This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Almost Gone from Gone with the Wind

  

      Those of you born after 1975 might be surprised to know that there was once a time when if you wanted to see a particular movie, you couldn't just pick up a video or DVD or download a streaming version on a computer.  You either had to wait until it was playing in a theater or wait until it was shown on television.  There were certain films like Gone With The Wind that were never on television and rarely re-released into the theaters.   It was for many film buffs something akin to the Holy Grail of cinematic art.

         An avid movie fan since childhood, I became a true film aficionado after I started college in 1969.  I even took film classes.  Free or inexpensive film offerings were presented throughout the week at the university and I took advantage of most of them.  However, the legendary Gone With The Wind was not among the those films.  The Civil War epic was a film that I had heard of and longed to see, but it seemed to be an elusive quest.

        Then, in early 1974, I learned that the film would once again be in theaters and was thrilled when I saw that the film would be shown in the small Foothills Cinema in my hometown of Maryville, Tennessee.  Since none of my friends seemed to be interested in going to see GWTW, I decided to go by myself.   I often went to the movies by myself--my friends were usually not too interested in seeing the films that I wanted to see.  It was no big deal to me.  It was easier to enjoy the movies watching them alone, though it would have been nice to have had someone with whom to discuss them afterward.  GWTW was in town and I was going to see it no matter what.

        Being a Tuesday night, I was not surprised to see a less than full theater for such an important film.  But I was rather surprised that there were only about twenty people in the theater.  This suited me fine since there would be less distraction due to inconsiderate film viewers.  I settled into my seat with no other patrons near me.  At last I was going to see this film that I had heard of all of my life.

         It was a fine film that lived up to all that I had heard about it.  The grandeur of the antebellum Southern aristocracy was well depicted.  The mounting excitement of impending war and the ensuing conflicts that eventually lead to the defeat of the Confederacy were enthralling.  The spectacular conflagration of Atlanta and Scarlett's harrowing escape from the burning city was heart-pounding.  The sadness of the ruined plantations was moving.

         Then there was that final dramatic scene with Scarlett rooting for food in the pillaged garden of the sacked plantation of Tara.  Silhouetted against the dusky sky she defiantly proclaims, "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!"  The screen went dark.

          As the lights came up, the theater was quiet.  With only twenty people in the theater I guess one wouldn't expect much noise.  I solemnly left the theater contemplating the film I had just seen.  I could understand why the film had been so popular.  I thought the ending was powerful, though somehow not complete.

          After I entered my car and put the key in the ignition, something seemed amiss.  No one else was leaving the theater.  I thought perhaps they had used another exit.  But, no, there were no cars leaving either. I realized that the words "The End" had never appeared.  And I never even heard Rhett say, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". At that moment one of those forehead slapping moments hit me.  Duh!  The movie was not over, it was only intermission.

           I felt foolish.  Trying to cover up my mistake, I sat in my car for a short while and acted like I was looking for something.  After a few moments I strolled back into the theater trying to act cool and collected.  I sauntered over to the refreshment counter and looked over the offerings as though I might be looking for something.  Casually, I looked around the lobby.  The ticket seller was gone since there were no more showings that night.  The girl at the refreshment stand stared blankly toward the door looking every bit like she was ready to go home.  No one else was in the lobby.

        I returned to the seating area.  The few people in attendance were still in their seats talking or lost in thoughts.  I sat down where I had been sitting previously.  No one paid any attention to me.  I still felt foolish for having thought the film was over and actually leaving the theater.  At least I had covered my mistake well with my coolness.

        Since my first viewing of Gone With The Wind, I have seen the film several times.  I went to see it in the theater again in the mid-nineties at a theater in a mall in Cerritos, California.  They didn't have a proper projector to show the movie causing the colors to be out of whack and the entire film was slightly out of focus with strange auras surrounding all of the actors.  I felt like I was watching the movie after having taken a hallucinogenic drug.  I had gone with a group of people but nobody said anything about the way it looked until intermission.  Then the guy who had been at the helm of our film outing and who was a hard core film fan went to complain.  They told him that's the way things were and there wasn't anything they could do about it.  So we watched the whole movie like that and I felt like I was high after I left the theater.

