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IMDb > The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
The Magnificent Ambersons
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The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   7,617 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Orson Welles
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Writers:
Booth Tarkington (based on the novel by)
Orson Welles (script writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Magnificent Ambersons on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 July 1942 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
From the Man who Made "The Best Picture of 1941" more
Plot:
The spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Stweeps #3
 (From FilmExperience. 21 June 2009, 11:03 AM, PDT)

In the meadow, we can pan a snowman
 (From Roger Ebert's Blog. 24 December 2008, 9:04 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Magnificent is right more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
88 min | 148 min (original cut) | 131 min (preview)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Composer Bernard Herrmann had his name removed from the credits in protest at the way RKO messed about with his work. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In scene where Lucy and George say goodbye while walking down the street, Lucy's hair is pulled behind her neck. In closeup, as she watches George leave, her hair is in ringlets hanging in front of shoulders, then reverts to original hairdo when she goes into pharmacy. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator: The magnificence of the Ambersons began in 1873. Their splendor lasted throughout all the years that saw their midland town spread and darken into a city. In that town, in those days, all the women who wore silk or velvet knew all the other women who wore silk or velvet...
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Soundtrack:
String Quintet In E, Op. 13 No. 5: Minuet more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
30 out of 32 people found the following comment useful:-
Magnificent is right, 29 July 1999
Author: Jaime N. Christley (j_christley@hotmail.com) from NAS Whidbey Island, WA

I think I'd give just about anything to see a restored version of this film, like "Touch of Evil."

Its reputation is quite justified, however, and the top critics of today have generally agreed that it's one of Welles' best efforts as director. Some have even said that, scene for scene, it's a better film than "Citizen Kane."

The opening montage, set to Welles' narration, is as good as anything of its kind that's been done before or after -- brilliantly, and I hate to use that word because it's so often overused, it achieves two things: 1) it sets up the dramatic side of the story, with Eugene's fawning for and losing the affections of Isabel, and 2) putting us in a specific, historical time and place. The story of George Minafer's downfall parallels the changing times of America during that time, as well as American aristocracy.

Then there's Agnes Moorehead, who does the most amazing work as Fanny Minafer, George's aunt. She's a pressure cooker to begin with, but when the Ambersons hit rock-bottom she lets go, in a torrential, hysterical performance that's still getting praise today.

"The Magnificent Ambersons" also carries an equally dramatic story of Hollywood's assault on artistic expression; almost everyone knows that RKO seized the film and cut it to pieces while Welles was out doing his documentary "It's All True." Today there's other ways for great directors (Kubrick, Altman) to dodge the system, but film stock and equipment in those days could only be procured from big studios, and for the remainder of Welles' career his genius would only be seen fleetingly (his adaptations of Shakespeare, Kafka's "The Trial"). It's a story as tragic as George Minafer's.

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Vote for a Dvd Release on TCM.com avril_mairowitz
Notes on THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS JSlack3
Screening in Sydney DalloLama69
Overrated or under-viewed? subtlenuance79
Was The Original Cut Actually Better? evildead167
Airing on TCM March 9, 2009 @ 4:30 AM seandirector
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