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The Magnificent Ambersons is a American drama film written and directed by Orson Welles. His second feature film, it is based on the 1918 novel of the same title by Booth Tarkington and stars Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins. Welles provides the voiceover narration.
Tarkington's novel originally had been filmed in 1925 by Vitagraph Pictures, starring Cullen Landis, Alice Calhoun, and Allan Forrest, and directed by David Smith. Welles adapted it for the radio in 1939 for the Mercury Theatre of the Air. The only actor from that production who also appeared in the film was Ray Collins.
Welles lost control of the editing of The Magnificent Ambersons to RKO, and the final version released to audiences differed significantly from his vision for the film.
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Quotations
Against so homespun a background, the magnificence of the Ambersons was as conspicuous as a brass band at a funeral.
From the Man who Made The Best Picture of 1941
Most girls are usually pretty fresh. They ought to go to a man's college for about a year. They'd get taught a few things about freshness.
Orson Welle's Mercury Production of Booth Tarkington's Great Novel
Real life screened more daringly than it's ever been before!
Sam: to Eugene No sir. Miss Amberson ain't at home to you, Mr. Morgan.
Encyclopedia
The Magnificent Ambersons is a American drama film written and directed by Orson Welles. His second feature film, it is based on the 1918 novel of the same title by Booth Tarkington and stars Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins. Welles provides the voiceover narration.
Tarkington's novel originally had been filmed in 1925 by Vitagraph Pictures, starring Cullen Landis, Alice Calhoun, and Allan Forrest, and directed by David Smith. Welles adapted it for the radio in 1939 for the Mercury Theatre of the Air. The only actor from that production who also appeared in the film was Ray Collins.
Welles lost control of the editing of The Magnificent Ambersons to RKO, and the final version released to audiences differed significantly from his vision for the film. More than an hour of footage was cut by the studio, and a new, happier ending was shot and tacked on to the film. Although Welles' extensive notes for how he wished the film to be cut survived, the excised scenes have not.
In 2002, a television movie was made using the Welles screenplay and his editing notes. It was directed by Alfonso Arau and starred Madeleine Stowe, Bruce Greenwood, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Gretchen Mol, and Jennifer Tilly. This film does not, however, strictly follow Welles' screenplay. It lacks several scenes that are in the version released in 1942. It also has essentially the same happy ending.
Even in its radically altered form, the 1942 film is often regarded as among the best American films ever made, a distinction it shares with Welles' first film, Citizen Kane.
In 1991, The Magnificent Ambersons was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film was included in Sight and Sounds 1972 list of the top ten films ever made. and again in 1982. The film is currently not available on DVD in the United States.
Plot
The film tells the story of the Ambersons, an upper-class family who live in Indianapolis. One day the matriarch of the family, Isabel Amberson (Dolores Costello), is quite by accident humiliated in public by her beau, the inventor Eugene Morgan (Joseph Cotten). She breaks off their relationship and decides to marry the bland Wilbur Minafer (Donald Dillaway) instead.
People in town are certain that Isabel can't possibly be in love with Wilbur. She has one child, George Minafer (Tim Holt), whom she spoils. As George grows up, many in the town long for the day when the arrogant, immature mama's boy will get his "comeuppance."
Later, when George returns from college, his mother and grandfather (Richard Bennett) hold a reception in his honor. Among the guests is the older Eugene, who is now a prosperous automobile manufacturer. He brings his daughter Lucy (Anne Baxter) with him. George takes to Lucy right away, but he takes a dislike to Eugene, especially after learning from uncle Jack Amberson (Ray Collins) and aunt Fanny (Agnes Moorehead) that Eugene and Isabel had once been quite the couple.
After the death of Wilbur Minafer, the widowed Eugene decides to ask Isabel for her hand in marriage. This time, she is willing, but George selfishly manipulates his mother into rejecting Eugene. George's haughty attitude leads to tragedy for everyone--and, at long last, George Minafer receives his comeuppance.
Cast
Eugene Dolores Costello as Isabel Anne Baxter as Lucy Tim Holt as George Agnes Moorehead as Fanny Ray Collins as Jack Erskine Sanford as Roger Bronson Donald Dillaway as Wilbur Minafer Richard Bennett as Maj. Amberson Orson Welles as narrator
Awards
Wins
Academy Award Nominations
Other
See also
External links
website
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