       Now the movie is shown on television occasionally.  My wife and I have two different GWTW DVD box sets.  Now I can watch the film whenever I want.  And since it's on DVD I can stop it and have an intermission whenever I want.  I haven't been to a movie theater in years.   I can't stop the movie in the theater when I want to.  Movies these days don't have intermissions anymore.  When you get older, you think about intermissions more often.  But I guess that's another story entirely.


..

76 comments:

  1. Ah the good old days. I'm waiting for the remake with Atlanta burning in glorious 3D (so i can poke my eyes out with a pencil).

    mood

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I remember my parents renting that, and it had the intermission on the Beta copy (2 tapes). After they explained the what-and-why of an intermission, we just fast-forwarded it, since we'd already stopped it for our pee-and-popcorn break.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Lee .. classic your walking out during the intermission ... I have yet to see the film or read the book .. I know I am uneducated! This is a fun read - thanks .. I still enjoy the cinema though .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  4. GWTW is one of my favorite novels! I like the movie, but I've read the book many more times than I've seen the film.

    My mom reminisces about the times when she'd have to wait every Christmas season to see White Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. One year she had to work both nights those movies were played on TV and she was devastated she had to wait an entire year to see them again, LoL. Makes me appreciate DVD very much!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I too like the idea of watching a movie at home on a dvd. The last time I went to the movies was when I was expecting my second child....and he is 43 this year. The last film I saw was a film called Candy it had one of the Beatles in it but it was alot of flashing photography and not knowing I was Epiletic at the time it put me off of going to the movies.

    Enjoy your week-end.
    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gone With The Wind is one of those movies that you watch over and over and never get tired of it. I like the original better than the remake.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Funny story. I remember seeing it when it was released in theaters. I'd read the book during the summer a couple of times before and was thrilled to actually be able to see it. When it was shown about ten years ago in a theater I took one of my sons (he's a good sport). He loved the war scenes and thought Scarlett was psycho and a user of men. =D

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's funny you left early! That movie has always been my mom's favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I remember watching GWTW in my tweens...on VHS at home with my Mom. I loved it. I still love to watch it now, though I'm constantly eyeing the background details of opulent rooms, as well as the gorgeous fashion. LOVE that Green Velvet Drapery Dress! ☺

    Great post, Lee! I'm sure I would've jumped up and left at intermission too. Good thing you were observant enough to realize no one else was leaving the theater. ☺ Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I hate when you're in the theater with those glitches. When we saw HP last week, large black ovals appeared on the screen about 10 times - so annoying because they throw you out of the narrative.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great movie, even better book. I commend you, Lee, because a lot of people (mostly men) I know would be thrilled if the intermission were the end. I have it on DVD, too, and I can never get my husband to watch it with me. He says he's seen it once and that was enough. Such a shame.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great story. Makes me feel lucky to have the DVD. Now I need to go watch it...

    Donna, to give your son credit, Scarlett does show the signs of a psychological disorder or two. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Luckily you were cool enough to realize it was only intermission while you were still at the theater. I'd have probably driven home before it dawned on me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You were one smooth, cool dude, Lee.

    We rarely see movies at the theater anymore. It's cheaper and more comfortable to watch them at home, and most films go to DVD really quickly now, so there's barely any waiting.

    While I don't really miss the theater, I do miss drive-ins. There's one about an hour from us and we've occasionally gone, but if there was one close to home, we'd probably go twice a month.

    ReplyDelete
  15. One of my all time favorite movies. I never did see it in the theater Im sure that would have been awesome! I have read the book in the mid seventies more times then I could count. I could hardly wait to see it. I have the movie as well and watch it often and catch it ever now and then on TV. I remember waiting for movies to come to theater or on TV> My how tiems have changed. I could afford the theater as a kid too. Not so much NOW!
    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  16. This a wonderful story, Lee. I too loved Gone with the Wind, as a kid. I read it every year for about ten years and I saw the movie when I could.
    I love watching movies with groups of strangers. I think kids today(wow - fogie talk!) are missing something when they watch movies alone in their rooms, night after night, on their computers. Sure, I get annoyed with talkers and rustlers and loud eaters but hey! We're a family! The family of North Americans who love the movies, the smell of the popcorn, the crazy couple making out in the back, the newsreel, maybe even the weird lady with a bad perm playing the piano, if we're that old.
    Thanks for the memories. Oh and another thing - we used to SMOKE in the theatre. Now we wouldn't even do it at home. ha.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mood--GWTW is one film that should never be remade.

