Gone with the Wind: Clark Gable could do anything… except cry!

Gone with the Wind: Clark Gable could do anything… except cry!

Do we still need to submit to Gone with the Wind? A monument of American cinema, crowned with 9 Oscars, a sentimental mural set against the background of the Civil War, it follows the emotions and frustrations of the divine, nasty and powerful Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) over several years, from stupidity. From her teenage years to family pressures and love dramas, from the choices of her heart to the rejection of her mind.

Alongside Clark Gable, who plays the ambitious and jealous Rhett Butler, 7th Art makes one of the most legendary pairings. Even if, behind the scenes, the experience was not the most pleasant for the actor, who was terrified by Gable’s bad breath…

An iconic actor who embodies the quintessence of masculinity, macho manGable has carefully cultivated this image in the spotlight. Behind the scenes and in private, Gable actually revealed a completely different side: a sensitive person, an avid reader, and a great lover of poetry. Exposing this aspect of his personality, his emotions, to the general public was a source of great concern to him.

In this context, he will still be able to express true emotion, the emotion of a great actor, drawn from within himself, during a scene.Not taken, which, however, is not among the most cited. And yet, this is perhaps the most tragic scene in the film.

Bonnie Blue Butler, daughter of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, recently died in a horse riding accident. Bonnie was the joy of Rhett’s life, especially after his marriage to Scarlett seemed to fail. A sweet and pampered child, she comforted him when he was afraid and loved him more than anything in the world. His accidental death leaves him utterly inconsolable.

The scene in question takes place after Scarlett falls down the stairs. Rhett Butler is consumed with regret. See again below…

“He never cried on screen, he was so worried!”

Olivia de Havilland, who died in 2020 at the age of 104, played the beautiful Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in the film. She is the one who comes to comfort Clark Gable in the scene; Also the only person Rhett Butler trusts and admires for his remarkable dedication and moral integrity.

Olivia de Havilland talked a lot in the interviews she gave behind the scenes of the film. And especially the great difficulty for Gable to cry in this scene.

In it, director Victor Fleming wanted Gable to cry on camera, which Gable refused. He wanted to stand with his back to the camera, feigning deep sorrow. De Havilland assured him that he would at least try the scene the way Fleming wanted, and Fleming promised that if Gabe didn’t like it, they would do it their way.

“He was worried, you know, he’s never cried on screen before. He thought it was unmanly to cry. He was very worried about it!” He explains. add: “I remember telling him that tears show strength of character, not weakness.” “Crying makes you a strong person,” he agreed, repeated, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable moments of the film.

This great actor was right.

Source: Allocine

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