Five-Second Review: Oh, Bruce Chadwick, No
Dear Mr. Chadwick:
Let me preface this by saying that I really liked your book The Reel Civil War. It is a very clear and vivid deconstruction of the vast majority of Civil War films, especially as regards the distorted portrayal of the Confederacy and race relations, and I found it extremely helpful in writing my thesis on the portrayal of the American Civil War in historical fiction. For that, I am grateful. However, since my thesis did not deal with Gone With The Wind (about which, o my readers, much much more later), I missed this shining little tidbit of idiocy.
"The most sensual scene of the film, of course, is when Rhett picks up Scarlett against her will and carries her up the enormous, wide, darkened staircase towards the bedroom. It was considered one of the most erotic scenes of all time-- although some women complained that what he did was rape. Actually, Gable and Leigh couldn't get the scene right and it had to be reshot twelve different times. Each time, Gable had to carry the actress in his arms up that long flight of stairs. After the final take, Gable was completely drained physically and had to rest. He could not have made it up the stairs one more time, much less raped anybody."
OH BRUCE CHADWICK NO.
First of all, FICTION =/= REALITY. No one is saying that Clark Gable raped Vivian Leigh in that scene. I am, in fact, uncertain as to how Clark Gable got into this discussion at all. He had nothing whatsoever to do with Rhett Butler possibly raping Scarlett O'Hara, except in the fact that he lent his image and acting skills to Rhett Butler. His physical state at the conclusion of a shot, therefore, is irrelevant.
Second of all, thank you ever so much for perpetrating the myth that rape requires physical force on the part of the man. It is entirely possible to rape a woman without expending any more effort than that necessary to actually have sex. It is, for that matter, possible for a woman to rape a man. If Scarlett did not consent, then it was rape. End of story.
Third: fuck you.
Love for the things you do well but no love at all for this:
me
Let me preface this by saying that I really liked your book The Reel Civil War. It is a very clear and vivid deconstruction of the vast majority of Civil War films, especially as regards the distorted portrayal of the Confederacy and race relations, and I found it extremely helpful in writing my thesis on the portrayal of the American Civil War in historical fiction. For that, I am grateful. However, since my thesis did not deal with Gone With The Wind (about which, o my readers, much much more later), I missed this shining little tidbit of idiocy.
"The most sensual scene of the film, of course, is when Rhett picks up Scarlett against her will and carries her up the enormous, wide, darkened staircase towards the bedroom. It was considered one of the most erotic scenes of all time-- although some women complained that what he did was rape. Actually, Gable and Leigh couldn't get the scene right and it had to be reshot twelve different times. Each time, Gable had to carry the actress in his arms up that long flight of stairs. After the final take, Gable was completely drained physically and had to rest. He could not have made it up the stairs one more time, much less raped anybody."
OH BRUCE CHADWICK NO.
First of all, FICTION =/= REALITY. No one is saying that Clark Gable raped Vivian Leigh in that scene. I am, in fact, uncertain as to how Clark Gable got into this discussion at all. He had nothing whatsoever to do with Rhett Butler possibly raping Scarlett O'Hara, except in the fact that he lent his image and acting skills to Rhett Butler. His physical state at the conclusion of a shot, therefore, is irrelevant.
Second of all, thank you ever so much for perpetrating the myth that rape requires physical force on the part of the man. It is entirely possible to rape a woman without expending any more effort than that necessary to actually have sex. It is, for that matter, possible for a woman to rape a man. If Scarlett did not consent, then it was rape. End of story.
Third: fuck you.
Love for the things you do well but no love at all for this:
me