Tuesday, January 27, 2015

GONE WITH THE WIND - Green Curtain Dress in Austin, Texas

 Earlier this month, we managed to make it to the Harry Ransom Center museum in downtown, Austin to see behind the scenes memorabilia from Gone With the Wind.

Have you ever seen the movie, or better yet, read the "phone book sized" book?

I've done both. The first time I saw the movie was when it first aired at the drive-in movies in a small town in Missouri. Then many years later, I tackled the book.

Then the movie came out in VHS (two tapes) and I got that from my family for Christmas (am I dating myself here?)

Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel was truly epic, and what I remember the most is the famous green curtain that she yanked from her window to turn into a dress (pictured above)

And of course, the calm, cool collected Rhett butler and Scarlett's spoiled pout.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!"

As a seamstress, I must confess, I now look at curtains differently when calculating the costs of recreating a long gown. Collecting used curtains would be much cheaper than buying new fabric by the yard.

Due to us waiting till the very last day to see the exhibit, the area was packed with long lines. I managed to get a few photos of the actual gowns that were worn during the show as well as some screen shots.


Actual screenplay with notes and corrections.

Glad we went. Finally. We kept putting it off during the holidays, thinking (quoting movie) "after all, tomorrow is another day." ...till we barely made it in time.