an immensely popular
motion picture (1939) based on the best-
selling novel of the same
title (1936) written by
American author Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949). The book was an instant
success and sold more than eight million copies in forty countries and in 1937 won the Pulitzer Prize (one of a
group of annual awards
given for excellence in literature, journalism, music, etc.).
Set in Georgia during and after the
Civil War (1861-1865), the story is about the suffering and devastation of the
war and of the romances of its
leading character, Scarlett O'Hara.
Unscrupulous in her
behavior, Scarlett uses and discards men in her
effort to
win her true
love, Ashley, and to rebuild her family
estate. She meets her match, however, when
gambler and gunrunner Rhett
Butler appears. Knowing Scarlett is as ruthless as himself,
Butler is immediately attracted to her. After being widowed for the
second time she finally marries him, but still openly pursues Ashley. Towards the end of the story she finally realizes her
efforts to
win Ashley have been futile and turns to Rhett, but it is too
late. Rhett, tired of the
constant rejection and humiliation, leaves her. At the end of the film she vows to get Rhett back. The
motion picture won eleven
Academy Awards, held the record for gross
earnings for more than twenty years and is considered one of the greatest
motion pictures of all
time.