Clip from The Magnificent Ambersons

[SarahKnowsBest]

Welles is a God! his camera movement and deep focus photography is still perfection today!!

[nuttalex]

why arnt movies this elegant anymore

[AntinousIsGod1]

This may seem like heracy but in my opinion I think the cuts they made to the film sped the action along better. Knowing what scenes where cut from Welles's original version, I don't think they benefited the narrative. The movie is fantastic and I wouldn't have it any other way. Except of course for the tacked on happy ending, that was horrible. But if someone ever finds the uncut version of the film I would watch it the first chance I get.

[speedystriper]

This scene embodies the underlying sadness that imbues the whole film. Lucy, her father, and George's Uncle talk outside in the snow as George and his mother stand in the doorway looking out at them. Welles does this often in the film: he has characters speaking while out of frame, their voices disembodied, as if from ghosts. Notice also the look of sadness on her face as she looks out into the darkness, yearning for something she will never attain. One of the most haunting of all films. Superb.

[Brazosgalone]

Just beautiful! George and Lucy were such a handsome couple. Wish they could have had a "happily ever after" ending. But, that wouldn't have made for such a striking movie, I guess. Joseph Cotton was so handsome, too.

[AntinousIsGod1]

The film print on this video is of excellent condition. Could someone tell me if this is from the UK DVD?

[cha5]

Maybe someday we'll get a DVD release of this masterpiece.

[AntinousIsGod1]

It's already available on DVD in England. There is also the possibility of a R1 release some time soon.

[cha5]

Thanks for the information, I wonder if any DVD cut of The Magnificent Ambersons would be released like the

Touch Of Evil directors cut DVD that Universal put out some years ago in which they tried to restore Touch Of Evil and make it the film Welles had originally invisioned.

[NGS712]

cha5: Well the best they could do is release the movie as close to Welles' vision as possible.

I read that a 'true' Director's Cut of Touch of Evil is impossible because some of his scenes are lost for good.

Damn studios. ;)

[cha5]

That's a shame although Universal IMHO did a fairly good job at trying to do some justice to Welles' film, I think I had read on the IMDB sometime back that RKO had destroyed a fair amount of footage from The Magnificent Ambersons that Welles had wanted in the film so it's likely that Warner Brothers would have about the same luck on a directors cut as Universal did with Touch Of Evil, Maybe even less depending on if any of Welles scripts and notes had been destroyed as well.

[NGS712]

cha5: I did read about a 'memo' that Welles had made. Either way, I heard it's still a great film as is and I only wish they'd release it on DVD in the U.S.

It's funny how there are a couple other Welles films that aren't on DVD for one reason or another. When it comes to copyright, I guess it's a came of Cat's cradle.

[cha5]

Really? Which films ones are those?

[NGS712]

cha5: Well 'Chimes at Midnight' isn't for sale in the U.S. though you can get it from Brazil apparently and I believe 'The Trial' is in a similar situation.

Probably due to the fact they were 'international' productions.

I hate how there's so much trouble for GOOD movies to be released and sold, but shit movies flow like water.

[cha5]

Well I've seen 'The Trail' for sale here in the U.S. although the DVDS are put out by some cheapo companies with mediocre picture and sound quality nothing on the scale of a prestige Criterion or Warner Brothers DVD.

They sell for maybe $9.00 or so.

[NGS712]

cha5: Yeah, I'm talking about those kind of 'official' releases.

I don't care if it costs more, it's worth it if the quality's better.

Every time I see a 'cheapo' DVD, especially when it's a good movie, I feel like I want to tear my eyes out.

[cha5]

Amen.

[NGS712]

cha5: Some good news though. I looked at the TCM schedule awhile ago and it said the Ambersons is playing this month. The 22nd.

I'm gonna make sure I see it.

[cha5]

Thanks for the news,

NGS712: Have you heard that the 50th anniversary Touch Of Evil came out today?

It has the preview version, theatrical version

and the restored version which is closest to Welles version plus it also has the infamous memo by Welles pleading to the Universal suits

not to ruin his film,

I'll really be interested in seeing it myself it sounds like it'll be more extensive than that 1998 Touch Of Evil DVD.

[RootJensen]

Here here to your last sentence.. :)

The British film industry aint bad, it's the cinemas themselves that show so much crass at stupid prices.

I wanted to try the recent film MOON. looked great, there was no where near to go watch it, it would be a weekend away to watch good films at great film house's..

[ElizabethTalbot]

Part of Welles's genius in making this movie was his magnificent choice of a novel to film. The movie follows the book very closely.

[theSuperMetroid]

the studio executives butchering this would be magnificent piece of art is a real shame and one of the greatest tragadies in cinema. It's like looking at a shattered sculpture. The fragments are still good, but if only it hadnt been destroyed, it would have been so much better.

[spritzdrop]

Could have been a really great movie

[pepe1958]

It IS a great movie; even butchered, it shames pretty nearly everything that came after.

[billheartyface]

if only they'd find the lost footage

[weikko79]

This scene is just so lovely. I hope the whole film would be as great as this scene.