Saturday Night at the Movies - Orson Welles part 1 of 3

Mr. Wise's comments about Welles' lack of focus on "Ambersons" is very self-serving, as Wise was instrumental in the post-production decimation of the film. We can only judge Welles' work by the portions of the film which remain intact, and they are indeed magnificent. As for Mr. Thomas' claim that Welles never again matched "Kane," I must object. "Chimes At Midnight" (aka "Falstaff") (1965) is the greater film, despite its uneven production. Several sections of it can be seen on YouTube.

Very true. It seems as if Welles was setup to fail on Ambersons from the beginning. Of course he could have turned down going to Rio and finish it, even if it was a PR thing for the war Rio could have waited a month or two.

You're right, he could have, but it's only in retrospect that the wisdom of that becomes clear. As it was, he cabled specific editing instructions to the studio based on an unfinished cut. It should have worked: Welles habitually did several things at once, and had no premonition of the politics at the studio, which took an anti-Welles turn in his absence. Mr. Wise executed his bosses' less than artful wishes and mutilated the film in the process. One of cinema's great tragedies, I think.

I think so too. Of course Wise was under contract with the studio, young and ambitious. I can't really blame him. He's just as much to blame as Welles but I understand his side. I blame him more for a boring first Star Trek movie!LOL

Goh, this guy doing the interviews is a little embarassing to listen to.

Robert Wise was the trigger-man who recut Welles' Ambersons, turned genius into jell-o.
He should be very ashamed, very, very ashamed,
destroying another man's work, passion, art.
There should be a law against it, 5-10 yr sentance at least.

Baloney. There are great many direct references to Hearst in the film, e. g. Xanadu, which is a blatant copy of Hearst's San Simeon.

ok, Spanish-American War and the estate. Pretty minor.
But what I cited "mistress, mistress found out, building opera house to legitimise her, etc" which is a sizable amount of the film is based on a Chicago 'utilities magnate', there are other early 20th century famous capitalists in there too.

"...the flame that burns twice as bright..."