A book to celebrate GWTW’s 75th Anniversary!
Last night as I watched the broadcast of Gone With the Wind in honor of the 20th anniversary of Turner Classic Movies (www.TurnerClassicMovies.com), I was struck by the number of times Scarlett resorts to slapping others across the face.
- After proclaiming her love to Ashley in the Twelve Oaks’ library and hearing him declare his intention to marry Melanie, Scarlett accuses him of having led her on. When Ashley denies it, she strikes him.
- After failing to convince Dr. Meade to leave the wounded troops to attend to Melanie, Scarlett knows she must rely on Prissy. When Prissy admits she lied about knowing how to birth babies, Scarlett hits her.
- After stopping the wagon on the McDonough Road, Rhett announces that he is leaving Scarlett on the turn to Tara so he can join the army. He pulls her from the wagon to say goodbye, reveals that he loves her, takes her into his arms and kisses her. She breaks free from his embrace, calls him a “low-down, cowardly, nasty thing” and then wallops him.
- After hearing her sister’s complaints about working in Tara’s fields, Scarlett orders Suellen back to work. When Suellen cries out that she hates Tara, Scarlett slugs her.
“She can get mad quicker than any woman I ever saw!” according to Frank Kennedy. Good to know. Avoid doing anything that will get you on Scarlett’s bad side.
Too bad the Yankee deserter wasn’t aware of that before he trespassed at Tara, stole earbobs from Ellen O’Hara’s sewing box and threatened the head of the household. We know what Scarlett did to him.
Happy 20th anniversary, Turner Classic Movies!
Happy 75th anniversary, Gone With the Wind!
Blog Bio: Pauline Bartel is the author of The Complete GONE WITH THE WIND Trivia Book (2nd edition), which will be published in spring 2014, and an expert on the film and its history. Visit the website (www.paulinebartel.com/resources/books/books-available) for further information. Follow her on Twitter @PaulineBartel and “like” her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheCompleteGWTWTriviaBook)