Review of Scarlett-TV MiniSeries (1994)

Someone named Alexandra Ripley apparently thought it was a good idea to write a follow up book to one of the most beloved novels of the 20th Century, namely, "Gone with the Wind". This television miniseries is based upon that misguided effort.

In this "sequel" Scarlett O'Hara (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) is determined to try to win back her estranged husband, Rhett Butler (Timothy Dalton). He prefers the company of professional ladies such as Belle Watling (Ann-Margaret). Scarlett decides to go to the house of Rhett's mother (Julie Harris) and present herself as the still beloved wife of Rhett in the hopes of ingratiating herself. Rhett is understandably upset. However, Scarlett soon turns Rhett's mother against her when she is observed in an apparently compromising position with Ashley Wilkes, whom she meets alone in a hotel room. Tossed out of the Butler household, she retreats to the home of her aunts and imperious grandfather (John Geilgud). There she tries to coerce her sister Sue Ellen into giving what is left of the family homestead, Tara, to her, despite the fact that Sue Ellen has about ten children.

Scarlett, still trying to win Rhett back, convinces him to take her out sailing. A storm pops up and the two of them are nearly drowned. Escaping to a boathouse, they end up making love there. Afterwards, Rhett tells her their passionate interlude does not mean they are going to reunite. In fact, Rhett is planning to divorce Scarlett and sends a letter to her to this effect. He is already pursuing another woman, Ann Hampton (Annabeth Gish) to be his new wife . Scarlett soon discovers she is pregnant. She decides to leave the country and go where she can have the baby without Rhett finding out. She accompanies her cousin, Father Colum O'Hara (Colm Meaney) back to Ireland under the pretext that she is a widow. There she meets her late father's brother, Daniel O'Hara (Gary Raymond) and an extended set of relatives who are clearly in less healthy financial circumstances than she. With their help, she has her baby girl.

She also meets Lord Richard Fenton, the owner of the ancestral O'Hara home, Ballyhara. He agrees to sell the estate to her and convinces her to enter into a relationship with him. Lord Fenton is on his best behavior with her initially. She has no knowledge that he is a sexual sadist who is abusing a village girl. In buying the estate she becomes the head of the O'Hara clan and steps in to save her Uncle Daniel's house when it is about to be torched by the British due to unpaid rent. Despite the obviously unjust manner in which the British are treating the people in the surrounding village, Scarlett continues her relationship with Lord Fenton, attending society events with him.

Meanwhile, Rhett marries Ann Hampton and she becomes pregnant but before she can give birth she is killed by an epidemic, leaving Rhett conveniently single again.

Scarlett agrees to accompany Lord Fenton to London. Once there, she sees his true nature and tries to end her relationship with him. He rapes her. She passes out and when she wakes up, Lord Fenton is dead, stabbed through the heart. Scarlett is accused of Lord Fenton's murder and put on trial. Rhett finds out and comes to London where he is ultimately able to determine that the murder was committed by the village girl Lord Fenton had been abusing. Scarlett is exonerated, reunites with Rhett and their baby girl and gives Tara to Sue Ellen who has just had yet another child.

Not much. First of all, Scarlett has a few diatribes where she talks about how wretchedly the Northerners treated her people after the Civil War. Sorry, slave-monger. Second, hearing her say "Fiddle-dee-dee" is enough to set anyone on edge. Third, every man in the series is hot for Scarlett-Rhett, Ashley, Lord Fenton, even her cousin the priest. Of course he has to die shortly after admitting his feelings for her. There are a lot of fine actors in the cast (I can't honestly include Ms. Whalley-Kilmer in that category-she's only passable in this part) but the material is just not good. I definitely had to remind myself several times while watching how much I love Gary in order to get through it.

Considering that the series is 300 minutes long and Gary is on screen for less than ten minutes, there isn't a lot to discuss. He portrays an Irish peasant, essentially. His accent is excellent and he gets to dance in one scene, which is delightful. He does a great job in the scene where he is mortified that Scarlett has to save his home from being torched. He insists upon paying back every penny and conveys very well that his character is a man of dignity despite his humble circumstances.

First let me just mention that I have always thought Timothy Dalton was gorgeous since I first saw him as Henry, Lord Darnley in Mary, Queen of Scots. In this mini, at the age of 48 in real life, he still looks fabulous.

As for Gary, in order to look properly peasant-y, he has to wear a full, untrimmed beard. Hence, he looks like one of the Smith Brothers. He looks so wonderful in a nice, well- trimmed beard and moustache in El Cid and The Greatest Story Ever Told, but this is facial hair gone wild. He's still beautiful but this isn't my favorite look for him.

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