Gone with the Wind remains a monumental achievement in cinema history, capturing the imagination of audiences for generations. Its production process was just as legendary as the finished film itself.
This quiz covers the chaotic filming schedule, cast disputes, and the significant technical hurdles the crew faced. You will see questions about the directors, the massive search for the leads, and the behind-the-scenes drama.
If you enjoy this look at film history, try our troubled productions quiz, check out book adaptations, or explore golden age Hollywood history.
Who was ultimately cast as Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone with the Wind’?
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Paulette Goddard
Paulette Goddard
Who served as the primary producer of the film ‘Gone with the Wind’?
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
Sam Wood
Sam Wood
George Cukor
George Cukor
David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick
Which iconic scene was filmed first to clear the studio backlot for other productions?
The hospital scene
The hospital scene
The blockade scene
The blockade scene
Burning of Atlanta
Burning of Atlanta
The barbecue at Twelve Oaks
The barbecue at Twelve Oaks
Which director was fired early in production, partly because Clark Gable felt he was focusing too much on the female leads?
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
George Cukor
George Cukor
Sam Wood
Sam Wood
King Vidor
King Vidor
Which lead actor famously considered quitting the production early on due to internal disputes?
Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard
Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Clark Gable
Clark Gable
Who wrote the primary screenplay for ‘Gone with the Wind’?
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Sidney Howard
Sidney Howard
The massive fire used to film the burning of Atlanta actually destroyed what?
The original mansion sets
The original mansion sets
The Atlanta film set
The Atlanta film set
Old sets from ‘King Kong’
Old sets from ‘King Kong’
A miniature model of the city
A miniature model of the city
Who was the first African American to win an Academy Award for her performance in this film?
Barbara O’Neil
Barbara O’Neil
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh
Who was brought in to direct the bulk of the film after the initial firing of George Cukor?
George Cukor
George Cukor
William Cameron Menzies
William Cameron Menzies
Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
Why was Clark Gable allegedly uncomfortable with his initial portrayal of Rhett Butler under George Cukor’s direction?
He wanted a higher salary.
He wanted a higher salary.
They thought he wasn’t macho enough.
They thought he wasn’t macho enough.
He disagreed with the script’s ending.
He disagreed with the script’s ending.
They thought he was too old.
They thought he was too old.
How was the set of early 19th-century Atlanta prepared for the famous burning sequence?
They used elaborate matte paintings to simulate the city.
They used elaborate matte paintings to simulate the city.
They utilized actual 19th-century costumes.
They utilized actual 19th-century costumes.
They used Technicolor cameras for the first time.
They used Technicolor cameras for the first time.
They built multiple facades of 1860s Atlanta.
They built multiple facades of 1860s Atlanta.
How many directors are officially credited or involved in the major filming of ‘Gone with the Wind’?
Three
Three
Six
Six
Four
Four
Five
Five
What was the primary reason Clark Gable felt uneasy about his performance of the ‘crying’ scene?
He was overworked and underpaid.
He was overworked and underpaid.
He suffered from extreme stage fright.
He suffered from extreme stage fright.
He disliked the emotional vulnerability required for the scenes.
He disliked the emotional vulnerability required for the scenes.
He wanted to marry the lead actress.
He wanted to marry the lead actress.
David O. Selznick famously held a nationwide talent search for what specific purpose?
The search for Rhett Butler
The search for Rhett Butler
The nationwide talent contest for minor roles
The nationwide talent contest for minor roles
The hunt for the perfect Atlanta set location
The hunt for the perfect Atlanta set location
The search for Scarlett O’Hara
The search for Scarlett O’Hara
Which director was brought on to take over when Victor Fleming temporarily walked off the set due to exhaustion?
King Vidor
King Vidor
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
George Cukor
George Cukor
Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Which actor notoriously disliked his character, Ashley Wilkes, and wanted to be cast as Rhett Butler instead?
Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard
Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell
Clark Gable
Clark Gable
Rand Brooks
Rand Brooks
What was the approximate budget for the production in 1939, considered astronomical at the time?
$4 million
$4 million
$6 million
$6 million
$3 million
$3 million
$5 million
$5 million
Who was the final runner-up in the search for Scarlett O’Hara before Vivien Leigh was eventually chosen?
Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur
Paulette Goddard
Paulette Goddard
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Why did a famous line in the book have to be changed for the movie, creating tension between the studio and the censors?
Clark Gable wanted the role to be rewritten.
Clark Gable wanted the role to be rewritten.
The original director was unable to film on location.
The original director was unable to film on location.
The censors forced changes to the dialogue.
The censors forced changes to the dialogue.
The studio demanded more dramatic flair.
The studio demanded more dramatic flair.
During the filming of the burning of Atlanta, what unexpected technical issue occurred?
The studio was sued for property damage.
The studio was sued for property damage.
Local fire departments in Culver City threatened to stop production.
Local fire departments in Culver City threatened to stop production.
The flames were larger than anticipated.
The flames were larger than anticipated.
The burning of the backlot was too dangerous for extras.
The burning of the backlot was too dangerous for extras.
What specific challenge did the production face regarding the film’s visual aesthetic?
The camera equipment caught fire during a scene.
The camera equipment caught fire during a scene.
The production used black-and-white film by mistake early on.
The production used black-and-white film by mistake early on.
Technicolor consultants were on set throughout filming.
Technicolor consultants were on set throughout filming.
The lighting was adjusted to prioritize the lead actors.
The lighting was adjusted to prioritize the lead actors.
What was a significant cause of the production’s massive delays and director turnover?
The lead actors were constantly arguing on set.
The lead actors were constantly arguing on set.
Natural disasters damaged the set.
Natural disasters damaged the set.
Vivien Leigh’s health issues necessitated reshoots.
Vivien Leigh’s health issues necessitated reshoots.
There were constant changes to the script by many writers.
There were constant changes to the script by many writers.
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