In 1971 I saw "Gone With The Wind" in a movie theater during one of the re-releases of the film. Something happened that day that I've never forgotten. In the scene where we first see Clark Gable and Rhett Butler, as the cameras focuses in on him at the bottom of the staircase at Twelve Oaks, there were gasps and the theater was abuzz with chatter about how suave and handsome Clark Gable was. And that buzz was taking place more than a decade after the actor and died, and more than thirty years after the film was made. That type of audience reaction is what the miniseries "Scarlett" couldn't compete with. Timothy Dalton is a very good actor, but he's no Clark Gable. And while I am not overall a fan of Vivien Leigh, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer was no match for her as Scarlett. Nor was the film score. Nor was the photography. Nor was just about anything. But most of all, I just didn't see the plot as a likely next chapter is the story that was "Gone With The Wind". I guess you could make a case that Scarlett would go to Ireland to learn about her father's heritage, but we had a little thing happening right here in America -- Reconstruction -- that would have made some very interesting plot situations. I kept thinking that the story as presented in this television mini-series would have been a much better story had they NOT made it about Scarlett and Rhett, and just made it about another Southern couple. A story totally independent of "GWTW".
The first three (of four) episodes here seemed to drag. The fourth episode perked up a bit. But I have to admit that each time I paid $2 to buy an episode from Amazon I really questioned whether the purchase was worth it. I guess it was...though marginally.
Joanne Whalley-Kilmer did a reasonably good job as Scarlett O'Hara, but her performance lacked the magnetism of Vivian Leigh's performance as the character. Timothy Dalton fared better as Rhett Butler, but as mentioned previously, he was no Clark Gable (but then again, who would be?). Stephen Collins completely botched the role of Ashley Wilkes; perhaps nowhere did the continuity between the two "films" fare so badly as here. Sean Bean as Lord Fenton...eh. Esther Rolle as Mammy...kill her off quick...that's what they accomplished here. I don't usually care for Colm Meaney, but I thought his portrayal here as Father Colum O'Hara was quite good. John Gielgud as Scarlett's maternal grandfather...this seemed more an effort to get a big name actor in the production. Julie Harris as Rhett's mother...a wasted effort by a fine actress. Jean Smart as Sally Brewton...a plot device and nothing more. Melissa Leo as Suellen O'Hara Benteen...no connection with the character from GWTW. Ann-Margret as Belle Watling...the Watling character in the original film was very interesting...made you want to know more about the character; Ann-Margaret's portrayal seemed pedestrian. Paul Winfield as Big Sam, as with Mammy, seemed like a way to kill a character off (figuratively speaking), and the character was so very different than the Big Sam of the original film that it was startling.
In reality, GWTW was "too big" to have a sequel. I felt that way when I read the book sequel, as well. They tried. They pretty much failed.
The first three (of four) episodes here seemed to drag. The fourth episode perked up a bit. But I have to admit that each time I paid $2 to buy an episode from Amazon I really questioned whether the purchase was worth it. I guess it was...though marginally.
Joanne Whalley-Kilmer did a reasonably good job as Scarlett O'Hara, but her performance lacked the magnetism of Vivian Leigh's performance as the character. Timothy Dalton fared better as Rhett Butler, but as mentioned previously, he was no Clark Gable (but then again, who would be?). Stephen Collins completely botched the role of Ashley Wilkes; perhaps nowhere did the continuity between the two "films" fare so badly as here. Sean Bean as Lord Fenton...eh. Esther Rolle as Mammy...kill her off quick...that's what they accomplished here. I don't usually care for Colm Meaney, but I thought his portrayal here as Father Colum O'Hara was quite good. John Gielgud as Scarlett's maternal grandfather...this seemed more an effort to get a big name actor in the production. Julie Harris as Rhett's mother...a wasted effort by a fine actress. Jean Smart as Sally Brewton...a plot device and nothing more. Melissa Leo as Suellen O'Hara Benteen...no connection with the character from GWTW. Ann-Margret as Belle Watling...the Watling character in the original film was very interesting...made you want to know more about the character; Ann-Margaret's portrayal seemed pedestrian. Paul Winfield as Big Sam, as with Mammy, seemed like a way to kill a character off (figuratively speaking), and the character was so very different than the Big Sam of the original film that it was startling.
In reality, GWTW was "too big" to have a sequel. I felt that way when I read the book sequel, as well. They tried. They pretty much failed.