The year is 1939 and MGM has just started shooting the film version of America's favorite novel, Gone With the Wind. Actresses across the country have tried-out for the role of Scarlett O'Hara and movie-goers can't wait to see Clark Gable play Rhett Butler: the role he was, "born to play."

But suddenly, after the burning of Atlanta has already been filmed, David O. Seiznick shuts down the production because he is dissatisfied with both the screenplay and the film's original director. His solution is to barricades director Victor Fleming and Hollywood writer Ben Hecht in his office and refuse to let them leave until they've completely re-written the screenplay to his satisfaction.