A book to celebrate GWTW’s 75th Anniversary!
In addition to using matte paintings, special-photographic-effects artist Jack Cosgrove also relied on miniature models for creating the virtual reality of Gone With the Wind.
Cosgrove sweated the small stuff in these sequences:
- Ellen O’Hara’s Return to Tara: The long shot of the exterior of Tara at night with Mrs. O’Hara’s carriage rolling up the driveway was a composite shot. Tara and the carriage were miniatures; the sky, trees and landscaping were added through matte paintings.
- Scarlett’s View of the Burned Out Twelve Oaks: The ruined exterior of Twelve Oaks was built as a miniature, filmed and combined with full-size portions of the Wilkes’ plantation.
- Rhett and Scarlett’s Honeymoon Cruise: The long shot of the Mississippi riverboat steaming toward New Orleans with Rhett and Scarlett aboard combined a miniature boat printed on excess river footage from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a 1938 film produced by David O. Selznick.
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) 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).