and watch the movie, you'd understand the power of Vivien as an actress. She completely embodied the spirit of O'hara conjuring amazingly the ERA of civil war.

[@cattycorner8]

The Transcendentalist Tarot well said, my man.

[@jlnioannou]

I love Vivien Leigh and I am a huge fan of Gone with the Wind and I always say this: I can't even imagine anyone else playing Scarlett than Vivien. She IS Scarlett!

[@michaellee888]

Fiddle-de-dee said Scarlett. Vivien Leigh nailed every line; she memorized lines like butta. Like really, Vivien Leigh memorized lines as if she had photographic memory! It was that good. Vivien Leigh, a true genius.

[@crispyorsmthnidk5314]

Vivien is so underrated as an actress. She was very ahead of her time in her performances.

[@ingriddubbel8468]

She won two Oscars how is that under rated?

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

@@ingriddubbel8468I think underrated meaning unlike a lot of legendary actresses from the golden age of hollywood (Marilyn Monroe, bette Davis, audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, etc) Vivien isn't highly immortalized and glamorized in.contemporary media and pop culture the same the aforementioned actresses are. I think it's bc those aforementioned actresses particularly Marilyn and audrey, are immortalized for both their talents, as well as iconic status of their films, their fashion styles, personal lives, popularity of their time and having personal political beliefs (feminism, racial equality, sexual liberation, etc) that are relevant today. Viven always said in her lifetime she preferred to be known as a multifaceted talented actress as suppose to be both that and a worldwide movie star/celebrity. That why she might considers underrated based on how her talent isn't immortalized in today culture

[@terrihilder8217]

@@Kevin-rg3yc I sort of agree with what you said about Vivien Leigh. But let me add that Vivien Leigh will always be iconic, because of her stunning and Academy Award winning portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara. Look at all of us on a public message board talking about the iconic 'Scarlett.' GWTW is to this day in 2020, still considered in the top ten movies EVER in cinema. Wow, it hardly gets better than that. There are mixed opinions about Marilyn Monroe and her acting ability. Many people feel sorry for her that she was adopted and didn't have a great childhood, and unfortunately didn't end up real well and died young. Too bad for both Vivien and Marilyn when they passed in the sixties it was right before lithium became available.

[@eamonndeane587]

@@terrihilder8217 Don't forget Vivian's Classic performance as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

[@littlelizzyann]

@@jemandjemand2362 She wasn't underrated at the time, but I think she's definitely forgotten now.

[@sallybrown4947]

Vivien Leigh was flawless. As the other cast! Gone with the wind is flawless!!

[@LambentOrt]

Vivien Leigh was astounding in GWTW.

[@galenstone9097]

Genius and Madness are but a whisper apart. Vivien was truly one of a kind. There won't come another..

[@amys6987]

There is something about how Vivien leigh tapped into Scarlett’s raw grit that lets anyone watching know that she was born to play that role.

[@AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

She knew that was HER role since she read the book.

[@shihlin1]

She should get an Oscar for surviving a hellish shoot full of drama in itself----long 12-18 hour shoot days, personnel firings and rehirings and back to firings, an uneasy working relship with Gable (who secretly wanted to cut down her scenes but proved unsuccessful), and last minute changes in everything from costume refittings to dialogue rewrites. Somehow in the end all was worth it.

[@richardgibson50]

You are right. Vivien Leigh does not get the credit she so richly deserves. Thank heavens for David being patient and operating an independent studio. One you see Ms. Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, it is impossible to imagine anyone else. I would love to get a decent high res color picture of her with that one eyebrow arched when she comes into the party. Magnificent!

[@katherinemiller2401]

My god Vivien Leigh was beautiful

[@NerdNest0]

She is the most beautiful woman ever lived on earth!

[@IrenaV1984]

You're damn right she was!

[@MerjemBejtić]

vivien IS scarlett. one of my favourite actresses ever!

[@merthur88]

very very well done. I thought she was pristine in this role and she became my favorite actress. Thank you for commending Vivien and giving her the praise she deserves!!

[@baroquebougie3527]

Its jarring asf to see Rhett Butler in a leather jacket on set lol

[@danieliliadis]

Baroque & Bougie I thought that too haha

[@JoseChavez-rf4ul]

Lol... yeah, maybe not quite as jarring as witnessing the Jonas brothers flicking lit cigarette butts at the back of a baby’s head... but somewhere in that general vicinity.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

@@JoseChavez-rf4ul No Jonas brother could hold a candle - let alone a cigarette - to Clark Gable.

[@mattmclaren3067]

Jarring? True. Dishy as all Hell? Well if that's not your preference more power to you. But for me oof!

[@baroquebougie3527]

@@mattmclaren3067 Lol the terms aren't mutually exclusive

[@hairyscotman]

THE MOST GORGEOUS CREATURE.....Vivian in her close-up at the lumber mill with Ashley....white hat....takes my breath away each and every time....

[@jlopink]

I need to watch this movie again! Vivien Leigh was such a beauty!

[@NerdNest0]

Yes indeed the greatest beauty ever lived!

[@francisco.mrsm.22]

This movie's a guilty pleasure for me. The preformances all around are great, especially Vivien Leigh, the set and costume deaign's beautiful, and Scarlett really is a glorious milestone in how female characters were written. Unfortunately, it's REALLY hard for me to watch the movie without noticing how romanticized the Civil War is. And then there's the sexual assault element, which... yeah.

[@francisco.mrsm.22]

@S Oh yeah definitely. And not to forget Butterfly McQueen's chataracter being an annoying/sexist/racist charicature that's basically just there to drive Scarlett up a wall and show off how low her life is. That's probably the worst parts of the movie put together. Everything is contorted in favor of Scarlett's character, so the racist and sexist tropes in the movie are all used to lift Scarlett up, while sinking everyone else (except Rhett Butler).

[@namefirstnamelast6404]

@S The Civil War was romanticized by the people who lived through it, after it, and many even today. But you, looking at it and judging it with your modern point of view shows how foolish you really are. If you are unable to look at things from the perspective of a person in another time and another life situation, you have a very small point of view, and that makes your life and your world very small. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a black woman in the 1930's, who wants to work in Hollywood. Or in the shoes of a woman in the 1860's who is a widow at the age of 18, has a child, younger sisters, and a senile father to care for, who are all now destitute. Those same people just a few years earlier had wealth and privilege, and she has lost her mother. I'm not saying you should sympathize with anyone. I'm saying that you should try to understand their point of view, and don't judge them too harshly based on what 20/20 hindsight your birth year has afforded you.

[@namefirstnamelast6404]

@S seeing the faults of time that is not your own is easy, and pretty much anyone can do it. It is not highly reflexive at all. What you've done, is regurgitate what you were taught. Try instead to understand the people of that time and the world they lived in. UNDERSTANDING takes a different skill set entirely. It requires study and acceptance that even in the present time, ourselves will one day be seen as primitive and backwards. An educated person can still be ignorant.

[@lisaa8795]

The casting cannot be rated highly enough in my book. David O had assembled a deep, deep bench for this film.

[@JRobbySh]

The Yankees really were that bad. :)

[@Starkardur]

They considered every actress in Hollywood at that point basically and tested actresses from basically all the studios to end up with a British stage actress who was virtually unknown in the US.

[@andresland182]

I can't imagine people complaining about Vivien being cast as Scarlett, seems ridiculous the thought of people sending letters to criticize that choice...but when you compared that to the twitter's-rage-over-anything nowadays and when you explained the details I totally understand why and it makes Vivien more fascinating than she already is. An amazing video, great quality, research, data...I was so happy when I saw it as a recommendation of youtube. It is worth the agonizing wait.

[@johnchipol7716]

@Dana Davison I could not put it better

[@DandaraEspindola]

OMG! Really happy that you made this video, Vivien is my all time favorite actress! (also look forward to seeing your video about her win for A Streetcar Named Desire)

[@romanclay1913]

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE has the two greatest performances on film: Leigh and Brando.

[@atulrawat4559]

Leigh overshadows brando...❤

[@ThePharaoho]

Vivien Leigh was perfect! She had that feline cat quality like Scarlet O'Hara.