    Will -- Including an intermission on a home version is kind of weird. I guess it's partly to retain the music and keep the original film intact--the intermission is part of the film after all.

    Hilary -- You should at least see the film since it is such a historical milestone in filmmaking.

    Laura -- Having DVD and video has certainly changed our filmviewing expectations. I'm glad we have that option and are not at the mercy of TV and movie companies.

    Yvonne -- Ah yes, those crazy drug influenced movies from the 60s and 70s--most of them don't hold up very well now.

    Delores -- Remake? Was there a remake or a TV version of Scarlett. As I said above, I think there would be little reason to remake GWTW.

    Donna -- I wouldn't call GWTW a "chick flick" as it has a good story to offer to men as well. The war scenes are very well done.

    Alex -- My wife loves the movie and has been saying she wants to watch it again. Maybe this weekend we'll have to do that.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  18. Larri -- Since they didn't run the Intermission reel and turned the lights on it sure seemed like it was over. I'm glad I didn't leave.

    Jemi -- If you're going to pay premium theater prices you should get a premium film watching experience.

    Julie - Maybe one day I'll have to read the book. I'm sure I'll be watching GWTW at least a few more times.

    Sarah--I thought Scarlett came across as a spoiled brat who always wanted her way. She does learn a few lessons in the movie though.

    LG -- I almost did leave. I'm glad I was paying attention to what the other patrons were doing.

    Word Nerd--We haven't been to a movie in a theater for several years. With a big screen TV and good sound system it's so much easier to stay home.

    Beth --- Theater going used to be very inexpensive and easy. Now it seems like there are more theaters, but it is so darn expensive. I prefer the comfort of my own home these days.

    Jan -- The theater experience can be very special in the right circumstances, but theater patrons are often very different than they used to be. I used to like to go to the bargain matinees since they were cheaper and there were often less people and the ones who were there tended to be more respectful. The evening crowds often took away some of the movie watching enjoyment with their unruly behavior.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  19. My first viewing in a theater was ruined by a woman who kept loudly pointing out the historical inaccuracies. I lost all desire to see it after that.

    ReplyDelete
  20. haha! I love the story of you leaving the cinema.

    Times have changed haven't they. They no longer come around with their little ice-cream boxes during the none existent intermissions either.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've only seen GWTW on television. I can imagine how spectacular my favorite scene would be on the big screen. It's the part where Scarlett is working with the injured soldiers, and the camera keeps pulling back to show more and more of them.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have been the ticket girl and seen people do this; no worries, you aren't the only one! :D

    I had a drunk come in and stood up and talked to the screen. I had to arrange to have him taken out...your
    casual mistake is nothing, trust me~

    I worked 6 nights a week, usually 7, but sometimes I actually wanted to see the film from beginning to end. So, my night off would be at the movies. I truly lived there~

    Recently we went to Captain America...my husband was kicked during most of the film. A woman held her child on her lap and he hummed during the whole film. I so wanted to hit pause and go find another seat, but there weren't any~
    I am so happy we have dvds!
    I love this epic movie...perhaps it is time to hear Rhett's voice once again ;D

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lee, I loved this post! I especially loved that you sat in your car for a bit and pretended to look for something.

    Not true, I especially loved the sense of place it all projects for me. I have a vague recollection of waiting for something to screen and not being able to have easy access, but those memories are now a bit clouded by the instantaneous nature of everything, today.

    I often wish I had been born a little earlier, I was born in '74, so that I could have a longer memory of the era just prior to this insane explosion-- for the express purpose of writing about it more.

    Love your blog, Lee.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love this story, Lee! A movie intermission - who knew.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Giggles -- Not much worse that sitting near a know-it-all who wants everyone else to know it.

    Rebecca -- Ice cream boxes? That's something I don't recall ever seeing.

    Val- That is a pretty impressive scene. I wonder if Spielberg was inspired by that scene when he had the warehouse scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark?

    Ella -- Glad to hear I'm not the only one who's made that mistake of walking out at intermission. I'm thinking maybe my wife and I will break out our DVD this weekend.

