The enduring popularity and success of Gone with the wind can be put down to various different factors, the superb performances, captivating story, and groundbreaking production to name a few, yet it is the amalgamation of all these factors and more which has made gone with the wind a timeless classic.

When David O Selznick purchased the rights to Margaret Mitchell's novel for $50 000

He intended to make the greatest and grandest of motion pictures, and he succeeded.

At the time of selznicks purchase, Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind was already a best-seller, at the time already having sold around 180 000 copies, now there have been 25 million copies sold world-wide in 185 editions.

Mitchell's novel had a widely popular response from critics and the public alike, yet it was not marketing or the publisher that made the novel such a success but the story and the characters, and selznick saw the massive potential that the novel had to be translated onto the silver screen despite scepticism from the public and his industry peers.

Selznick is still recognised today as perhaps 'the greatest producer in an era of great producers', the film was his personal triumph, in a time

Also important in respect to casting was the character of Rhett Butler, Selznick's first and second choices being Gary Cooper and Errol Flyn respectively, but the role eventually went to Clark Gable who gives a career best, discernible performance as the worldly entrepreneur. Gable lost out on the Best actor Oscar to Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr Chips which was an unexpected result.

Selznick had his vision for Scarlett O Hara and he intended to match it, however long and arduous the process, but after a two year search, countless rumours and gossip, the contenders were narrowed down to two actresses, Paulette Goddard the rumoured favourite, and a little known English actress called Vivien Leigh, it was the stunningly beautiful Leigh who finally landed the role which every actress in Hollywood wanted.

The picture swept across the country with a growing reputation, M.G.M labelling it 'the greatest motion picture ever made', widespread advertising and word of mouth all contributing to the film as a media phenomenon, whether the movie was 'the greatest motion picture ever made' is obviously open to debate, but the public seemed to think so.

Selznick himself also wrote the films now famous prologue which introduces the audience to a 'land of cavaliers and cattle fields' and ' a civilisation gone with the wind'.

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