DVD Talk review of 'Gone with the Wind: CE'

[FilmFanSea]

I take issue with the following criticism from Gil Jawetz' otherwise excellent review: The first two discs feature commentary from film historian Rudy Behlmer. While full of interesting tidbits, this is an overly scripted commentary lacking in any real passion. He recites lots of uninteresting bits (like specific dates when scenes were shot) and does so in a less-than-exciting tone. It's a shame that a more lively and critical discussion couldn't have been included, say by modern filmmakers or social critics.
Rudy Behlmer is a well-regarded film historian and authority on David O. Selznick (the film's producer). For my money, he delivers the best non-academic commentaries on DVDs of classic Hollywood films: Frankenstein, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Invisible Man, Notorious (Criterion Collection), The Black Pirate, Casablanca (I prefer his commentary to that of Roger Ebert), Yankee Doodle Dandy, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (he is also part of the edited group commentary track for Singin' in the Rain).

Given that GWtW lasts four hours, all I can say is Thank God the commentary is "overly scripted." I can think of nothing duller than a commentator trying to talk "passionately" off-the-cuff about a film for 4 hours (which I'm sure would consist of even more "uninteresting bits"). Doing a commentary for a four-hour film is tremendously difficult, but Behlmer has proven time-and-again that he is up to the job.

Grading the extras for this exhaustive 4-disc set at only 4 stars out of 5 seems both preposterous and jaded. I'm curious to know how Warner Brothers could have earned that fifth star ....

[Matt Millheiser]

Different strokes for different folks, FFS. Although I quite agree with you on Rudy Behlmer's commentary. In fact, I've never heard a single commentary of his that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, and GWTW might be his best yet.

After Notorious. :)

[Gil Jawetz]

Thanks for writing. I might have been a little harsh on the commentary but I did think he talked a lot about less-than-interesting minutae of the production. Still, you're right: 4 hours is a looooong time to talk about anything.

The reason I didn't give the extras 5 stars is because, as great as they are, I would have liked something that really broke the film down from a thematic standpoint and dissected all the stuff I talked about in the review. Granted, I may not have detailed all this (after all that writing I was delirious!) but I do feel like it would have been a reasonable and welcome addition.

Star-ratings are a tricky thing. No one can read my review and not sense my enthusiasm for the release but analyzing my ratings too closely may reveal some inconsistencies. Still, great set!

[FilmFanSea]

Fair enough, Gil. Thanks for explaining your thinking.

[Fartface]

Though I haven't listened to the commentary, I would have to agree that Rudy Behlmer, though a knowledgable person, is something of a bore to listen to, especially for 4 hours! His commentaries are interesting if you can stay awake. His deadpan delivery needs some work.

[Gil Jawetz]

I kind of agree (obviously). I mean, there's a place for his commentary but on such an important film as GWTW I would have liked something a little more passionate and interpretive and not just a list of facts. I wish more films would have commentaries that are <i>critical</i> of the film. I would have loved a balanced debate over the controversial aspects of the film.

[G. Noel Gross]

I bristled at David J. Skal's scripted Freaks commentary, but thought better of it after actually listening to what the fella had to say.