Writer Margaret Mitchell's impact on the american cinema is profound, even though she never produced, acted in, or directed a single film. She never even wrote more than one major publication. But what a publication it was! That particular publication, Gone With the Wind became the second best-selling book of all time, behind the Bible.
Interestingly enough, she was a distant cousin to Doc Holliday, the famous gunfighter and American legend Doc Holliday (portrayed by Louisvillian Victor Mature in John Ford's 1946 western My Darling Clementine), who was involved in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Some believe that she modeled Ashley Wilkes, one of the main characters in her book, after her famous relative.
Mitchell was an Atlanta newspaperwoman when Macmillan Publishing editor Harold Latham visited Atlanta in 1935. Latham was looking for prospects in the local writing field, and Mitchell was recommended by a friend named Lois Cole, who worked for Macmillan, to escort Latham around Atlanta.
Latham found Mitchell very interesting and told her that if she ever wrote a book to show it to him first. One of Mitchell's friends heard this comment and made a joke out of it, stating that Mitchell was too silly to ever write a book. Mitchell was irritated by this comment and went home to find an old manuscripts she had written, and then went to find Latham at The George Terrace Hotel before he left. She gave him the manuscript and told him to take it before she changed her mind.
After Latham had gone, Mitchell was terrified at her impetuous act, no doubt out of embarrassment, and telegrammed Latham to send the manuscript back. But Latham had read some of it already and realized what a blockbuster he had on his hands! He told her what a goldmine it was, and sent her a check to encourage her to complete the novel, which she finished in March, 1936, and published on June 30, 1936, with the critical praise of famous literary critic Herschel Brickell, who became a close personal friend of Mitchell over the years to come.
The book was an instant success, so much so that Macmillan Publishing gave all their employees an %18 bonus for the year. But Mitchell's Civil War Era epic was about to be made even bigger, by David O'Selznick, who produced the legendary film version of her novel.
Sadly, Mitchell was killed in a tragic accident in 1949, speculated to be caused by her stepping out into the street without looking, something she was reputed to have done on a regular basis. The man who hit her served 11 months for the incident, but most believed that it would not have been an avoidable collision.
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