Gone with the Wind Part 2

This post is part of The Film Experience's wonderful Hit Me With Your Best Shot series, and continues from Gone with the Wind Part 1.

Part 2 is not my favourite part of the movie - the story drags on and the addition of Scarlett's child drags the movie even more. Even though her death acts as a catalyst for Rhett leaving Scarlet in the movie's famous ending, it is not even the most affecting death. That honour goes to Melanie, and her final farewell to Scarlet is the cathartic end to the most enduring, functional and satisfying relationship of the whole movie. For me, Melanie encapsulates all that is good in the movie, and once she dies, the manners and honour of the old South are truly gone with the wind.

This was the surprise revelation for me upon this rewatch, and I found myself cheering loudly whenever Melanie revealed her awesome self, such as when she plays along with Rhett when the policemen come to arrest her husband. While Scarlett takes action and creates waves around her, Melanie remains the calm moral centre of the film.

When Melanie sees Scarlett and Ashley in an embrace later in the film, I always feel it's a betrayal more of Scarlett and Melanie's relationship than anything else. How dare Ashley get between these two strong women! So it is always such a relief when Melanie not only accepts Scarlett in for Ashley's surprise birthday party, but also defends her. This scene has my favourite shot:

After trying to implore her guests to receive "our Scarlett", she gives up and just leads her straight to Ashley. But not before quietly giving the best side stink-eye in the whole film to one particularly haughty guest. Surrounded by beaded dresses (lust and desire), expensive frills (wealth) and made up hair (social class), her look is rather dowdy and demur, but right in the centre of her dress and the frame is her heart of gold, shining brightly for all to see. It is beautiful and pure, but also hard as any metal. And it is one that will let no-one give shade to those she loves.

This shot captures a small and quiet moment, overshadowed by Scarlett's entrance and the end of the sequence when they reach Ashley. And yet, it is one that fills me with such joy and admiration for Melanie, who herself is always overshadowed by Scarlett. Here's to the quiet ones with the hearts of gold!