Carol Burnett's 1976 'Gone With the Wind' Parody Hasn't Aged
Apr 01, 2020
"The Carol Burnett Show" came to our screens in 1967, and over its 11-year TV run it brought joy to a whole host of fans. Younger generations may not know about it, but her "Gone with the Wind" parody has stood the test of time.
The spoof was actually entitled: "Went with the Wind," with Burnett playing "Starlet O'Hara," instead of Scarlett O'Hara. Burnett timed the sketch to coincide with the very first television screening of "Gone with the Wind." Everyone was watching the film so the team decided to go with the zeitgeist and condense the epic movie into a 20-minute comedy show.
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The scene opens with Burnett walking down the staircase at the Terra Plantation and greeting guests. She soon learns her unrequited love will be moving away. This sets the tone of the comedy and it doesn't falter once. The show ends with one of the iconic lines from the original film being transformed into pure comedy.
Although the whole performance is hilarious, the most memorable moment is when Burnett is wearing a curtain rod dress to entice Captain Ratt Butler. She needs to do this to persuade him to give her the money. She says, "I saw it in a window and just couldn't resist it." This makes the audience erupt with laughter.
The CBS show was a huge cultural hit. In total it won 25 primetime Emmy Awards, and in 2007, Time put the series on its All-Time 100 Best TV Shows.
Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas, but grew up in Hollywood as a young girl, when she moved there with her grandmother, reports the Los Angeles Times. Burnett paved the way for mainstream shows today. In recognition of her work, in 2005, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for "enhancing the lives of millions of Americans and for her extraordinary contributions to American entertainment."
Even if you weren't around for the era of "The Carol Burnett Show," you will still be able to appreciate her understanding of culture and comedy. Share this with anyone who needs a good laugh at this time, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.