Orson Welles' followup to Citizen Kane (1941) was utterly different from Kane in style and texture, but just as brilliant in its own way. Writer/director Welles does not appear on camera, but his voiceover narration superbly sets the stage for the movie's action, which fades in valentine fashion on Amberson Mansion, the most ostentatious dwelling in all of turn-of-century Indianapolis. Its mistress is the haughtily beautiful Isabel Amberson (Dolores Costello). When Isabel's beau, erstwhile inventor Eugene Morgan (Joseph ...
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Orson Welles' followup to Citizen Kane (1941) was utterly different from Kane in style and texture, but just as brilliant in its own way. Writer/director Welles does not appear on camera, but his voiceover narration superbly sets the stage for the movie's action, which fades in valentine fashion on Amberson Mansion, the most ostentatious dwelling in all of turn-of-century Indianapolis. Its mistress is the haughtily beautiful Isabel Amberson (Dolores Costello). When Isabel's beau, erstwhile inventor Eugene Morgan (Joseph Cotten), inadvertently humiliates her in public, she breaks off the relationship and marries colorless Wilbur Minafer (Donald Dillaway). The neighbors are certain that, since Isabel can't possibly love Wilbur, she will spoil her children rotten. As it turns out, she has one child, George Minafer (Tim Holt), and that one is enough as far as the rest of Indianapolis is concerned. There are those who live for the day that the arrogant, insufferable George will get his comeuppance. When George returns home from college, his mother and grandfather (Richard Bennett) hold a gala reception in his honor. Among the guests is the older-and-wiser Eugene, now a prosperous automobile manufacturer, and his pretty daughter Lucy (Anne Baxter). George takes to Lucy immediately, but can't warm up to Eugene, especially after learning from his uncle Jack Amberson (Ray Collins) and his maiden aunt Fanny (Agnes Moorehead) that Eugene and Isabel had once been sweethearts. After the death of Wilbur Minafer, the widowed Eugene feels emboldened enough to propose to Isabel again. This time she is willing, but the obstreperous George refuses to allow his mother to see Eugene. His imperious bullheadedness will lead to tragedy for all concerned--and, at long last, a chastened George Minafer will indeed receive his comeuppance. The film's real villain is not George but that old intangible bugaboo called "Progress." As the automobile age comes to fruition, the elegant, cloistered lifestyle of the Ambersons fades from view, finally disappearing altogether. This is superbly foreshadowed in the "winter outing" sequence (filmed in an L.A. icehouse) in which George's two-horse sleigh is abandoned in favor of Eugene's clunky horseless carriage. Welles evokes performances that his actors seldom (if ever) matched in later years; even the very limited Tim Holt is wholly believable-and even a bit pitiable-as the blinkered George Amberson Minafer. The current version, however, is but a pale shadow of Welles' original concept. Out of time and overbudget, the movie previewed badly and was eventually sliced down to an abrupt 88 minutes (by, among others, editor Robert Wise, who would go on to direct such films as West Side Story and The Sound of Music). Even though the film therefore must be regarded as a marred masterpiece, the remaining two-thirds of Welles' original concept is still a thrilling cinematic experience, especially whenever Agnes Moorehead is on the screen. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons to cart. $5.96, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Warner Home Video.
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Mel Ford, Keenan Elliott, Don Dillaway, Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Ray Collins, William Blees, Richard Bennett, Anne... Very good. 2012 Run time: 88. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons to cart. $5.98, good condition, Sold by Valleys Books & More rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Roanoke, VA, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by RKO Radio Pictures.
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Shipped to you from Goodwill of the Valleys, Roanoke VA. Thank you for your support! The disc(s), case, and artwork are in good condition showing normal wear.
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons [Colorized Version] [Vhs] to cart. $6.00, good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by Warner Home Video.
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Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Jos. Good. 1942 Run time: 88. Connecting viewers with great movies since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Used discs may not include digital content. Customer service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons [Vhs] to cart. $7.18, very good condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Turner Home Entertainment.
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons to cart. $7.49, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Warner Home Video.
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Mel Ford, Keenan Elliott, Don Dillaway, Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Ray Collins, William Blees, Richard Bennett, Anne... Very good. 2012 Run time: 88. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons to cart. $10.93, very good condition, Sold by First Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eatonton, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by WarnerBrothers.
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Very Good. Size: 7x5x0; Near fine disc. Margins to the original case artwork were cut shorter to allow artwork to fit a slimline case. DVD has been re-cased in standard size case. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons [Vhs] to cart. $13.72, new condition, Sold by Book Lover's Warehouse rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Watauga, TN, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Turner Home Entertainment.
Add this copy of The Magnificent Ambersons (the Criterion Collection) to cart. $31.44, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2018 by Criterion Collection.
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Agnes Moorehead, Tim Holt, Joseph Cotten. New. 1942 Run time: 88. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
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