Orson Welles' - The Magnificent Ambersons - Joseph Cotten DVD Review Orson Welles' - The Magnificent Ambersons

(aka 'La Splendeur des Amberson')

USA 1942

Narrator: "Something had happened. A thing which, years ago, had been the eagerest hope of many, many good citizens of the town, and now it had come at last; George Amberson Mainafer had got his comeuppance. He got it three times filled, and running over. But those who had so longed for it were not there to see it, and they never knew it. Those who were still living had forgotten all about it and all about him."

****

Orson Welles was not only a genius—he played one on the screen. The most lavishly gifted Hollywood director of his generation, this all-around showboat both lived and dramatized the self-serving Promethean spectacle of the outsize artistic temperament laid low by the constraints of commerce.

Adapted from Booth Tarkington's barely remembered Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about social change in turn-of-the-century Indianapolis, The Magnificent Ambersons was in production when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Less than two months later, patriotic Welles took off on a war-related mission to Latin America that would result in his unfinished documentary It's All True. Ambersons' original 131-minute cut was entrusted to editor Robert Wise. The movie tested poorly with audiences, and the RKO brass deemed it too long and too gloomy; Ambersons was re-edited in Welles's absence, or, should we say, it was butchered.

Thus, the movie became the sacred relic of Welles's martyrdom. About 50 minutes were cut, and new material was indifferently filmed and inserted along with several crass reaction shots designed to break the flow and make obvious what particular characters were feeling.

Excerpt from J. Hoberman's review from The Village Voice located HERE

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Theatrical Release: July 10th, 1942

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DVD Comparison:

Éditions Montparnasse - Region 0 - PAL vs. Universal Picture Video (UK) - Region 2- PAL

(Éditions Montparnasse - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal Picture Video (UK) - Region 2- PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Éditions Montparnasse - Region 0 - PAL	Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:28:12	1:28:06
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 3.92 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.16 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Montparnasse
Bitrate: Universal
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	French, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Éditions Montparnasse Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: September 24th, 2004 Slim Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 10	Release Information: Studio: Éditions Montparnasse Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • An Unfinished Masterpiece: An Interview With Bill Krohn (In French with English subtitles) - 17:58 • Trailer DVD Release Date: May 29th, 2006 Black Keep Case Chapters: 16

Comments:

ADDITION: - Universal Picture (UK) - June 1st 2006 - Another interlaced analog transfer with combing evident. It does show the huge amount that is cropped from the Montparnasse transfer. The Universal does not appear as sharp because the French DVD is laced with edge enhancement. The Universal has some extras - a totally un-restored trailer and the 18 minute interview with Bill Krohn which is very good. So, I would advise to wait although there is no definite date for the Region 1, which will undoubtedly be the best. If you are keen on purchasing and seeing this masterpiece now - then go for the Universal (UK). Better in all areas (less manipulation and cropping), extras and it even has optional English subtitles.

******

The transfer is quite weak - barley tube acceptable and with an appallingly low bitrate. The source is definitely analog and there is extensive 'combing' in all horizontal pans. There appears to be some contrast boosting as well and edge enhancements. The mono track is again weak but audible and fairly consistent. The good news is that the French subtitles ARE removable (on my system - we will wait to hear if anyone else is incapable). It is great to have this masterpiece on digital especially with no definite date for coming to Region 1 - NTSC anytime soon. I'd say this is worth the price for any serious collection.

NOTE: Warner reps have stated in a chat -

[Warner] We're still looking for better materials on AMBERSONS. We waited for KONG and KANE and it was worth it. It will be worth it for the AMBERSONS, and yes, we will release JOURNEY INTO FEAR when we do AMBERSONS. (Thanks Jeremy)

Gary W. Tooze

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(Éditions Montparnasse - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal Picture Video (UK) - Region 2- PAL RIGHT)