[@itsmeGeorgina]

The blind worshipping from Melanie, utterly deserved.. Scarlet the colourful creature buried her claws into Melanie's shy and childish brother, and filled Aunt Pitty's house with much needed wholesome energy vibes - and later Scarlet carried them all through horrible times with her strength - the most awesome heroine 😊😚

[@2615ParkAvenueAssociates]

Dear Isabel, Thank you for this posting on "Gone With The Wind," and the sublimely talented Vivien Leigh. I found your BeKindRewind posts accidentally last year and have followed you ever since. Your passion for classic film actresses and movies is palpable and so well enunciated in your posts. Thank you for bringing attention to this film, which regardless of its flaws concerning the War Between the States and slavery, is an important film because of its depiction of a complex character, Scarlett O'Hara--from her life as a young girl who loses almost everything and must find a way forward to a woman that at last fully realizes her mistakes. Vivien Leigh captures all of her strengths, weaknesses and nuances in a delightful portrayal and deserves more attention in her film career than she has received. There is so much to say, and I hope in the future you will come back to her career. Merci beaucoup.

[@angelcastaneda529]

I didn’t know her name was Isabel.

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

My favorite performance of all time. Perfection from "Fiddle Dee Dee" to "After all, tomorrow is another day." Wonderful video!

[@csnr1227]

I could read this all day: Producer David O. Selznick refused to offer her the part because he felt she had no sex appeal. He reportedly told Hepburn, "I can't see Rhett Butler chasing you for twelve years." Thank you David!

[@saloma1979]

😂

[@omegaman1409]

I got a 8 x 10 photograph of Vivien in Gone with the Wind. This woman in her prime was a beauty to behold. I can literally stair at her for hours. I know. Creepy.

[@MediaLover194]

Fiddle-dee-dee!!! How about a video on Ingrid Bergman's second Oscar for Anastasia, and her being a Hollywood outcast at the time?

[@demh7823]

She's profiling each Best Actress contest one by one. Let the woman get to it in her own time.

[@michaelreilly3513]

@@demh7823 Be quiet.

[@demh7823]

@@michaelreilly3513 Make me.

[@michaelreilly3513]

@@demh7823 lol, no mate, but take a hint as others have said it to you as well, or not, i don't care really.

[@demh7823]

@@michaelreilly3513 If you don't care, why are you here?

[@GGiblet]

Hattie McDaniel earned $450 a week on GWTW (in 2019 the equivalent is $8,076 a week)

[@shakazulu3594]

Sounds like Hattie McDaniel was privileged!

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

@@shakazulu3594 she did well . Dorothy Dandridge mother,who was an actress herself, famously said to her daughters, ‘it’s whole world difference playing a maid than actually being one!’

[@shakazulu3594]

@@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736 Isn't that the truth!

[@flaviofrancoribeiro]

like it before watched it. vivien always be my #1 actress of all time ❤

[@Clover11759]

aahhh i love this video. Vivien is my favorite classic actress and I'm always so gutted at what a tragic story she had when she was so special. Thanks so much for this perfect work of a video!

[@katherinehackett8271]

Gone with the Wind has been my favorite movie since I was 5 years old. Thank you for acknowledging not only the spectacular acting, but also what a complex character Scarlett was/is. I've seen the movie more times than I can count, but it still takes my breath away. Also, thank you for acknowledging the fact the film was so Confederate forward. It's never something I don't think about when I watch the film, but it's an important discussion. I would love if you did a video about that in the future. P.S. you've got a new subscriber!

[@rosiescott1531]

Wow! Occasionally I have to stay in a rubbish hotel away from home for work and last time I was here you posted one of your excellent videos, and now I'm back and you've posted another one! It's like you aim to make my life less boring and crap - thank you so much! Your videos are beautiful, smart and well-researched, and your passion shines through. You deserve to have way more subs!

[@dougcapehart]

I was at a 75th anniversary showing at a movie theatre, and when Scarlett walked in with that red, sorry-not-sorry I kissed your husband dress, you could hear the whole audience gasp. I figure she's the greatest mix of beauty and talent Hollywood has ever given us.

[@danieliliadis]

Doug Capehart that scene and the close up on her face is one of the most charged, powerful, beautiful moments ever filmed in my opinion

[@lisaa8795]

Thanks for this comment: it illustrates the impact of this film perfectly, even as 1939 seems so far away...

[@bettydamnboop3030]

Still can’t watch this movie without crying and I always wanted Hattie to be my mom because she loved so deeply ❤

[@MarioUcomics]

13:48 it's so interesting to see that even before social media was ever even a thought, Angry fan out rage tweets were still a thing. Shows that people no matter what era are still people

[@1Quasie]

Luv this page! Don't worry about the Cukor/Selznick pic mix-up. At RKO they were frequently mistaken for one another, despite the fact that Selnick was somewhat taller. Cukor loved to tell the story about when he was chatting with Selznick's mother Flossie and mentioned this to her. She looked very unhappy and said, "Oh, I don't think so." Cukor patted her hand and assured her, "My mother doesn't like it either!"