    Suze -- We have become spoiled in our instant gratification society.

    Talli-- I think it's interesting how they include the intermission on the home versions. I guess it's a good time for bathroom and snack breaks. Although I have sat through the intermission screen and listened to the music sometimes. I find it easier then running the movie forward.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  26. Arlee - I remember the good old days when a trip to the cinema meant you got to see at least two films; the 'B'movie and then the main feature, with a suitable break in between

    Also, I hope you'll accept this award and the spirit in which it is given!

    ReplyDelete
  27. That made me laugh out loud. And I was thinking before the part of your epiphany, "That's not how GWTW ends??" lol. that explains it.

    I love the book and love the film. I watch it once a year and make it a big production. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. This was a fun read. I don't enjoy going to the theater anymore because of all the rude people who have no idea how to share a film with others. Some movies are better on the big screen, though. :(

    ReplyDelete
  29. The thing that is missed with a DVD, or streaming video via computer, is the shared experience. Re: GWTW, The Wizard of Oz, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, for me, a substantial part of the enjoyment was the anticipation, talking about it with friends & family both ahead of time and afterwards. Feeling like we shared something.

    Now, even when people go to the cinema, everybody sees a different movie. There's no ONE "water cooler" movie or TV show to talk about on Monday, and I miss that. Last episode of MASH - seminal experience.

    That said, both the movie and the book GWTW rock. Ya'll realize that, deliberately or not, Scarlett represents The South itself (spoiled, conquered, resilient), and Rhett The North (brash, relentless, and in the end, weary.)

    ReplyDelete
  30. BOIDMAN ~
    I really enjoyed this blog bit. Ha! You walked out halfway through the movie. Repeat after me [in borrowing a phrase from The League Of Soul Crusaders]: "Uhp! I'm an idiot!"

    That was funny, dude. But good recovery!

    I remember those days you speak of so well (I'm not a whole lot younger'n you). Fortunately, growing up in Los Angeles, we had in those days a few theatres called "Revival Houses", that instead of showing first-run movies, they obtained older films, many that were seldom if ever shown on TV, and they would distribute calendar fliers that told what was scheduled for the month.

    One of those theatres that I frequented was The Nuart - which I will be mentioning in my upcoming 6-part blog bit about Los Angeles (I hope you can make it!)

    I saw my first James Dean movie in one of those Revival Houses. I had read a couple of books about Dean before I had ever seen him on the screen, so that was a thrill the first time I noted that "East Of Eden" and "Rebel Without A Cause" were scheduled. And I would go every time I saw they were playing thereafter. (Another movie that the Revival Houses sometimes got, and which I always made it a point of seeing, was Disney's "Lady And The Tramp". It's probably hard for a lot of younger people to believe that there was a time when you couldn't even see any of the Disney animated classics for decades at a stretch.)

    I remember when movies finally started getting released on videotape. The first two I bought were "Eden" and "Rebel", and they were damned expensive back then. I think I had to pay $50. to $70. for each one! Now we can get 'em in the convenient DVD format for $10. or less.

    This was a fun blog bit, Brother Boid!

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    POSTSCRIPT: When are you going to have Lady Doris of the blog "Hold My Hand" as a guest on "Tossing It Out"? Are you aware that she has released a book, available at Amazon and elsewhere, that is a collection of her "A To Z" April Blogfest posts? Your Blogfest idea resulted in an actual book for someone, and I want to know when the hell that person is going to be rightfully spotlighted on "Tossing It Out". (Johnny-On-The-Spot seems to be Missing-The-Boat for the first time ever!)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've read Gone With the Wind, but haven't watched the movie, though I might sometime in the future. I didn't really like the book. :P

    I've never actually been to a movie theater--I've just seen live performances (and been in a few).

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sue H -- I also remember the double feature days that also included a cartoon and sometimes even a newsreel or a short feature. Thanks for the award--I will check it out. I am so backlogged on acknowledging awards.

    PK -- I was hoping someone would read this like you did.

    Shannon -- I do prefer films on the big screen. Fortunately we have a fairly large TV screen.

