American old film class Gone with the Wind and Red River - Essay Example

Gone with the Wind” and “Red River” The two American films were set in historical atmosphere, the first set in pre and post Civil war period, the second set in Texas at the time where Chisholm Trial was taken place respectively. While the fact whether the history has been depicted accurately has to be answered under doubtful circumstances. Gone with the Wind and the American Civil war: The American civil war bears the reason as slavery being the main cause behind it. And this point has been portrayed as a key feature of this film.

The participation of the characters, to be more precise the black men and women in the film, do reflect a Civil War time. But when we go through the actual history, we could realize that the slave trade was a peak cause for the out burst of the civil war, and also we could understand the slave trade and the treatment of slaves, the minimal or zero freedom given to them even to make decision in their daily activities etc. This aspect seems to be missing in this film, though the term ‘darkies” has been referred to the black slave characters who appear in the screen, is one of the influences of the history and the sentiments of the civil war.

The photography of the Old South, the plantations of the Tara, where the heroine wants to take refugee with her family, is all resemblances of the Civil War period. But then the cinematic effect could be identified as aloof from reality. The character of Mammy, one of the happiest of black slaves is found out to be an exceptional slave, as she seems to be a very happy person, utilizing the full freedom in her household. This aspect, as mentioned above deviates from the historical notion or the Civil War notion of how a salve was treated during that time.

Freedom was a constraint for the slaves during the Civil war time.Coming to the Red River, the cattle herding, which was found out to be the most profitable income for the cowboys and which also gave a good recognition for the cowboys during the time when Chisholm Trial was opened. This event was also taken place during the time of Civil War. On the whole both the movies were centered on the years 1850-1870.The location, Texas, where the film was shoot is yet another point for the success of this movie.

But coming to the point of cattle herds that were driven through the trial, is becomes quiet doubtful whether the cattle herds shown in the movie driven by Dunstan really bring out an accurate picture or effect of the original historical incident. Because it has been recorded in many history books that there were thousands and thousands of herds driven towards the Chisholm trial. But then the movie provides a semi accurate picture or demonstration what had happened during the time when the original incident took place.

The strategies are the herd of cattle that were driven by the hero shoot in the realistic spot through the Red River, and the costumes and the expression of the artist do favor the success of the film, that gives a realistic notion for the audience. As far as the film Gone With the Wind is concerned, the strategy lies in the black characters and the white characters who come and rescue Scarlett , and the historical situations that lead her to seek refuge in Tara plantations . But on the whole despite the reason that these are movie versions, these films will definitely make the audience understand atleast what might have been the situation during the war time.