[@kimberlypatton9634]

She is a solid LEGEND to me....That era produced some of the finest,most talented women I have ever enjoyed on the B&W screen! Eleanor Parker,Ingrid Bergman,Susan Hayward,Bette Davis,Frances Farmer!!!! My heart adores them ALL!!!

[@cyberjohnboy]

An excellent piece. I rewatched GWTW a few weeks ago - despite its sentimentalising of the slave-owning South and some horrible caricatures of African-Americans, it's still a stunning piece of cinema, and Vivien Leigh is perfectly cast. Thanks for shining a light on an actress who was much more skilled than she's often been given credit for. I'd have liked to have seen you focus a bit more on the performance itself - particularly how Leigh holds our empathy while Scarlett is doing terrible things - but this is a very creditable summary of the Hollywood machine.

[@lisaa8795]

Face it: Vivien Leigh holds us in thrall through sheer charisma even when we should dislike Scarlett intensely! That's certainly not meant to diminish her skill at acting. Some people were able to grab our attention and hold it and she was one of them.

[@morgansparhawk8410]

Vivian Leigh was born to play Scarlett period.

[@FeaturingRob]

I have to just say this. You make absolutely superb videos! Even with my own almost encyclopedic knowledge of film, I still learn amazing nuggets in your videos. And all of them are GOLD! Vivien Leigh is one of my all time favorites, and this was just a joy to watch. You may take a long time to do videos, but its always a quality product! Thank you! Eager to see the next one...till then...amazing job!

[@kristianjimenez8669]

Poor thing she went through a lot. I just saw "that Hamilton woman", loved it! Also her portrayal of blanche in a streetcar named desire was amazing along with gwtw. Ship of fools could have used more of her in the dialog tho.

[@joansmith3296]

I just found your channel & what caught my eye was this video about Vivien Leigh. My mother, who has been gone for many years, looked exactly like Vivien, right down to the dimples & the hair & the blue/green eyes. when GWTW was released her sisters started calling her Scarlett. So I've naturally always been a Vivien fan my whole life. But I see you only cover the females? Nothing on the guys? I'd love to see a video from you about Jeff Bridges or Denzel Washington, because these are great! So thank you & you have a new fan!

[@markmh835]

OK, let's just admit it: how many of us "of a certain age" -- whenever we hear or read of "Gone With The Wind" -- can't help but think of the epic Carol Burnett parody "Went With The Wind" on her TV comedy show in the 1970s? The curtain-rod dress scene alone is perhaps the zenith of TV comedy moments! (But you have to know Gone With The Wind in order to "get" it.) 😄😃

[@OlympicLeprechaun]

OmG that was hysterical. It was also the longest sustained audience laughter in live television history. The editors trimmed that part for a lot of the reruns in syndication but in the original the audience is roaring hysterically while Carol and Harvey just stand there for several minutes waiting for it to subside.

[@christopherbrown2706]

My literal words when getting this notification: "Oh, FINALLY! YES!" I was WAITING on this videoessay.

[@alpe1987]

I love GWTW and Vivien was a tour de force. And I love her name very feminine.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

An interesting story is that the Leigh in "Vivien Leigh" is the first name of her first husband Leigh Holman. He was a lawyer and even after she left him, Mr. Holman remained Vivien's legal representative! If my memory is right she went form Vivian with an "a" to Vivien with an "e" at the recommendation of a psychic. The actress' name was Vivian Hartley Holman then Olivier.

[@vivling999]

@roselyn rajoo: You are so radically mis-informed, I don't know where start. Yes, I just checked and every sentence IS COMPLETELY INACCURATE! And what's with this "jew" anti-Semitic crap, go to a Nazi chat site, your shit is really not welcomed here!

[@YasmeenQ]

She was born for this role 👏🌺

[@ddoyle11]

Brilliant summary, opinion and presentation! I am so glad I discovered your channel (thanks KZbin algorithm!) This channel definitely deserves many more subscribers than it currently has. Today you have one more.

[@themroc8231]

What a day to make this Reagan joke.

[@samuelmyers2398]

Yes! Thank you for this. I have always felt this is one of the most complicated and complex roles. And Vivian delivers in every single scene! Note perfect.