    Beverly -- I've never heard that interpretation of Rhett and Scarlett representing the dichotomy of North and South. It makes sense.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  33. Stephen McC -- We didn't have any revival house theaters in Knoxville, TN where I misspent my youth. Fortunately the University regularly ran an eclectic selection of films that gave me a good film education. On Monday, a year after the fact, I will finally be posting my list of 15 Favorite Western Films. Hope you'll check them out. I'll check about Doris--thanks for letting me know. There is also another blogger who is putting out an A to Z ebook and she will be doing a spot on my blog in September. Her book is available within the next week or so and I will be announcing that next week.

    Golden Eagle -- My parents used to take my sister and I to the movie theater nearly every week. Of course, back then we didn't have many options for seeing movies.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  34. You made my day! I cracked up imagining you trying to saunter back into the theatre:)

    I wish we had intermission. I always have to pee so bad after the movie because I never want to leave during it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. There are some films that just cry out to be watched on a big screen and not having an intermission is a price worth paying !!

    As for going to the cinema alone, I love immersing in a film, I get frustrated when I settle down to watch a film at home and the family thing its okay to chat, wander or generally not be as obsessive as me !

    RJR Daydreamer

    ReplyDelete
  36. Incidentally, Lady Doris' book is already available. She posted about it just last week.

    Western Movies?

    Heck yes, I'll check that out! Not only will I check it out, but seeing as how it will appear on Monday, I'll consider it a birthday present from you to me...

    ...And I'll even graciously overlook the fact that the ridiculously overrated Clint Eastwood Western "The Unforgiven" will almost certainly appear on your list. (Hell, even the title of that movie wasn't an original idea! There was another unrelated Western movie in 1960, starring Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn, that was titled "The Unforgiven." Yeah, in my book Clint is "unforgiven" alright!)

    Aww, but I don't want to spoil things THIS soon! (I kid!-I kid!)

    Seriously, Brother Boid, I'm a-lookin' forward to it, pardner.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  37. That is hilarious. I can just imagine you, hands behind your back, whistling casually to yourself and you sauntered back in. I've never actually seen Gone With The Wind but a few months ago I watched another golden oldie for the first time ever, Casablanca. It was lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Deana -- Invariably, when I used to go to the movie theater I would end up having to get up during the film, which can be a hassle, and going to the bathroom, thereby missing a portion of it. Other times I would wait, but have to go so badly that I would watch the film in great discomfort, which does not provide for an enjoyable film experience.

    RJR -- It's just my wife and I watching movies these days and we usually don't talk unless the film is really bad or stupid. When my kids lived at home they were usually pretty quiet because like me they grew up watching movies and being quiet and attentive about it.

    Stephen McC -- I'm sure you'll have a few words about my list, but we'll just have to wait til Monday to hear them. And I am a big Clint Eastwood fan.

    Rosalind - Casablanca is a great film. I've got it on CD and have watched it a few times.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  39. I liked GWTW the movie a lot. But I could never get into the book.

    Happy Weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I can't say that I had quite the GWTW adventure you did, but I did enjoy it when I got to see it. That reminds me, I'd like to get it on DVD. Thanks for sharing your adventure! Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Awesome movie, but I never read the book. I did read the sequel, though, I think it was called Scarlett - it was really good. Clark Gable was sooo yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Ah hahaha...with my coolness. Love it. I had no idea about intermissions. Movies at the two hour mark now a days are lambasted for their length.

    I first saw GWTW in history class. A video, popcorn, and a pass to miss the subsequent class all served to make it the best movie experience EVER!
    Edge of Your Seat Romance

    ReplyDelete
  43. LOL! I could just see myself doing the same thing! I hate to say this but my life is filled with head slapping moments!
    Great post!
    Blessings, Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  44. Carol--I never tried to get into the book and it's a book I don't yet own.

    Karen -- There are some very nice GWTW box sets. Our daughters have given us two different versions as gifts.

    Lady Gwen -- I've heard mixed reactions on Scarlett. It seems to me I'd heard there was a made for TV version of that book?

    Raquel -- How cool to get to watch GWTW in school. They didn't have video when I was in school so we never got to watch movies like that. Sometimes our teachers would give us extra credit if we went to see certain movies in the theater, but it wasn't like missing class.

