The 'Gone With The Wind' Cast Looks Back At The Movie 80 Years Later

Jan 23, 2020

Eight decades ago, a movie premiered that made its mark on cinema history forever. There are still two surviving cast members from that 1940 film, and they sat down for an interview about the legendary "Gone With the Wind."

Actors Mickey Kuhn, 87, and Olivia de Havilland, 103, spoke to Closer Weekly on the occasion of the film's 80th anniversary to reflect back on its impact and share memories with one another and their fans. Kuhn played Beau Wilkes as a child actor while de Havilland starred as Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, Scarlett O'Hara's sister-in-law and best friend.

De Havilland shared an insight into one of her co-stars, the iconic Clark Gable who made the role of Rhett Butler a household name, telling the publication that he was very worried about getting the character right and fulfilling the world's idea of Rhett. With that serious goal ahead of him, Gabel rehearsed over and over with his co-star Vivien Leigh and the two filled the roles of the iconic characters with aplomb.

Kuhn shared a sweet anecdote about the day he was on set with Clark Gable, saying that the little child actor was incredibly nervous to be in the presence of such a large production with such adored actors. He remembered how he was supposed to say "Hello uncle Rhett" but was so shaken that he continuously said "Hello uncle Clark" over several takes. There was a lot of pressure to get the line right but Gable did not want little Mickey Kuhn to despair and pulled him aside to say, "You’re right, my name is Clark, but here my name is Rhett." The pep talk encouraged the little boy and he then got the line right.

Kuhn and de Havilland were part of a great old Hollywood cinema tradition and are icons in their own right for their participation in "Gone With the Wind." But for all of the acclaim and status of the movie, Kuhn has shockingly only seen it once, saying "That's enough."

What surprising revelations from the two actors we've learned here today! How many times have you seen "Gone With the Wind?" Are you a one-timer like Mickey Kuhn or have you seen it for repeat viewings?