Carol Burnett Vicki Lawrence Dinah Shore Carol Burnett Show 1977

"Went with the Wind!" is a

comedy sketch Sketch comedy comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. The form developed and became popular in vaudeville, and i ...

featured on the eighth episode of the tenth season of ''

The Carol Burnett Show ''The Carol Burnett Show'' is an American variety/sketch comedy television show that originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in fall 1991. It starred Carol Burnett, Har ...

''. It originally aired in the United States on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

on November 13, 1976, and is a parody of the 1939 American historical drama film ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

''. The sketch was written by two young writers, Rick Hawkins and Liz Sage. In 2009, ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' ranked the sketch #53 on its list of "Top 100 Episodes of All Time".

Cast

Carol Burnett Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and writer. Her groundbreaking comedy variety show ''The Carol Burnett Show'', which originally aired on CBS was one of the first of its kind to be hosted ...

as Starlet O'Hara, a parody of

Scarlett O'Hara Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler is a fictional character and the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' and in the 1939 film of the same name, where she is portrayed by Vivien Leigh. She also is the ...

Harvey Korman Harvey Herschel Korman (February 15, 1927May 29, 2008) was an American actor and comedian who performed in television and film productions. His big break was being a featured performer on CBS' '' The Danny Kaye Show'', but he is best remembered ...

as Captain Ratt Butler, a parody of

Rhett Butler Rhett Butler (Born in 1828) is a fictional character in the 1936 novel '' Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell and in the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. Role Rh ...

Dinah Shore Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...

as Melody, a parody of

Melanie Hamilton Melanie Hamilton Wilkes is a fictional character first appearing in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind (novel), Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell. In the Gone with the Wind (film), 1939 film she was portrayed by Olivia de Havilland. Mel ...

Vicki Lawrence Vicki Ann Lawrence ( Axelrad; born March 26, 1949), sometimes credited as Vicki Lawrence Schultz, is an American actress, comedian, and singer. She is best known for her character Mama (Thelma Harper). Lawrence originated multitudes of charact ...

as Sissy, a parody of Prissy *

Tim Conway Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway (December 15, 1933 – May 14, 2019) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and director. From 1966 to 2012 he appeared in more than 100 TV shows, TV series and films. Among his more notable roles, he portrayed the ...

as Brashly, a parody of

Ashley Wilkes George Ashley Wilkes is a fictional character in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel '' Gone with the Wind'' and the 1939 film of the same name. The character also appears in the 1991 book '' Scarlett'', a sequel to ''Gone with the Wind'' written by ...

* Don Crichton as the Yankee soldier

Premise

Burnett introduces the sketch: ;Part One ATLANTA, TERRA PLANTATION SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA: Starlet O'Hara hosts a party and greets her guests. Sissy, her house servant, comes to tell Starlet that Brashly Wilkes has arrived. Starlet, infatuated with the clueless Brashly, opens the door to find him introducing her to his cousin, Melody. Starlet begins to express her love for Brashly but her words quickly turn to anger when he informs her that he's married Melody. Upset, Starlet throws a vase, which is caught by the visiting Captain Ratt Butler. The two share a moment, only to be interrupted by the breakout of

a war ''A War'' () is a 2015 Danish war drama film written and directed by Tobias Lindholm, and starring Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling. It tells the story of a Danish military company in Afghanistan that is fighting the Taliban while trying to pro ...

. Everyone leaves, save for Melody, who announces that she's in labor. Outside, a fire breaks out after Sissy gives a Yankee soldier a match. As Melody gives birth and a wailing Sissy traipses circles around the couch, Starlet delivers her speech about how she will "never go hungry again". ;Part Two TERRA PLANTATION, ONE WAR LATER. Sissy comes and tells Starlet that the war is over. The Yankee soldier returns to Terra to collect

back taxes Back taxes is a term for taxes that were not completely paid when due. Typically, these are taxes that are owed from a previous year. Causes for back taxes include failure to pay taxes by the deadline, failure to correctly report one's income, or ...