    Joanne -- I don't know if it such a bad thing to say. Head-slapping moments make for some funny stories and some good laughs--that is when you're not too embarrassed to tell about them.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  45. I haven't seen the movie in a long time. I want to read the book. I haven't, to be honest!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love the movie, which I too have on DVD. but even more so, I love the book.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh, to be born after 1975...

    My mother loves this movie and had me watch it as a kid. It was beautifully done. But I always rooted for the slaves to be free.

    ReplyDelete
  48. movies are fascinating in many ways,,,

    what a review
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  49. GWTW is one of my favorite books of all time and the movie was stunning i still pull it out to watch every now and again

    ReplyDelete
  50. I remember when I was in high school (mid 60s) and my folks were going to see GWTW at a deluxe theater in a ritzy nearby town. I don't quite know how I pulled it off, except that I was doing a book report on the book at the time, but I convinced them to take me with them! The film was shown in Cinerama, so it was an experience I didn't forget for a a very long time.

    And I believe I got an A on the book report, since I "compared and contrasted" the two media (before that phrase was in vogue in education).

    Oh, the good old days! Now I have to get back to viewing GWTW with commentary, which I've been doing for a couple of days now.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Lydia -- I haven't read the book either.

    Liza-- I plan to watch the DVD again this weekend.

    Theresa -- I guess the slaves end up free in the end. It was a sad event of U.S. history.

    Jingle-- Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the...uh...review?

    becca -- Like I say I plan to watch it this weekend.

    Marsha -- Now watching GWTW with commentary is an act of dedication. I'm not sure I'll ever get that far. Plus, the box set I was looking at tonight says it has 5 hours worth of additional material. It's a 4 disk set. My wife has another even more deluxe set and I'm not sure what's in it. Maybe there's a copy of the book?

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  52. GWTW is one of my ultimate all time favorite movies. I remember the first time I saw it in its entirety. We'd rented it from Video King back in 1985.

    My favorite scene is still the widow Scarlett dancing with Captain Butler. I also love the pan back at the train station.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This wouldn't let me a comment yesterday but looks like I am in today. First, you are too funny! Second, I have never seen GWTW in a theater so I don't know if it would have said "Intermission" on the screen. But I knew not to get off my couch and leave my house when the first part ended for two reasons, first, the end of the first tape said intermission, and second, I had two tapes. Third, it was too late and dark to go anywhere. We have GWTW on VHS and I would love to get it on DVD.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Absolutely love this movie and the book!! I read your post on pre-scheduling posts. But on my page, there is no option besides the "set date" option. Do you know of another way to preschedule? I also have some writing on my blog, if you are interested. Keeps me sane.=) http://bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com/
    heatha100@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I have yet to see GWTW. And I was a film major in college. *hangs head in shame*

    ReplyDelete
  56. Great story.

    I saw GWTW for the first time as part of a class trip when I was in junior high. It was showing at Radio City Music Hall! What an experience that was.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Melissa -- Video has made difficult-to-see films so accessible and it's wonderful.

    Gregg--I had some problems with blogger yesterday as well. I'm pretty sure the original film versions had at least an on screen announcement that there was an intermission if not a reel that included interlude music. The DVD versions that I have break the film down onto 2 separate discs. I know now not to leave the house during intermission.

    Heather -- I will check out your blog and I will try to find an answer to your question about prescheduling.

    Phil -- I took several film classes in college but I don't recall if we ever actually discussed GWTW. But if you are a true film buff then you really must see this film.

    Cathy -- Radio City Music hall is such a grand place to see a movie and GWTW would be an especially great film watching experience in that theater.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  58. GWTW was a great film! I prefer seeing films on the big screen even if they are classics. It's something large and magical that seems to draw one into the action.

    I would have been bummed seeing a fuzzy showing of any of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Yes, I remember the days when, if you didn't see a film in the cinema, you had to wait at least a year for it to be on television. And then it would only be on once - not repeated a dozen times over the next couple of weeks.

    I have to say, I much prefer the convenience of DVDs.

    ReplyDelete
  60. It seems so long ago since we couldn't rent or buy movies. I don't care for the movie theater either though I go about once a year to see something I just can't wait for.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Greetings from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa. Richard from Amish Stories.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Maybe I should try and watch this again. I never really cared for the movie but who knows, we all change over time! Love Di ♥

    ReplyDelete
  63. Ha! I hope it's okay if I laugh! I love that you played it cool and strolled on back in -- imagine if you'd missed the end. You'd have been wondering a long time!

