Round 1: Gone With the Wind vs Trouble in Paradise

I think GWTW gets picked on because it is so well known. Hopefully not starting an argument, but critics, IMO focus on the films instead of focusing on making things right today.

IMO teach the history of film-fine. Criticizing actors for the roles they accepted to get work-not fine. I like Hattie McDaniels' quote "I'd rather play a maid than be one." It's the faceless people (to most of us) who excuse themselves with only a white actor can play this part-not fine-I say they don't look hard enough. In the studio system the powers didn't seem to try very hard to develop people of color except to reaffirm stereotypes. I risk saying maybe in the time of the studio system maybe they couldn't make money unless the stars were white. But that was yesterday. Now there are quotas involved in applying to nominate a film for Oscar. Not sure how helpful that is-a writer can always write an extraneous part to insert to meet a quota. Need more decision makers to stretch their thinking-like Howard Hawks turning THE FRONT PAGE into a male/female duo instead of both main characters male. And while I'm spouting, too many films were message pictures when minorities got roles. I believe it was Capra and I have to paraphrase because I don't remember the exact quote if you entertain people the message gets across.

Sorry you asked, Sepiatone?

I saw GWTW on the big screen at a rep in the 80s. It was a very strange experience that changed my feelings about the picture.

We all entered the theatre I'm sure in all earnestness but very quickly nervous tittering began to break out, eventually turning to all out raucous laughter throughout the audience.

I was a bit discombobulated at first but not as much as the pair of young women behind me, truly upset at the turn in the atmosphere. They were quite upset and didn't come around to the hilarity of some of the uncomfortable acting, writing and stereotypes as most of the rest of us were forced to confront in a communal environment.

Lucky Dan, I should have made clear people criticizing a film in the belief they are improving a situation, not meaning film critics. The white savior thing may bite TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD eventually. I still identify with it on the stand up for what you believe is right. In 1960, in a restaurant on Pennsylvania Turnpike, my family was dressed rather casually. A couple of color both elegantly dressed was refused service. It wasn't much of a gesture, but my father said let's go, paid the bill and we left. True, the restaurant lost no money, we didn't effect change, but Dad said we wouldn't participate in that discrimination. He taught talk doesn't always make change, there has to be action sometimes.