Vin Diesel Names Gone With the Wind as Cinema’s First Action Film

Vin Diesel has long been a powerhouse in the world of action films, with his roles in the Fast and Furious franchise alone cementing his place among Hollywood ’s elite. But Diesel’s fascination with the genre goes far beyond his own filmography—he’s also a student of its history, eager to trace its roots back to the very beginning.

Pinpointing the birth of action cinema isn’t easy. Some, like Guillermo del Toro, credit 1964’s The Train, while others look even further back to Raoul Walsh’s The Thief of Bagdad from 1924. Diesel, however, offers a take that few would expect. In a conversation with author Cindy Pearlman for her book, You Gotta See This: More Than 100 of Hollywood’s Best Reveal and Discuss Their Favorite Films, Diesel shared his surprising perspective on where the action genre truly began.

Diesel’s Surprising Choice

“

If you think about it, Gone With the Wind really is the first action movie,

” Diesel explained, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. He pointed to the film ’s wartime backdrop and the perilous journey of Rhett Butler, who must protect his loved ones—including Scarlett O’Hara—while escaping a city engulfed in flames. “

You have Rhett having to go through this tumultuous time of war. Here is a man who has to transport the people he loves, including his woman, Scarlett. They need to move from one bad location to the next during this time of war with the entire city burning all around them… You really felt the heat and the danger.

”

Diesel didn’t stop there. He highlighted moments like Scarlett O’Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, being forced to kill a Union soldier as early examples of action sequences. “

It’s not easy to kill Union soldiers in a hoop skirt,

” he joked, making it sound like just another day at the office. He also praised the film’s technical achievements, noting that these feats were accomplished “

way before the days of computer-generated effects.

”

Reconsidering a Classic

It’s almost hard to believe that such a visually ambitious film was made in 1939, long before CGI was even a concept. While Diesel’s claim might sound far-fetched at first, there’s a certain logic to his argument. The American Civil War isn’t the sole focus of the story, but the film’s sweeping battle scenes and high-stakes escapes provide plenty of adrenaline over its nearly four-hour runtime.

Rhett Butler’s desperate flight from Atlanta with Scarlett in tow could easily be mistaken for a scene from a modern blockbuster —just swap out the horsepower for a single carriage horse. The scale and intensity of these sequences, combined with the film’s technical prowess, make a compelling case for its influence on the action genre.

Debating the Origins of Action

Gone With the Wind is a giant in cinematic history, and its impact stretches across genres. While Diesel’s theory may raise eyebrows, it’s not entirely outlandish. The film’s blend of personal drama, large-scale conflict, and groundbreaking visuals set a template that many later action movies would follow.

Still, the debate over the true “first” action film is far from settled. There are plenty of contenders, each with their own claim to the title. But Diesel’s unexpected pick invites a fresh look at a classic, challenging fans to see it through a new lens.