☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) -- O. Welles
Even watched on my old
VHS tape, you can see Orson Welles' attention to detail and "the
shot" here in the remnants of his second film (slashed from 130+ minutes
to 88 while he was in Brazil working for Inter-American relations on "It's
All True"). The plot remains coherent (albeit with a tacked on
"happy" ending), telling the story of the Amberson family, and George
Minafer Amberson in particular (played brattily by Tim Holt), and their sad
decline as progress comes to the American midwest in the early 20th century. A
lot of bravura stylistic flourishes here, but they don't interfere or detract
from the story. Rewards close scrutiny.
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