What was the first American movie production of over 180 minutes?

Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel. It was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming. Set in the 19th-century American South, 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. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the story is told from the perspective of white Southerners.

It was the longest American sound film made up to that point, and may still hold the record of the longest Best Picture winner depending on how it is interpreted. The running time for Gone with the Wind is just under 221 minutes, while Lawrence of Arabia (1962) runs for just over 222 minutes; however, including the overture, intermission,entr'acte, and exit music, Gone with the Wind lasts for 234 minutes (although some sources put its full length at 238 minutes) while Lawrence of Arabia comes in slightly shorter at 232 minutes with its additional components.

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24 Comments

Barbara Ell

Actually the first US movie production over 180 minutes was The Birth of a Nation (1915). That ran for 195 minutes. I first saw it when I was 15 (my uncle was into silent movies). It was an interesting take on the Civil War.

Carlos Cruz

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

silrem

I thought of BIRTH OF A NATION, but it was not an option but I forgot it said FIRST and I thought Ben Hur was the longest of those listed as the chariot race never ended.

Bank-Robber

Narrowed it down between gone with the wind or the ten commandments. Both are long had to be gone with the wind!!

Ann Secord

I remember my mother telling me about this when I was very young.

Wyla Reedy

I thought it would have been from the longest books.

erik hughes

Barbara Ell, it was a racist take on the civil war, depicting the confederacy as the heroes instead of the traitors they were. The depictions of African Americans as base, drunken animals is incredibly insensitive and racist.