I’ve never seen the Magnificent Ambersons. I’d always heard that the studio butchered it with editing, and the final product was far from what Welles’ had envisioned. On that basis, I always gave it a pass.
I have seen both Touch of Evil and Kane, and agree heartily they are fantastic films. The opening shot to ToE is some of the greatest camera work in film history, IMHO.
I have seen ToE numerous times. Great movie. Opening scene is unbroken footage moving through several city blocks. Lots to like. Charleton Heston. Janet Leigh. A young Dennis Weaver as the super uptight motel clerk. And Marlene Dietrick is amazing.
“I’ve never seen the Magnificent Ambersons. I’d always heard that the studio butchered it with editing, and the final product was far from what Welles’ had envisioned. On that basis, I always gave it a pass”
It’s still all right.
And they couldnt change the way it was filmed. It is all Welles in that way and worth seeing.
It's well worth checking out, even with the extensive cuts and the happy ending the studio tacked on.