Review of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) by Matt G — 30 Jun 2009

Orson Welles' sophomore feature is really a chore to sit through. It's hard to say how much Welles was responsible, or how much was the result of studio mangling - pompous and pretentious, it's alternately dull and stodgy and shrill and melodramatic with overwrought performances and only slight touches of the cinematic inventiveness that made 'Citizen Kane' so extraordinary - even at the severely cut-down 88 minutes, it goes on way too long.

There are some strong visuals and black and white cinematography, but overall, a major disappointment.