Customer Reviews

Gone With The Wind: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition)

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The original Steiner recordings of this film were discovered in the 60's and had never received an original soundtrack issue. All soundtracks of the film prior to this deluxe edition were re-recordings of the score. Now we get the original full length recordings. Sure, the fidelity has moments of weakness, but the historical value of the tracks are reason enough to overlook any shortcomings. All of the film's wonderful visuals will leap into your mind when listening. Steiner's use of themes from American standards blended with his own compositions is brilliant. I hear new things every time I listen.

What a pleasure to be able to hear virtually all of the original soundtrack! I bought the standard vinyl original soundtrack recording in the late 60's after the theatrical re-release that introduced me to what was to become my all-time favorite film, and eventually wore it out through overuse. It was worth the wait to be able to replace it with this fine effort, which includes deluxe packaging and a beautiful 52-page booklet on the making of the film. Granted, one wonders if perhaps the music could have been better restored but I suppose caution is indicated--overzealous use of noise-reduction technology has ruined many a remastering effort. No matter; the first few notes brought tears to my eyes.
I advise GWTW fans to go the extra mile and invest in this two-disk definitive set that will grace any collection. And for the uninitiated, my advice is to "go for it." Max Steiner, who blessed generations of movie goers with scores for such classics as King Kong; Now, Voyager; and Casablanca, composed one of the most famous and recognizable soundtracks in cinema history for what many believe to be the greatest movie of all time--find out why.

A wonderful 2 disc soundtrack of the film. I know GWTW like a second language, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear music that I never noticed before such as Charles Hamilton Challenges Rhett, and many other "extended" versions.
Rudy Behlmer's liner notes are enlightening, informative, and make for interesting reading.
Max Steiner enthusiasts, and soundtrack aficionados will relish this set.

Sadly, my exposure to this excellent 2-CD soundtrack set of Gone With The Wind has been from friends who own this set. Almost every note of music from this historic film score is present, including music not previously heard in the film. The sound quality is not always perfect, but considering these recordings are nearly 70 years old, it's forgiveable.

One glaring omission is the exclusion of the overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music tracks. True, they're merely 5 minute suites of score heard elsewhere in the film, but I happen to think they're excellent suites and should have been included here. Other than that, it's a perfect set.

However, I'd like to be able to enjoy a 2-Disc set of my own. I'd like to be able to actually touch it and hold it and see the beautiful box art in person. I'd like to be able to look at the disc art in person. I'd also love to be able to read the booklet that comes with the box. I own Rhino's 2-CD Wizard of Oz soundtrack, and I know this one's booklet will be just as excellent as the Oz booklet.

And yes, I can touch it, read the booklet, and flat out own the thing...if I'm willing to pay $80 or more on eBay or Amazon Marketplace. C'mon, Rhino, I know you're reading this. Stop acting like you work for Disney and keep your soundtracks, compilations, etc. in print. Not all of us can just afford to toss aside $100 for an out of print soundtrack. True, there's the single-disc version that's still in print, but why? Why not keep BOTH in print? Consumers LIKE choices. I'd surely pay $25-$30 for this soundtrack, as it's absolutely 100% worth it. But not $100+ from internet sellers. It's not fair to force the fans to choose between an affordable release that's incomplete and made really only for the casual fan, or an outrageously expensive OOP edition that has everything you could want.

Please bring this 2-Disc set back into print, Rhino! As FRank Kennedy would say, please don't leave us on tenderhooks!

This is a great milestone. "Gone With The Wind" represents a great landmark in film music. Rhino's deluxe packaging of this great score written by the legendary Max Steiner gives us the unique opportunity to appreciate the scale and grandeur of a musical work that will last years and years in our hearts. Do not bother in purchasing re-recordings, this is the original soundtrack, as it was recorded in 1939, in all its splendour.

Not only is Gone With The Wind the greatest movie of all time, Max Steiner produced the greatest moviescore of all time. The ONLY way the movie Gone With The Wind could have been improved would have been to crank the music score up a lot louder!

The music for "Gone with the Wind" is probably the greatest soundtrack for a non-musicical film. It stands as the epitome of motion picture background music and Tara's theme remains the most stellar and easily recognizable opening music ever devised. Max Steiner's work is sadly under-appreciated today (he was also responsible for the gorgeous "Now Voyager" soundtrack). His work here approaches perfection. Too few people recognize that the music in GWTW is an absolutely vital component to the film, one which holds the characters and plot together in a mesmerizing way.

All GWTW fans know Rhett and Ashley's respective themes, and listening to them on disc (without seeing the accompanying visuals) highlights Steiner's subtle genius. The only criticism is that the sound quality here is substandard. There is no excuse why the film itself could be beautifully restored to its 1939 glory, yet this music still sounds scratchy, dated and imperfect. Still, this is an essential soundtrack for any musical or film buff.

Max Steiner is the Father of movie soundtracks. He came along during their infancy, and impacted their future breadth and scope. The one vivid scene that Gone With The Wind fans will always recall, is the score music that is played while the camera captures the sweep of the wounded strewn street. A broad panoply of emotions is evidenced in his score ranging from the last of the carefree days before the Civil War through the grim times of the consequences of war. This was a monumental undertaking for Steiner, but as witnessed here, he was more than up to the challenge.