The Magnificent Ambersons
By: Paul Gilbert
It could have been better than Citizen Kane. The Magnificent Ambersons is the masterpiece that never was. The only version that exists is not one that Orson Welles endorsed. During the editing of the film, Welles left for Mexico on a goodwill mission. Editor Robert Wise sporadically contacted Welles about the editing of his second feature film. It took too long and finally the film was at the whim of the studio execs. They re-edited the film and a more upbeat ending. The director was warned, but never came back. The final result shows that Citizen Kane was no fluke and that Welles understood the medium and was willing to push it further.
Advertisement
