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Editorial Reviews
MARGARET MITCHELL: AMERICAN REBEL tells the compelling story of the author s life. Through dramatic reenactments and interviews with top Mitchell scholars, Margaret Mitchell emerges as a complex and fascinating woman who had much in common with her iconic creation, Scarlett O Hara.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mitchell may not have had the body of work of some of the other Am Masters subjects, but was still larger than life
April 3, 2012
By feedthecat
Having enjoyed more than a few PBS American Masters programs (my fav is prob the one on Sam Cooke) & read GONE WITH THE WIND many years ago, and being cognizant that the 900+ page epic was its author's only novel, I made a point of watching this AM offering, which premiered April 2, 2012. As one soon discovers, the subject of MARGARET MITCHELL: AMERICAN REBEL may not have produced the body of work to rival that of other AM artists, but she had a personality and a(n early) life that could rival those of any of them, especially when one considers that she was a woman who came of age in the Deep South during the "Roaring Twenties".
The examination of her childhood was particularly interesting as, among other things, a certain event prompted Mitchell's mother, Mary Isabel "May Belle" Stephens, a suffragette, to decide to clothe her daughter in slacks - rather than dresses or skirts - from that point on; Mitchell was told many stories by her Georgian relatives about the events of the Civil War, stories so glowing about the Confederacy that it was several years before she learned that the South had lost; the many ways that she expressed her creative side (though this did not include reading great works of literature that her well-educated mother wanted her to); and her ambivalent relationship with May Belle, the most important influence in her life, who nutured Margaret in a caring, but cold and distant manner. Given the above, it's not surprising that Mitchell quite often behaved in an "unlady-like" manner and was attracted to professions then largely practised by men.
Another interesting theme of this doc is Mitchell's take on black-white relations, sometimes seeming to be way ahead of her time and other times seeming to be very much a product of her era and Southern upbringing. These inconsistent views were also evident in her first and only novel, GONE WITH THE WIND, published in 1936 (the doc also delves into the unusual events that led to its publication), her reaction to criticisms as to how she handled the "race issue" in it, and how that issue swirled around the film adaptation of the book. However, as Mitchell did not write any more novels and as she only lived 'til the age of 48, AMERICAN REBEL wraps up relatively quickly after examining the film's reception.
Like other American Masters offerings, this one features many archival photos and video, contains many "dramatic re-enactments", and has its share of talking heads, the overwhelming majority of whom are Mitchell biographers and scholars. Unfortunately, since she was born way back in 1900, did not have children, and pretty much avoided the spotlight after the movie's release (not only to enjoy her privacy, but also to tend to her ailing second husband), there weren't a whole lot of people who knew her well still alive to have been interviewed for this piece. Nonetheless, AMERICAN REBEL turned out to be one of the more entertaining AM programs and its subject one of the more unique and lively ones.
Executive Producer and Writer Pamela Roberts. Narrated by Harry Prichell. This 1 disc, 60 minute dvd is subtitled.
The examination of her childhood was particularly interesting as, among other things, a certain event prompted Mitchell's mother, Mary Isabel "May Belle" Stephens, a suffragette, to decide to clothe her daughter in slacks - rather than dresses or skirts - from that point on; Mitchell was told many stories by her Georgian relatives about the events of the Civil War, stories so glowing about the Confederacy that it was several years before she learned that the South had lost; the many ways that she expressed her creative side (though this did not include reading great works of literature that her well-educated mother wanted her to); and her ambivalent relationship with May Belle, the most important influence in her life, who nutured Margaret in a caring, but cold and distant manner. Given the above, it's not surprising that Mitchell quite often behaved in an "unlady-like" manner and was attracted to professions then largely practised by men.
Another interesting theme of this doc is Mitchell's take on black-white relations, sometimes seeming to be way ahead of her time and other times seeming to be very much a product of her era and Southern upbringing. These inconsistent views were also evident in her first and only novel, GONE WITH THE WIND, published in 1936 (the doc also delves into the unusual events that led to its publication), her reaction to criticisms as to how she handled the "race issue" in it, and how that issue swirled around the film adaptation of the book. However, as Mitchell did not write any more novels and as she only lived 'til the age of 48, AMERICAN REBEL wraps up relatively quickly after examining the film's reception.
Like other American Masters offerings, this one features many archival photos and video, contains many "dramatic re-enactments", and has its share of talking heads, the overwhelming majority of whom are Mitchell biographers and scholars. Unfortunately, since she was born way back in 1900, did not have children, and pretty much avoided the spotlight after the movie's release (not only to enjoy her privacy, but also to tend to her ailing second husband), there weren't a whole lot of people who knew her well still alive to have been interviewed for this piece. Nonetheless, AMERICAN REBEL turned out to be one of the more entertaining AM programs and its subject one of the more unique and lively ones.
Executive Producer and Writer Pamela Roberts. Narrated by Harry Prichell. This 1 disc, 60 minute dvd is subtitled.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw this documentary on PBS and found it to be filled with information and unknown facts about this amazing author. I bought it for my sister who is a rabid GWTW fan. She loves it and it was definitely the perfect gift for her.
By KenC
Amazon Verified Purchase
TAKES ONE INTO THE LIFE OF MARGARET AND EXPLAINS HER WRITING STYLE AND HOW SHE DEVELOPED THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
GEORGIA HISTORY
Really enjoyed this documentary. There was so much I did not know about Mrs. Mitchell. This is a great dvd to show for Black History in the schools and book clubs. Mrs. Read more
Published 1 month ago by AN2NET
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frankly, my dear!
I originally saw this on PBS and wanted to get it for my sister, a real Scarlett fan. It took awhile to find it, but it's now in my sister's birthday bag of goodies.
Published 2 months ago by Tillie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great documentary for those of us that love Gone With the Wind!
This is a wonderful review for Gone With the Wind readers. She was a very interesting author and this is a fascinating documentary.
Published 4 months ago by hi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring
The American Masters series is always informative and interesting. The Margaret Mitchell profile does not disappoint. It is filled with history come alive. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S Stephanie
