 |
|
|
|
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
 email this review to a friend
Not Welles' Vision
This is a deeply flawed but lovely film by Orson Welles about a 19th century upper class family that loses everything.
The film is far too short at 88 minutes and this is due to the fact that RKO edited out 40 minutes of Welles' vision without his permission to try and appease audiences and stay closer to the novel on which it was based.
The short film is messy and confusing in plot, the characters are labelled and forced to try and evolve under those labels, the ending comes far too fast and leaves one with an empty feeling as it was never really developed.
However, for all its flaws, this film has some of the most astoundingly beautiful cinematography of the era. Welles has an eye for frames that he used to invent new concepts in 1941's 'Citizen Kane' and he employs that eye with tremendous skill here.
One can only imagine what his larger vision was for the film. There are some underlying incestuous plotlines that are on the cusp of being explored throughout the film. There is also a devious jealousy hidden within Agnes Moorhead's spinster sister character that could have been so much more delicious.
The sets are remarkable and it is a visually stunning film, but it is really only a nibble at what Orson Welles wanted it to be. I am left hungry for more.
email this review to a friend
Comment on this Review:
Sorry, you must be a member to add comments to reviews.
Join or Login. |
 | Tim
May 8, 2007 12:36 AM
| |
| something ive been meaning to ask you...............how the hell have you seen so many old movies? You have so many movies that I have never even heard of? please how do you do it? |
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS
|
May 8, 2007 4:40 AM
There is a quality about them...just can't be duplicated.