. Starlet incapacitates the soldier with a chair. Brashly returns and admits that he's broke but Captain Butler has since become a millionaire. Starlet, trying to figure out a way to ask Ratt for the money, quickly pulls down the drapes and goes upstairs to make a dress. Sissy stalls Ratt briefly, and Starlet descends in her handmade dress, complete with curtain rod, and Ratt professes his love. The Yankee soldier comes to, marries Ratt and Starlet, and is given the back taxes. After an altercation and realizing that Starlet is in love with Brashly, Melody dies but not before she pushes Starlet down the stairs. Brashly leaves, followed by Ratt, who begins to deliver the famous line but Starlet slams the door in his face. Defeated and aimless, Starlet asks Sissy what to do, whereas Sissy slaps her, stating "Frankly, Miss Starlet, I don’t give a damn".

Cultural references

The sketch made various cultural references including

Bobbie Gentry Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter; July 27, 1942) is a retired American singer-songwriter, who was one of the first female artists in America to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame in 1967 with her Sou ...

's "

Ode to Billie Joe "Ode to Billie Joe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry released by Capitol Records in July 1967, and later used as the title-track of her debut album. Five weeks after its release, the song topped '' Billboard's'' Pop sin ...

Tony Orlando and Dawn Tony Orlando and Dawn is an American pop music group that was popular in the 1970s, composed of singer Tony Orlando and the backing vocal group Dawn (Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson). Their signature hits include " Candida", " Knock Thre ...

's "

Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" is a song recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn. It was written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown and produced by Hank Medress and Dave Appell, with Motown/ Stax backing vocalist Telma Hopkins, J ...

", "

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

", "

Camptown Races "Gwine to Run All Night, or De Camptown Races" (popularly known simply as "Camptown Races") is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864). () It was published in February 1850 by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore, Maryland, and Benteen published ...

Chicken of the Sea Chicken of the Sea is a packager and provider of seafood, owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The brand is attached to tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers and sardines in cans, pouches and cups, as a ...

, ''

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of pers ...

'', and

tuna casserole Tuna casserole is a casserole primarily made with pasta (or rice) and canned tuna, with peas and corn sometimes added. The dish is often topped with potato chips, corn flakes, bread crumbs or canned fried onions. Tuna casserole is a common dish ...

Curtain dress

The curtain dress was conceptualized and designed by ''The Carol Burnett Show'' costumer

Bob Mackie Robert Gordon "Bob" Mackie (born March 24, 1939) is an American fashion designer and costumier, best known for his dressing of entertainment icons such as Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Cher, Doris Day, Marle ...

. It parodies a scene in ''Gone With the Wind'' where Scarlett refashions a set of green curtains into a dress to wear. The script called for the dress to be hanging off Burnett, but Mackie did not find it funny. He asked the art director for a real curtain rod and green fabric and made the dress on a mannequin. Burnett said that she came into costume fittings and when she saw the curtain rod she said it was the most brilliant sight gag ever.

Earlier parodies

Exactly nine years earlier to the day, November 13, 1967, ''The Carol Burnett Show'' aired a different spoof entitled "Gone with the Breeze". In that sketch, Burnett's character was named "Scarlett O'Fever". Guest star

Richard Chamberlain George Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934) is an American actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show '' Dr. Kildare'' (1961–1966). He subsequently appeared in several TV mini-series, such as ''Shō ...

played "Ratt Butler", and Korman appeared as "Uncle Ben". On another occasion, during a tribute to the films of MGM, a quickie based on ''Gone With the Wind'' was performed by Lawrence as Scarlett and

Lyle Waggoner Lyle Wesley Waggoner (; April 13, 1935 – March 17, 2020) was an American actor, sculptor, presenter, travel trailer salesman and model, known for his work on ''The Carol Burnett Show'' from 1967 to 1974 and for playing the role of Steve Trevor ...

as Rhett.

Legacy

The curtain dress scene was named #2 in ''

''s January 23–29, 1999 list of "The 50 Funniest TV Moments of All Time". The laughter when Burnett descends the staircase was too long—indeed, it was the longest-length audience reaction in the series' entire ten-year run—and had to be edited. The entire outfit, curtain rod and all, is on display at the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

. Additionally, in 2009,

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more ...

released a Starlet doll under the

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched on March 9, 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. ...

Celebrity Doll line.

References

External links

* {{The Carol Burnett Show 1976 in American television Comedy sketches Parodies of literature Parodies of films Works based on Gone with the Wind Carol Burnett