"Gone with the Wind" Sketches, ca. 1939
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GUEST:
They were actually my father-in-law's, and he was a sketch artist. "Gone with the Wind" was one of the movies, several movies, that he's done. These two particular ones were the ones I chose to come with me today, but we have several other ones. Different artists, as well.
APPRAISER:
I'm sure everyone knows the 1939 film “Gone with the Wind.” Not only did it win best picture, Vivien Leigh won best actress. They started preproduction in 1936, and the pre-production sketches are such an important part of this movie because they were the vision of David O. Selznick and how to put this mammoth film together. And so here, you have this one signed, "Joseph Hayes Goodwin," and dated 1939, and this one of the burning of Atlanta is not signed. Clark Gable didn't even want to do this film, and after 1,400 actresses being interviewed for the spot, Vivien Leigh comes in on the first day of shooting, the Atlanta burning of the city.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
Definitely, "Gone with the Wind" is the high point of these watercolor sketches for movies. Besides the five or so artists that worked under Menzies, there were probably about 600 of these produced for the film. The war room is a wonderful subject, and at auction, I would put a pre-sale estimate on this one of $8,000 to $10,000, and it might even exceed $10,000.
GUEST:
Wow, that's unexpected.
APPRAISER:
Oh, well, good! Here's the interesting part: usually, when something is unsigned, it will bring less.
GUEST:
Uh-huh. Yes.
APPRAISER:
But in this particular case, the most beloved scenes were actually anything to do with the burning of Atlanta.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
So I would say that this, even though unsigned, could bring as much as $15,000.
GUEST:
Oh, wow, great, that's wonderful.
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