The Magnificent Ambersons

Another one of those films I always have to catch on TCM because nobody will release it on disc. I saw it once before, and came away slightly unimpressed, kind of like the first time I saw Kane. But, the characters, images and the mood of the film really stick with you, and I couldn't wait for them to air it again.

I was struck instantly by the character portraits painted this time around. You can really feel a kinship for them all, even though you might not agree with their individual actions. You get a sense of understanding as to why they do what they do. George is brilliantly written and acted. He's a spoiled brat who's stuck in his ways and always has to get what he wants. You really despise him as a character, at first, and that's exactly the way it should be. However, his arc gets very interesting very fast.

Despite not having final cut on the film, the editing and soundwork is breathtaking. The sequence at the very beginning is a great piece of work, detailing many years of something as droll as fashion, in a refreshingly interesting manner and pace.

Clearly one of Welles' best works, and highly influential to this day. I look forward to reading more about it in Peter Cowie's The Cinema of Orson Welles.