[@JohnDonovanProductions]

I think Vivian Leigh, as many have already stated, was born for the part! As Selznick wrote in 1941, “ I took one look and knew that she was right - at least as far as her appearance went… Later on, her test, made under George Cukor‘s brilliant direction, showed that she could act the part right down to the ground.” Of the other well-known actresses who are high in the running at what time or another, Margaret Sullivan, Miriam Hopkins, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Loretta Young, Katherine Hepburn, Paulette Goddard, Jean Arthur, and Joan Bennett. Paulette Goddard was a very strong possibility, but she couldn’t produce a license proving that she and Charlie Chaplin were married. Selznick was afraid of negative public opinions, since she and Chaplin had been living together for sometime. And for that reason, Vivien Leigh signed a contract to play the role. It was on the night of December 10, 1938 That Vivien Leigh met Selznick for the first time at the controlled burning of the Atlanta set on the RKO Pathé lot. (Sad day for King Kong fans)

[@2charliep]

Hope to god no one is ever lunatic enough to attempt a remake 😱.

[@bethariana]

AHHHHHH I've been waiting for your upload!!! (not as patiently as Selznick). Btw where did you find such high quality GWTW clips? Masterfully done as always!

[@IrenaV1984]

I love Gone with the wind! It's one of my favourite books and movies. I think the other actresses could play Scarlett and they would be good but Vivien was one of a kind. She WAS Scarlett.

[@rasberryfields2132]

TY for this video. Gone With the Wind was, IMO, the best movie of the 20th century! Very informative and interesting. Clark & Vivien were perfectly cast as Rhett & Scarlett. Hattie, too, will always be in our hearts. Loved that line, "just like a spider"! Keep up the good work!❤

[@sezzysays4351]

GWTW is my most favourite movie of all time & Scarlet is an iconic character that Vivian Leigh brought to life on the screen. Love it.

[@victoriascotttheclassicist3692]

Hattie McDaniel's win is my favorite of all time because fuck yeah! She was AWESOME as Mammy and deserved every bit of that award. I wish the hotel hadn't been segregated though. I never knew that before this video.... and I hate that.

[@chriswhiteauditions]

The theater where Gone With The Wind had its official premiere (in Atlanta) was also segregated, and Hattie McDaniel wasn't allowed inside. I learned that a screening of the film a few years ago.

[@victoriascotttheclassicist3692]

@Sofie Dunbar I disagree that mammy was respected by scarlett. Definitely by Rhett, but my perspective for Scarlett isn't really respect. She certainly does great her better than the other enslaved people she interacts with, but it just doesn't come across as respect, at least not in the movie. Its been a while since I read the book, but from what I recall I wouldnt say that its respect there either. But thats just how I see it, and i would be glad to hear your argument for Scarlett respecting mammy, if you feel like sharing, that is.

[@victoriascotttheclassicist3692]

@Sofie Dunbar you're right that scarlett tends to listen to Mammy. But it comes across as more of an avoidance of Mammy stubbornness than scarlett actually respecting mammy. But yeah, she does actually listen to Mammy, usually

[@josephineblum3839]

Hey I watch your videos with my mom and we both look forward to whenever you upload. We both like movies but have such different tastes that we don't really get to talk about it much. This series has been a good way to bridge our gap via movie stars old and new. Thank you for all the good work.

[@tluagel]

You convinced me, I will read the book!

[@charlybrown5264]

I highly recommend it!

[@judycustodio4512]

The book has substantial differences from the movie, e.g. Scarlett had 3 kids!!

[@karmicobsession1636]

good luck it's almost a 1000 pages

[@LeslieGMN]

I envy you, never having read it! I first read GWTW when I was nine (a neighbor gave me a falling-apart paperback, and I carried the pages, bundled together with rubber bands, in a shoebox). After buying proper copies, I’ve re-read it at least once a year since then!

[@mackenzieb6497]

Thank you for the highlight of my day! Fantastic job, once again.

[@eduardobragaxz]

This is by far my favorite video of yours

[@craiglomax8230]

Love these videos. Thank you. Keep them coming

[@ferociousgumby]

People quibble about political correctness and overreractions, trying to rewrite history, etc., but I distinctly remember as a child hearing educated and well-spoken people claiming slavery could not have been so bad for black people if they were treated "kindly" by their masters, and if this were the case, they had it relatively better than poor whites who had to fend for themselves. But these weren't masters, they were OWNERS, the slaves had zero rights, and had to watch their children standing on an auction block while white men engaged in a lively and probably quite enjoyable bidding war. My Dad wasn't a prize and drank too much, but he once told me the "worst word in the world" was the n-word. When I asked him why, he said, "because it means one person owns another person". That stuck with me forever.

