Profile of the Day: Clark Gable

Posted December 15, 2014 by Amanda | No Comment

Clark Gable

Remember watching Gone with the Wind? 75 years ago, the epic film premiered in Atlanta, Georgia. The movie starred Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as the Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara.

The day of the film premiere was a statewide holiday in Georgia. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the theater to watch the stars arrive. However, not all the stars of the film were allowed to attend. Hattie McDaniel had been barred from attending the premier due to Georgia’s Jim Crow laws at the time. Upon learning this, Gable threatened to boycott the event, but McDaniel convinced him to attend.

A hit with critics and the public upon its release, Gone with the Wind would become one of the most successful films ever, and set a record for Academy Award nomination and wins. Not only did Gable earn his third Best Actor nomination, but the film also won Best Picture, Best Actress for Vivien Leigh and Best Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African-American to win an Academy Award.

Today the movie remains one of the most beloved films in the history of cinema.

Are you a fan of Gone with the Wind? Explore star Clark Gable’s family tree and discover how you’re related!