You probably recognise the phrase “They are not long, the days of wine and roses” but like me, would struggle to name the author. It was a chap called Ernest Dowson [1867-1900] This poet did indeed live a short life [with much wine, and few roses] Like Bob, he studied at the Queen’s College Oxford – but left before he got his degree. He also wrote “Cynara” – with the line “I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion” The American writer Margaret Mitchell took another phrase from Cynara as the title of her one and only book “Gone with the wind” which won her the Pulitzer prize in 1936.
I love the book, and the film, with its portrayal of life in the States at the time of the Civil War. Before the days of CGI, so much had to be genuinely created in front of the cameras. In "The Burning of Atlanta" scene, actual sets are being burnt. Selznick needed to get rid of some old sets, used in 'King of Kings' and 'King Kong,' and what better way to do it than burn it for another movie? This was the first scene they shot – if it went wrong, they planned to cancel the whole film!
Producer David O Selznick did use dummies for some of his battlefield casualties – of the 1600 wounded soldiers, only half were live actors! And the mansion at Tara – Scarlett’s childhood home was not a real building – it was just a façade. After filming it was dismantled and stored.The parts were sold at auction, to someone who planned to make them into a tourist attraction. That never happened. Then they were sold again. For ten years the bits lay on the floor of a barn.
But now a GWTW enthusiast named Peter Bonner, is finally rebuilding the front of the Tara Mansion so that you will be able to go to Georgia and see where it all happened. Only a dedicated, unrelenting passion for GWTW and history could drive someone to save Tara. There are no blueprints on how to put it together. The materials are so old that they are impossible to match or replicate. “The hinges and everything, were handmade. They look like they were made by a blacksmith.” says Bonner, who is funding this project himself. You can read all about it here. It will be interesting to see if Mr Bonner’s project comes to fruition!
And to think that I once watched Scarlett skipping down the path, away from the Tarleton boys, and believed it was a real mansion behind her! Selznick himself said, 75 years ago, “It is almost symbolic of Hollywood. Tara has no rooms inside. It was just a façade. So much of Hollywood is a façade.”
Things haven’t really changed much, have they?
Your post was very interesting. Well, what do you know, it does look like a real mansion. Some artists are very clever.
ReplyDeleteCarolx
Somehow it is sad to think of the building as a shell.
ReplyDeleteI have tried very hard but have never made it all the way through GWTW
ReplyDeleteThe book, or the film?? There is much more in the book. It has been said that if they had shot ALL the dialogue, the film would have been 168 hours long
DeleteI love the think about it tomorrow line and often use it when something at work just isn't working as time often helps provide the answer.
ReplyDeleteEach time I watch the film, I hope there will be a different ending. He always seems a bit callous when he repeats that famous line to her!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that like wanting Ilsa to stay with Rick at the end of Casablanca? Or the Titanic to sail south of the iceberg? You KNOW it's never going to happen!
DeleteI've never seen it. I should. Or maybe I'll read it, since I've just from your reply that it is a,book.
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