The Magnificent Ambersons ★★★★ 1942 Welles's second film. A fascinating, inventive translation of the Booth Tarkington novel about a wealthy turn of the century family collapsing under the changing currents of progress. Pure Welles, except the glaringly bad tacked-on ending that the studio shot (under the direction of the great Robert Wise and Fred Fleck), after taking the film from him. It seems they wanted the proverbial happy ending. 88m/B VHS. Joseph Cotten, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Richard Bennett, Dolores Costello, Erskine Sanford, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorehead;
Director:
Freddie Fleck, Robert Wise, Orson Welles;
Writer:
Orson Welles;
Cameo:
Bernard Herrmann, Roy Webb. Natl. Film Reg. '91;; N.Y. Film Critics '42: Actress (Moorehead).
