the movie was first released at fox theatre in 1939. there was a standing ovation. when it was released in atlanta, there were 300,000 visitors. there were several festivities including a parade. there were three days of parties in which the stars of the movie wore costumes and many stores in the city redecorated to look like they would have in the civil war. victor fleming and selznick were no longer close, so fleming did not attend. black actors like hattie mcdaniel were not allowed because of jim crow laws. the movie would be re-released several times for anniversaries of the civil war and the movie.