The Magnificent Ambersons - Snowride scene

[ChopstickBrando]

Alex, I'll take "Music in Film" for eight-hundred:

"This classic film also features the song being sung by the characters at the end of the "Snowride Scene" in "The Magnificent Ambersons""

[PtAltmVansanTarr]

Reminds one of the start of the snowmobile age

[goback3spaces]

Yes, I read it many years ago. As you may know, Welles's film is somewhat fragmentary, and reading the book will help you to fill in some missing parts of the family saga. The whole novel is beautifully written. The only surprising element is the very end, which I won't give away but which isn't hinted at by Welles's movie. So I say: yes, read the book!

[smichelle65]

Dolores Costello (Isabelle)=Drew Barrymore's grandmother.

[goback3spaces]

There's something erotic about this whole sequence, the visible breath, the endless movement, the tumbling into the snow, the nubile Lucy and the eager Georgie. Tarkington's genius meets Welles, who is an equal. Thank God this sequence survives.

[NGS712]

goback: Have you read Tarkington's novel?

If so, how was it? :)

[NGS712]

I haven't seen this movie yet, but I can't believe there isn't an American DVD available.

That's just ridiculous.

[SteveDurnin]

Note you can see the actors breath - the scene was shot in an icehouse. Brilliant attention to detail.

[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.

[eomer41]

I have been reading about Orson Welles, and in one book written about him it suggests that the original script had a sad or bad ending. Maybe you have one of the original copies!

[ohrmets]

Take note of the cuts between the sleigh ride and Morgan trying to start his automobile. The sleigh ride is idyllic, with lovely bells playing in the background. It represents the soon-to-be surpassed era of inherited, idle luxury the Ambersons inhabited. In contrast is Morgan's dirty and unreliable machinery, which represents industrialization and the changing times that would soon leave the idle rich behind. After all, the sleigh crashes and they all have to leave in the automobile!

[Brazosgalone]

This was one of my favorite parts of the movie, too. It reminds me of one of my great-aunts telling about "Jingle Bells" and when she was growing up. Loved hearing Tim "George" singing! And George and Lucy having fun.

[thetenia]

I don't know if some fans here might be interested, but Robert Wise, the editor, once talked about the original ending. In it, Gene (Joe Cotton) goes to see Fanny in her boarding house. He talks about Georgie and gives basically the same speech about being true to his true love, only now fanny is insane. Gene goes to leave, in his automobile, and looks back at fanny standing in the window. The camera pulls back to reveal, The Amberson Mansion. Now a rundown boardinghouse.

[greentortouise]

That would have made a much better ending, imo.

[marienoreene]

@thetenia hi there... could you possibly post that scene. thanks...

[thetenia]

@marienoreene I very much wish I could, unfortunately after that footage was edited out it was lost. Also, about 45 minutes of additional footage as well. We will never get the chance most likely to see what a lucky few took for granted.

[marienoreene]

@thetenia still thank you so much for that wonderful info... and for the response too... god bless...

[Counterlight]

I also think this scene is enchanting. I read somewhere (I forget where) that this whole scene was filmed in an ice factory in Los Angeles. Part of the credit for the magic of this scene belongs to the uncredited composer, Bernard Herman; one of his best film scores.

[jarqq]

Testament to Herrmann's integrity, when the studio hacked up this film and added cues composed by Roy Webb, Benny had his name taken off the credits.

[BodaciousWickerman]

This is da second best scene afta da party at da mansion scene.

[thirpalshk]

Its a great scene, magical.

One of my favourite scenes in the film.

The iris fade out is full of feeling.

[Tomboycarol]

Sorry i meant Lucy{Anne Baxter}

[Tomboycarol]

I have a copy of this classic,its a great shame it got chopped about,although its still worth watching for the great performances alone.I particulary love the scenes between spoilt Georgie{Tim Holt}and Isobel{Anne Baxter}.

[greentortouise]

I agree.

[marienoreene]

@Tomboycarol the copy of the original version or this uploaded version?

[greentortouise]

Whatever, Kubrick boy. ;)