The Magnificent Ambersons - George's Comeuppence

[bobgrantsbus]

Great film.

[arkantoxic]

i hope some copies of the film were stolen and lost before they were destroyed by RKO and one day they will be re - discovered!

[otherfool]

I shivered... a brilliant scene.

[youngfreak32]

What exactly was his comeuppance?

[ditpunked]

The great fortune of the Magnificent Ambersons, their incredible wealth and power, was gone forever. And George Ambeson Miniver's life would never be the same. Thus, he gets his "comeuppance." A great film.

[NGS712]

I'm just curious, though the current released version was 'massacred' by the studios, is it still worth watching?

[evildead167]

The current "massacred" version is still a great movie. I highly recommend seeing it. One of the greatest 90 minute films out there.

The melodramatic ending is the only part that doesn't work for me.

[NGS712]

evildead: Now I've just gotta find a way to see it in full. ;)

Luckily it's gonna be on TCM sometime this month.

[NEW7615]

@evildead167 you're about that ! The melodramatic ending IS the only part that shouldn't be in this movie!!!

[4Topwood]

@NGS712

Even the "mutilated" version is very much worth watching. It's magnificent in every detail. I can't think why Welles isn't known for this instead of for Kane.

[NGS712]

Topwood: I've actually seen the edited version by now and it is quite good, the ending is unfortunate but tolerable.

I agree, despite the way it is I think Ambersons is at least just as fascinating. :)

[4Topwood]

@NGS712

I'm so glad you got to see this. I find it gets even better with repeated viewings.

Kane seems hollow at its core, with the medium (all the tricks and flourishes) being more important than the message. But in Ambersons, everything is there only to further the message. Its very economy adds to its quiet lyricism.

Welles must have been very much in love with his subject to restrain himself so masterfully.

[NGS712]

Topwood: Well, it's been quite awhile since I've seen Kane in full so I can't really say about that at the moment.

I've read people who've said that George somewhat reflect's Welles' background so it's very possible he saw this as a sort of autobiographical.

[4Topwood]

@NGS712

Good point about this being sort of autobiographical for Welles. Also, both this and Kane have to do with "great" men (great in their own eyes, that is) being laid low.

I've seen both Kane and Ambersons fairly recently and do think the latter has so much more to offer. Kane is so exuberant. I love how you can just tell Welles had great fun with all the special shots and tricks. But Ambersons, ah, it's a masterpiece from a mature artist.

[idealforcleaning]

The version of this film I have is much longer and doesn't have a happy ending. My father had thousands of 35mm films and one of them is The Magnificent Ambersons. I remember he told me that he'd got it from a sale of film stock in Brazil in the early 1960's. The version I have is much better than the one on TV I've seen. They should release the longer version on DVD.

[dun9]

@idealforcleaning Gee, that's interesting. If only there was some sort of interest somewhere to see your father's extended cut of Ambersons, then we could all watch it and be delighted by it's subtle, lyrical beauty. If only.

[Prod1Kh]

@idealforcleaning Bullshit.