<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td>> $390 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name . The film was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming . Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the strong - willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, from her romantic pursuit of Ashley Wilkes, who is married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton, to her marriage to Rhett Butler . The leading roles are portrayed by Vivien Leigh (Scarlett), Clark Gable (Rhett), Leslie Howard (Ashley), and Olivia de Havilland (Melanie). </P> <P> Production was difficult from the start . Filming was delayed for two years due to Selznick's determination to secure Gable for the role of Rhett Butler, and the "search for Scarlett" led to 1,400 women being interviewed for the part . The original screenplay was written by Sidney Howard, but underwent many revisions by several writers in an attempt to get it down to a suitable length . The original director, George Cukor, was fired shortly after filming had begun and was replaced by Fleming, who in turn was briefly replaced by Sam Wood while Fleming took some time off due to exhaustion . </P> <P> The film received positive reviews upon its release in December 1939, although some reviewers found it overlong . The casting was widely praised and many reviewers found Leigh especially suited to her role as Scarlett . At the 12th Academy Awards, it received ten Academy Awards (eight competitive, two honorary) from thirteen nominations, including wins for Best Picture, Best Director (Fleming), Best Adapted Screenplay (posthumously awarded to Sidney Howard), Best Actress (Leigh), and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, becoming the first African - American to win an Academy Award). It set records for the total number of wins and nominations at the time . The film was immensely popular, becoming the highest - earning film made up to that point, and retained the record for over a quarter of a century . When adjusted for monetary inflation, it is still the most successful film in box - office history . </P>

Who wrote the script for gone with the wind