    ReplyDelete
  64. That was one long movie as I recall and we didn't have another one that long until the disaster called Cleopatra. They both needed an intermission!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Paula -- I wasn't just bummed, I was disoriented after watching that out of whack film.

    Juliet -- I agree. The convenience of film availability is wonderful.

    Susan -- My wife and I used to go to the movie theater at least once or twice every week, but we haven't been in five years or more. Getting a big screen TV and having DVDs made staying home more attractive as well.

    Richard -- I wonder what the Amish were doing during the Civil War? Are there any Amish Stories set in that era?

    Diana -- It is long but well worth watching. I thought all women liked this film.

    Amie -- I probably wouldn't have wondered much. It ended similarly to a lot of films in the 70s that I was used to watching. Then later when I saw what I'd missed I'd probably have just assumed it was the extended special edition.

    C Lee -- I is a very long movie. I also have the Cleopatra DVD and I actually liked it.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  66. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and laughed at the part where you walked out (not at you, of course--at the way you presented yourself).
    I have not yet read the book or seen the movie. *slap on the forhead* I do have the book perched on a shelf, and I really have no excuse not to see the movie.
    Wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I forget how unaccessible things used to be. I've always had video stories, and my kids have always had direct TV streaming, ipod's and all that.

    Crazy.

    I did love that movie, but I do have a love/hate relationship with the ending.
    But I guess that's the point.

    ReplyDelete
  68. It's funny to think how you had to wait to see movies, and when they were shown on tv, it was a huge deal. I remember being very excited when The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz aired once a year when I was a kid, each time it felt like a special event.

    Love your story about the intermission, I can imagine myself doing that. I never saw GWTW in the theater, but remember seeing it on TV and being totally caught up in it. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  69. That is a movie you definitely need a break in. :) Favorite line, "I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies."
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

    ReplyDelete
  70. Susan -- I laugh about my leaving the theater as well now as it was funny after I had done it. The film is long, but I think you'd enjoy it.

    Jolene -- If the movie had ended in the middle where I almost left, it would have still worked for me and perhaps even better.

    Julie -- I finally watched Sound of Music for the first time this past weekend. The DVD had been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years, but I just never gotten around to seeing it. Loved it! Nice thing is that now I can watch it whenever I feel like it.

    Jules-- It's a very long movie. We were going to watch it last night and just weren't up to it.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  71. I love GWTW. Can't remember exactly how many times I've seen it, but as a fellow film aficionado, it's been many times. Last year when I was homeschooling by the seat of my pants and not the online academy we eventually ended up with, Jake was studying the civil war. I thought, "Great excuse to watch it again. He'll see it first hand, we'll have great discussions, it will be so cool!" He's 14. Guess what he thought. "Well, if it counts for 4 hours of school, I guess I'll watch it. But I'm not talking about it." "Fine, then you can write a paragraph for each of the discussion questions." He hated it. Every single minute. Kept wanting to use his gameboy while watching...I tried. Maybe eventually my grandkids will watch it with me. I have one of the boxed sets.
    Tina @ Life is Good

    ReplyDelete
  72. That was a great story! I guess if the movie had really ended at that point, it would have been different experience. I've seen it a few times and also liked it a lot. I've seen so many movies at the Cerritos Mall, but not GWTW. Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Tina -- Newer generations probably don't have the patience for GWTW. And most of them refuse to watch anything in black and white which is a shame because there are so many great films that are not in color.

    Pat--Actually I remember little about the second half of the film. I guess I have to see it again.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  74. When I was younger, TNT played Gone with the Wind around the holidays. I was always so excited to watch it. I'd love the chance to see it play in a theater!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Arlee,

    I'm lacking, having neither seen or read Gone with the Wind. I would have been embarrassed too if caught in that intermission episode. Can't tell the last time I was inside a theatre! It would be something different for my son to experience.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Brianna -- I don't think I ever watched it from beginning to end on a television network.

    JL -- I don't do theaters anymore, but you should give your son the experience at least once.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee