Exhausting at least three directors, stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh and enough extras to refight the Civil War, megalomaniac producer David O. Selznick delivered the epic of 1939. Though monumental enough to be beyond criticism, most of Gone With The Wind's truly great scenes come during the first half - substantially directed by George Cukor, who brought his skilled touch with character to material concerning big historical themes. Victor Fleming, meanwhile - best known for macho action - wound up handling the soapier stretches.
With gorgeous Technicolor, pastel-pretty for the dresses and blazing red for the passions, and a thunderous Max Steiner score, this might still be the last word in Hollywood cinema.