[@izzymeadows1748]

I love that despite the backlash and clear jealousy that she got the part she absolutely smashed it. I adore the film and adore Vivienne. She was stunning. No one else could have played her part better the her. She is Scarlett.

[@moow950]

This film is a Time Capsule in so many aspects, but primarily capturing the youthful beauty and talent of Vivien Leigh at the right time. Vivien became synonymous with Scarlett. The film made her and she made the film eternally etched in humankind’s collected memory and heritage.

[@samsongriffin4091]

I can't believe I missed this for almost a month! This is an amazing video, thanks so much BKR!

[@brianw9129]

To PBKR: Such intelligent commentaries, such warm deliveries, I so enjoy your brand.

[@adelachobotova4870]

These videos always make my day like 100x better so thanx 😊

[@frigginirishloons]

Well...she was both very talented and beautiful and absolutely perfect for this role

[@robertn800]

I’m reading a book on Streetcar & the author compares her Voice to the Greatest Opera Singer, Maria Callas. He talks about how Great Opera Singers have 3 registers- a light upper register voice, a lower, dark chest register and a medium-talking voice & how Vivian used her Voice according to her acting scenes and what the scene requires. 🎶

[@sanskritideva5342]

Randomly came across your channel due to KZbin Recommendations. Have now fallen in love with it and Hollywood history. Thank you. You should honestly get a Netflix show or something.

[@irishgal3882]

Loved this! Thank you! I loved Vivien Leigh…so Gorgeous and the perfect, Scarlett . No one could hold a candle to her 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😘

[@tbella5186]

Vivian Leah, and Clark Gable as Scarlett & Rhett are Iconic, that's indisputable. Hattie McDaniel is the actual MVP of GWTW, also indisputable.

[@randomkeir]

@tbella5186 I watched a video about Gone With The Wind that called Hattie McDaniel/ Mammy the moral center of the film because she both defended Scarlett and called her out on her behavior when she stepped out of line. Their relationship in the film is one of the best.

[@tbella5186]

@@randomkeir 💯 agreed. In the OG book, and Scarlett, by Alexandra Ripley, the sequel, the depth of their love is heartbreaking.

[@RegularMordo]

I'd love to see a video on Octavia Spencer winning for The Help

[@demh7823]

This channel is about Best LEAD Actress winners.

[@kareninacarado]

They’d probably get to the Supporting Actresses in another discussion, or once everything in the Lead Actresses are done.

[@kristopher1799]

Viola Davis was robbed!!!

[@prashantsingh9068]

Kristopher Kaun yes, Viola Davis should have won Best Supporting Actress for The Help and not Octavia Spencer but Viola was in wrong category.

[@maicaong653]

I couldn't imagine another Scarlett than Vivien Leigh

[@marmitenot.]

Gone with the Wind would not be remembered as it is today if Vivien Leigh were not cast. She was utter perfection in her role, as were Clark Gable and Olivia de Havilland.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

As God is my witness, I couldn’t love this video more! Thank you so much for telling the story of the casting of Vivian Leigh as Scarlet O’Hara!

[@Tunapie]

I first read the book back when I was a teen. I was instantly a fan. I only cared to watch the film in my 20s and i loved it so much! She portrayed Scarlet so well it’s like she jumped out from the pages herself.

[@kaitdean7188]

In regard to Garbo; It’s almost like she was type-casted her entire career until she had an opportunity to be in a comedy... she has range. She *always* had range

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Can you please do a video on how acting styles have changed over the decades? They've obviously changed a lot, and I'd be so interested to know how those changes came about. I think it would be a great topic for a video, and you're the perfect channel to do it!

[@babilabub]

I have to admit that I have never been a great fan of bygone era movies but subscribing to your channel and the passion and depth you go into describing a movie/actress has changed my mind. Keep up the good work.

[@SebzDevYT]

I cannot end to appreciate all the research you do for this videos. I truly love them!

[@JazzJadore]

Hi there! I came upon your channel a couple days ago purely b/c I LOVE VIVEN LEIGH and now I cannot stop binge watching your content! Really excellent stuff! I just wanna say, I'm a fan! And subscribed of course =)