History Daily: The Premiere of Gone With the Wind

Episode 1268 | December 15, 2025
Host: Lindsay Graham

Episode Overview

This episode of History Daily revisits the tumultuous creation and historic premiere of Gone with the Wind — Hollywood’s iconic Civil War epic. Host Lindsay Graham dissects the drama and perseverance behind this legendary film, from the initial risky acquisition through a notoriously fraught production to the celebration and controversy surrounding its segregated Atlanta debut on December 15, 1939.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. David Selznick’s Gamble: Acquiring the Novel (06:25–08:17)

• Setting the Scene: In 1936, producer David O. Selznick, ever the risk-taker, is first introduced as discovering Margaret Mitchell’s debut novel while on vacation.
• High-Stakes Bet: Selznick’s willingness to pay a then-astronomical $50,000 for the film rights despite fierce competition and the novel’s daunting length.
  • “David's always been willing to take a gamble. Whether it's in a studio boardroom or down at the racetrack, David loves the rush he gets from a high stakes bet.” (07:17)

2. Script Struggles & Creative Chaos (08:17–11:59)

• Endless Drafts: Multiple writers, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pulitzer-winner Sidney Howard, unsuccessfully attempt to tame the thousand-page novel into a workable script.
• Producer’s Meddling: Selznick is known for his relentless involvement, demanding daily meetings and constant rewrites.
• Casting Obsessions: National mania erupts over who will play Scarlett O’Hara, with Selznick insisting he doesn’t want an established star and instead launches a South-wide talent search.
• Clark Gable Secured: Through a deal with his father-in-law at MGM (exchanging Gable and funds for distribution rights and profits), Selznick secures Hollywood’s biggest heartthrob, albeit at great cost.

3. Production Firestorm & Casting Vivien Leigh (01:09–04:21; 11:12–11:59)

• First Shot Filmed Before Scarlett Found: Out of desperation to please his financiers, Selznick begins filming the burning of Atlanta without a lead actress.
• Breakthrough: During this fiery shoot, his brother Myron appears on set with Laurence Olivier and his companion, Vivien Leigh—her “bright green eyes” illuminated by set flames.
  • “With a grin, Myron tells his brother to meet Vivien Leigh, the actress born to play Scarlett o’ Hara.” (03:02)
• Vivien Leigh Cast: Selznick, immediately convinced, offers her the role then and there.

4. Turbulent Shoot & Directorial Revolving Door (15:08–20:00)

• Script in Crisis: With work underway and no finished script, screenwriter Ben Hecht is brought in for a rewrite marathon, fueled by “amphetamines, scotch, and peanuts.”
• Multiple Directors: George Cukor is fired after three weeks (only 23 minutes shot); Victor Fleming is hired, later joined by a third director due to Fleming’s health collapse—leading to two directors who must share responsibility.
• Torturous Perfectionism:
  • Notable scene: Clark Gable is made to carry Vivien Leigh up stairs repeatedly, only for director Victor Fleming to tease, “He just wanted to see if Clark Gable could do it.” (18:54)
• Epic Scale & Budget:
  • 800 extras plus dummies for crowd scenes.
  • Final tally: 125 days of shooting, 3 directors, countless script versions, $4.25 million budget.
• Iconic Ending Created:
  • Selznick tweaks Rhett Butler's final line to the now-famous, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” (19:48)

5. Triumph, Controversy, and Legacy (22:41–25:40)

• Premiere in Segregated Atlanta (22:41): Hattie McDaniel, who played Mammy, listens to the radio coverage from home—banned from attending due to Jim Crow laws despite her crucial role.
• Racial Injustice at the Oscars:
  • McDaniel later becomes the first Black Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actress), but is segregated at the ceremony.
  • “Even at the ceremony, she’s treated as a second class citizen, placed at a segregated table away from the rest of her white castmates.” (24:30)
• Selective Memory: The episode reflects on how the film’s romanticized vision of the Old South “bear[s] little resemblance to the cruel reality” of slavery or the Confederacy.
• Evolving Reputations:
  • “Gone with the Wind will increasingly be regarded as a controversial masterpiece, and its place in film history will continue to be debated long after its segregated premiere in Georgia on December 15, 1939.” (25:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Selznick's Tenacity:
  • “After three years of planning, he's finally got the first shot, and it's a spectacular one.” (02:16)
• On Vivien Leigh's Discovery:
  • “…a beautiful woman wearing a long mink coat. The fires still burning on set dance in her bright green eyes.” (02:44)
• On Production Hell:
  • “The men have been up all night, fueled by amphetamines, scotch and peanuts in their desperate race to finish the script.” (15:17)
• On Legendary Scenes:
  • “He just wanted to see if Clark Gable could do it.” (As Victor Fleming after the infamous staircase scene; 19:33)
• On Hattie McDaniel’s Oscars Experience:
  • “But even at the ceremony, she's treated as a second class citizen, placed at a segregated table away from the rest of her white castmates.” (24:30)
• On the Film’s Enduring Debate:
  • “…Gone with the Wind will increasingly be regarded as a controversial masterpiece, and its place in film history will continue to be debated…” (25:21)

Important Timestamps

• The Book’s Acquisition: 06:25–07:40
• Script and Casting Struggles: 08:17–11:59
• Filming Begins & Leigh Cast: 01:09–04:21; 11:12–11:59
• Ben Hecht’s Rewrite Marathon: 15:08–17:10
• Directors Swap & Iconic Scenes: 17:10–19:48
• Premiere & Aftermath: 22:41–25:40
• Reflection on Film’s Legacy: 24:30–25:21

Overall Tone & Style

Lindsay Graham delivers the story with:

• Dramatic Narrative: Filled with vivid imagery and cinematic flair, capturing the high-stakes world of 1930s Hollywood.
• Reflective & Candid: The host does not shy away from highlighting the darker realities behind the glamour—racism, exploitation, and the mythologizing of history.

Summary Takeaway

This episode reveals Gone with the Wind as much more than a film — it’s an emblem of Hollywood’s ambition, chaos, and evolving conscience. The story is one of relentless vision, personal cost, and cultural contradictions, brought to life in a way only History Daily can.