What would you most like to ask?

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 2:41 pm

Oh, yes, I would love to ask that too! Although I strongly suspect she would not give us an answer.

I think she always intended the book to end the way it did. She refused to write a sequel, and said the book ended the way it was supposed to (or something to that effect).

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 3:40 pm

I think my mind would go blank if I were ever in the same room with an author to ask a question, and I very much want to keep my own impressions of a work of fiction separate from the views and public persona of an author. I do have a fantasy about how much fun it would be to have certain authors sitting at a bar having drinks together and overhearing their zany conversation.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 4:26 pm

I would love to ask Dickens how the Mystery of Edwin Drood was supposed to end, since he so inconsiderately died before completing the book.

LoobyG · Post by **LoobyG** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 5:16 pm

[quote=""Michy""]Oh, yes, I would love to ask that too! Although I strongly suspect she would not give us an answer.

I think she always intended the book to end the way it did. She refused to write a sequel, and said the book ended the way it was supposed to (or something to that effect).[/quote]

I bet if we knew the way the story ended, Gone with the wind wouldn't be the same. 'Frankly my dear...'etc is such a fantastic ending, it's hard to see how it would be bettered! Although the hopeless romantic in me would have liked to see Rhett and Scarlett live happily ever after. But then, they wouldn't have been Rhett and Scarlett then...

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 5:28 pm

[quote=""LoobyG""]I bet if we knew the way the story ended, Gone with the wind wouldn't be the same. 'Frankly my dear...'etc is such a fantastic ending, [/quote]

I absolutely agree -- part of what makes GWTW so strong and memorable is the uncertain ending. Margaret Mitchell was no dummy when it came to storytelling.

For whatever it's worth.... the word "frankly" isn't in the book. It was added in the movie.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed October 20th, 2010, 6:57 pm

Yes, wasn't 'frankly' to take the emphasis off 'damn'? Not an appropriate word in those days.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu October 21st, 2010, 12:37 am

[quote=""Vanessa""]Yes, wasn't 'frankly' to take the emphasis off 'damn'? Not an appropriate word in those days.[/quote]

Perhaps, although I've never heard that. I think it was added just to give a little extra punch to Rhett's final statement. It does give it more attitude!

Although the producer was granted permission to use the word "damn", he was fined $5,000 for breaking the Hays Code -- which was probably a lot of money back in 1939!!

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu October 21st, 2010, 10:53 am

Yes, it would've been a lot of money back then. It's quite a lot for some people in today's world due to what's happening. Just think if that happened now, the powers that be would be rolling in it! LOL.

In the film I think Rhett puts the emphasis on 'Frankly' rather than 'damn' whereas in the book it's the word 'damn' which stands out.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu October 21st, 2010, 2:52 pm

I have a two-CD set of the entire musical score of the movie, along with a booklet about the movie and the making of it (both were produced by Turner, who owns the movie). There are a lot of interesting tidbits. For instance, both Clark Gable and Leslie Howard had to be essentially bribed to take their parts (unlike Vivien Leigh and Olivia De Havilland who both really wanted their parts). And then there is the apocryphal legend about how Leigh was "discovered" as the perfect Scarlett......

LoobyG · Post by **LoobyG** » Thu October 21st, 2010, 3:04 pm

That just shows how long it's been since I read the book, it must be ten years

Now the film, I've seen so many times, it's one of my all time favourites. I bet Clark Gable and Leslie Howard were glad they took those parts in the end! Do share the legend Michy!