Review of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) by Richard G — 10 Jul 2008
Booth Tarkington's [i]The Magnificent Ambersons[/i] tops my list of film you have (probably) never seen. Orson Welles' lost RKO production bests [i]Citizen Kane[/i] in certain areas, this magnificently opulent masterpiece has been the topic of heated debate among movie critics and film students alike. Is it worthy of its topic and does it continue to hold up by today's standards? I believe so on both counts.
Long before the buzz-word [i]generation gap[/i] became fodder for Archie Bunker and [i]All in the Family[/i], [i]The Magnificent Ambersons[/i] took a fresh and appealing look at changing times and how some are willing to change along with them--while others are not. Its cinematic styling is pure Welles, from its wondrous tracking shot up a banister of stairs to off-centered close-ups of his stock actors over-lapping dialogue with others somewhere in the background.
Though choppy and heavily melodramatic at times, [i]The Magnificent Ambersons [/i]remains a technical masterpiece by which many other motion pictures (both past and present) are measured.
If you haven't already done so, please do yourself and your family a favor and purchase this beautiful film as part of your DVD library.
This review of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) was written by Richard G on 10 Jul 2008.
The Magnificent Ambersons has generally received very positive reviews.
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