8mm Forum: Gone With The Wind feature

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Topic: Gone With The Wind feature

Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted June 02, 2014 04:30 AM

GONE WITH THE WIND
8X600ft Reels colour sound
Derann Films

Amazingly nobody has done a review of GWTW so we need to put this to rights obviously.

From a fading memory I believe this reached Super 8mm in 1987 (someone can put me right if I have that incorrect) and around the release date I obtained a print which locally with my film collector friends went down in 8mm history and led to us projecting the film very VERY regularly over a 12 month period or so. The shows were always packed as our friends would then arrange to bring other friends and family along so it turned into quite a memorable time way back then. I used two identical machines side by side so the only time there was a break in projection was at the interval. Very happy days!

Now then the review. The boxes and yes all eight of them have some nice traditional GWTW artwork on each containing 600ft reels with either LPP film base or in later years the AGFA film stock types. The earlier LPP prints are brighter and far less contrasty but you do have a choice when looking for a used film print. Gone With The Wind was a troubled production with many ups and downs causing much strain on its producer David O. Selznick, but after much delay and re writes it did finally get finished and boy what a movie with a stunning cast list including Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard to name but a few. I have always thought Leslie was superb in this film with his ponderous looks and they did such a great job on his makeup and costumes showing him off at his very best, Vivien also giving a stellar performance and perhaps her best.

Preparation when projecting this lengthy film is key as is the presentation you give of it. I found it best to make an event of it all posting out invitations for your private screening, laying on food where your audience can chat over the film after the screening which all adds to the overall filmic experience. Derann Films secured some very nice master material for this release of the story wrapped around the American Civil War and this transcended to 8mm beautifully being a popular collector’s title perhaps with the more serious 8mm collectors. I recall my numerous screenings often and regularly romance about them as you do…age is sometimes a wonderful thing you know.

The Super 8 print is gorgeous and although as we know we now have a remastered, remastered updated Blu-Ray disc available I personally much prefer the 8mm release above all else for the home big screen experience. The problem for me with all the remastering of this gem which has taken place over the years is, its been mucked about with so much I could ask is it still the same watch as the original? On 8mm it looks organic also with its original sound track plus you have the physical experience of projecting a true classic movie like no other that is for sure. It is a colourful view with many shades and fantastic use of lighting like no other in my opinion, a crafted story and on screen performances of the highest calibre.

So on with the show! From the minute the opening title hits the screen and the wonderful Max Steiner musical score exits the speakers the audience are drawn to the screen. Projecting reels 1,2,3,4 then lead us into the interval logo which is a very nice touch and time to break out the ice creams perhaps. I think out of the final 4 600ft reels I would probably site reel 8 as the best view of all where the multi facetted storyline all comes together ending on ‘tomorrow is another day’ a hopeful sentiment and we hear the final rise of music and not a dry eye in the house.

Well there you have it, a home projectionists view of Gone With The Wind a super 8 film I have projected probably more than any other and certainly one of the longest to make it onto 8mm film. My own rating for this will most certainly be 10/10 for everything and a high point in Derann Films history for bringing us the best on our home screens.

Print 10/10
Sound 10/10
Repeatability 10/10
Fun projecting 10/10