Gone with the Wind will return to HBO Max in the future with a new introduction discussing the film's racial themes. Often cited as a beloved classic among film critics, Gone with the Wind was a massive hit when it was released in 1939. It won ten Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African American performer to win an Oscar. The film is still one of the highest-grossing movies of all time when adjusted for inflation. Gone with the Wind tells the story of Southern debutante Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) during and beyond the American Civil War.
For all of its achievements and praise, Gone with the Wind has been the subject of much scrutiny over the years because of its depiction of slavery. Instead of portraying the realities of slavery, Gone with the Wind presents it in a far more positive light that many have called harmful. With the Black Lives Matter movement gaining great attention in recent weeks, streaming service HBO Max pulled Gone with the Wind just last week, explaining they felt "to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement o f those depictions would be irresponsible." Even when issuing their official statement about the film's removal, HBO Max confirmed it would return in the future with "a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions."
It's still unclear as to when exactly Gone with the Wind will return to HBO Max, but more information has been given about what that discussion will be. Jacqueline Stewart, the host of Turner Classic Movies' Silent Sunday Movies, wrote an opinion piece for CNN about both the negative depictions found in Gone with the Wind and the reasons why it is important to study the film as it is. Stewart concluded this by saying she will be the one to create the introduction for Gone with the Wind "placing the film in its multiple historical contexts."
The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the calls for more Black voices within entertainment, has led to many changes both inside the entertainment industry and out. Several actors and actresses have spoken out about how Black characters are treated on television and film, such as Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan. The Gone with the Wind removal and adjustments is the latest change, and it is one that seems like a positive step forward.
As many have said, Gone with the Wind is a key piece of film history that offers insight into how African Americans were portrayed at the time. While those portrayals are in no way positive, it can be valuable to remember them and see what can be done better in the future. The addition of a new introduction for Gone with the Wind will surely help illuminate these issues and provide some vital context for viewers to keep in mind while they watch. The only question left is when Gone with the Wind will make its reappearance on HBO Max.
Source: CNN