Interesting question. I haven't read the book so I don't know if there's any insight there.

Pure speculation, but I wonder if Melanie's death didn't actually push Scarlett towards Rhett. It always seemed that Scarlett always wanted what she couldn't have. With Melanie's tragic death, Ashley was now fair game. Once Ashley was within reach, it seemed the "forbidden" aspect of the relationship was gone.

Yes she did always want what she couldn't have. But think she too finally saw what Melanie and Rhett always had, that she and Rhett were one in the same. Unfortunately, Rhett was just too broken and done.

Scarlett didn't love Rhett, she only clung to him at the end because it was clear Ashley had no interest in her even after Melanie died.

She loved land, though. The greatest love of all apparently.

And money, her other great love. Lol

@CountJohn said:

Scarlett didn't love Rhett, she only clung to him at the end because it was clear Ashley had no interest in her even after Melanie died.

Scarlett wasn't very nice, but she was no fool. There was no way Ashley would jump on top of Scarlett with his wife in repose right in front of him. Ashley was fair game and Scarlett would realize that if she wanted him, she would have a decent shot at him after the mourning period was over.

Remember when she fell down the stairs and she was bedridden, and she calls for Rhett? She doesn't think he will come though, but she did want him there. She does love him and he was sick with worry about her. They both were really prideful though and that is where everything got muddled.

I know I'm going to set the cat among the pigeons here, - but I found the film to be overlong, hammy, badly acted and boring. Scarlett was the poster woman for spoilt, selfish, cruel and conniving women everywhere. Scenery was lovely though.....

Maureen, you should read the book. IMO, much better than the film. But I love them both. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That is why we have chocolate and vanilla ice cream :)

I have read the book....and I guess that's why I was so disappointed with the film. But , as you said, everybody has their own preferences, - and a boring world it would be, if we all liked the same things !!

@jomccallister said:

That is why we have chocolate and vanilla ice cream :)

This reminds me of a web episode (about 4 minutes) on dailymotion with Jane Krakowski. She is eating ice cream and watching "Gone With The Wind" and suddenly she is in the movie as Scarlett.

On a side note: I wonder if eating ice cream with her friends would have helped her make the right decision.

Ice cream always makes everything better 🍦🍧

@NZer said:

I know I'm going to set the cat among the pigeons here, - but I found the film to be overlong, hammy, badly acted and boring. Scarlett was the poster woman for spoilt, selfish, cruel and conniving women everywhere. Scenery was lovely though.....

I agree. Could have been cut to 3 hours, and done with a bit of a rewrite for the characters. Needed a better climatic moment in the film between the main 4 characters. I have never read the book, so I can only go by the film I saw.

This film plays as the shortest long film I've ever seen. I wish the deleted scenes (which were literally deleted and scrapped) were available for a "director's cut". People also need to realize the acting styles were typical of the time, that is, based on earlier stage performances.