Movie #869 "The Magnificent Ambersons" was a movie I had heard a lot about in film classes, and I haven't been able to sit down and watch the whole thing for a number of reasons, one glaring one is that I have always found it overwrought and overdone. Well, I had TCM on today, and it was showing early in the morning, so I finally decided to see most of it ---- well, enough to rate it and move on, because I didn't find it a good movie. Yes, it is following on the heels of the so much better "Citizen Kane" and yes, it was nominated for best picture, but I would then say it was over-rated. Technically, it has some mighty fine shots, but it isn't near as visually entertaining as "Kane" and as far as the story ---- it has worthwhile themes, some colorful characters, some good conflict, but it is all overplayed and not to my liking. Shortly after watching the end, which I found odd and inconclusive, I read that it was changed from Welles' ending --- which I guess would have been even worse, but would fit the tone of the movie more (and was the original ending of the book). So even the ending has an overwrought tone to it, I guess. For my money, you can skip this one.
The Magnificent Ambersons1942NR88 minutes
3 stars out of 5
Orson Welles's adaptation of the Booth Tarkington novel follows two upper-class Indianapolis families -- one whose glory is in decline, and another whose prosperity is only beginning -- as the families' members grapple with love and loss.
- Cast:
- Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford,Richard Bennett, Orson Welles
- Genre:
- Classic Dramas, Dramas Based on Classic Literature, Dramas Based on the Book, Classics
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