# The “old creaky” movie Willem Dafoe called the greatest in cinema history: “You’ll probably be surprised”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-old-creaky-movie-willem-dafoe-called-the-greatest-in-cinema-history-youll-probably-be-surprised/
- Published: 2026-11-12T22:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T23:33:54+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/old-creaky-movie-willem-dafoe-called-greatest-in-cinema-history/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Dafoe praised *Gone With the Wind* as a favourite.
- He admires its melodrama and complexity.
- The film won ten of its 13 Oscar nominations.

## Summary

Willem Dafoe named *Gone With the Wind* as one of his favourite films, praising its appeal as both “old, creaky” Hollywood melodrama and a more complex drama. His choice is notable given his long career in experimental cinema and recent work with directors such as Robert Eggers.

The 1939 historical epic stars Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable and is set during the American Civil War and the end of slavery. It runs for almost four hours, was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won ten; adjusted for inflation, it remains the highest-grossing film of all time.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.