Summary: The classic movie “Gone with the Wind” is being pulled from theaters due to its racially “insensitive” content.
A historic Memphis, Tennessee theater has pulled “Gone with the Wind” from any screenings after 34 years of showing the movie. The Orpheum Theatre removed the 1939 Civil War film due to racially “insensitive” material.
The timing of the removal comes as violence continues to break out across the country over racial tensions. Although the president of the Orpheum, Bret Batterson, says the removal was not directly related to the recent violence, it undoubtedly played a role. He said, “The Orpheum appreciates feedback on its programming from all members of the mid-south community. As an organization whose stated mission is to ‘entertain, educate and enlighten the communities it serves,’ the Orpheum cannot show a film that is insensitive to a large segment of its local population.”
Batterson added, “This is something that’s been questioned every year, but the social media storm this year really brought it home.” He noted that the film had lost popularity over the past few years so the decision wasn’t so hard.
However, the public has responded in such a way that the decision to remove the Oscar-winning drama should have been a tougher decision. People have attacked the theatre’s Facebook page. One person wrote, “This is the stupidest thing I have heard lately and believe there have been some really stupid things done lately in the name of ‘racism’ – How ignorant are you people – Never will I go to this theater or any other one that promotes this BS.”
Other critiques included, “So now we r censoring art…come on it’s just a movie if u don’t like it don’t watch it,” “A ban that starts with ‘Gone With The Wind’ could end up with a ban of “Rocky Horror,’ and include along the way frills of Mel Brooks, Spike Lee, Sidney Lumet, ad infinitum. Please do not make the Orwellian mistake of banning movies,” “You’ll do Rocky horror but not Gone With The Wind???!!!!!!!! The world had literally gone to HELL,” and “Your web page has these words: Entertain, Educate, Enlighten. Perhaps that should be changed to: Censor, Ban, Erase.”
A large number of people are calling for a boycott of the Orpheum. The theatre had shown the classic film for the past 34 years as part of its annual summer film series. The last night they showed the film was August 11, the same night as a white nationalists march on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The next day was the “Unite the Right” rally in downtown Charlottesville that resulted in a violent act by a man drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters.
The film won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. The actress who played “Mammy,” Hattie McDaniel, was the first African-American actress to win an Academy Award.
Do you think “Gone with the Wind” is racially insensitive and should be removed from theaters? Are there any other movies that you think should be removed? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about the events in Charlottesville and what has resulted from them, read these articles:
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- Lawsuit Filed Against Charlottesville Attacker
Photo: flickr.com