Bette Davis gave a poignant characterization of the dying young wife in the screen version of the tragic play, Dark Victory. Edmund Goulding directed the picture for Warner Brothers.
Warners gave Zoe Akins' play based on Edith Wharton's novelette, The Old Maid, an honest, welldirected, and well-cast production, in which Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins gave notable performances. Edmund Goulding also directed this film.
Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur made an expert screen adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, and Samuel Goldwyn gave it a cast and production that resulted in one of the finest pictures Hollywood has ever turned out. Merle Oberon as Cathy, David Niven as Linton, and Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff were a trio that could hardly have been bettered; and William Wyler's direction was superb.
Olivier's acting talents and personality were admirably suited to the moodiness of Heathcliff's character. His was an unforgettable performance.
The great event of 1939, of course, the production that overshadowed all others, was the screen version of Margaret Mitchell's phenomenal best seller, Gone With the Wind. For two years producer David O. Selznick searched for a girl to play Scarlett O'Hara and finally gave the part to Vivien Leigh, who, although English, gave an admirable portrait of the Southern heroine. There was never any doubt about who should play Rhett Butler, and Clark Gable did.
Leslie Howard, shown here with Olivia de Havilland and Miss Leigh, was an admirable choice for the role of Ashley. Miss de Havilland's portrait of Melanie was one of the best performances in the film. The picture took nearly two years to make and cost $3,850,000--easily the most ambitious offering the screen.
Selznick took a heavy risk in presenting a picture that lasted 220 minutes, but the film vindicated his judgment. The picture ran away with most of the Academy awards for the year: it was chosen the best production; Vivien Leigh won the award as the best actress; Hattie McDaniel, as the best supporting actress; Victor Fleming, for the best direction; Sidney Howard, for the best screen play; and awards went to it for the best art direction and best film editing. David O. Selznick received the Thalberg Memorial Award.
M-G-M filmed James Hilton's novel Good-bye, Mr. Chips in England in 1939. Sam Wood went over to direct it, and did a splendid job. Robert Donat, as Chips, gave one of his best performances, and his make-up, as you can see, was a triumph. This film introduced Greer Garson to the American motionpicture public.
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