Post by millar70 on Apr 20, 2021 21:03:05 GMT
Ambersons was totally mangled by RKO after Orson Welles was sent to Brazil to help the US government with maintaining good relations with the US at the time of WWII.
Orson's film was considered way too much of a downer, so while he was gone, the studio cut out around 35-45 minutes and actually filmed two new added on scenes which totally changed the ending into a sappy feel good Hollywood ending. They even tacked on lighter music in those scenes, which caused Bernard Herrmann to demand that his name be taken off the credits.
A total travesty to both Welles and Herrmann.
The film that was released is still pretty incredible, I actually enjoy it more than Citizen Kane. However, I do skip the last 15 minutes or so. Basically after you see George Amberson praying to God, turn it off. That's when Orson's film ends.
It would be so cool to be able to see the lost footage. I've heard rumors of how the movie really turns out, and it does seem incredibly depressing, but I'm all for finally seeing what Orson Welles really wanted to show us.
Orson's film was considered way too much of a downer, so while he was gone, the studio cut out around 35-45 minutes and actually filmed two new added on scenes which totally changed the ending into a sappy feel good Hollywood ending. They even tacked on lighter music in those scenes, which caused Bernard Herrmann to demand that his name be taken off the credits.
A total travesty to both Welles and Herrmann.
The film that was released is still pretty incredible, I actually enjoy it more than Citizen Kane. However, I do skip the last 15 minutes or so. Basically after you see George Amberson praying to God, turn it off. That's when Orson's film ends.
It would be so cool to be able to see the lost footage. I've heard rumors of how the movie really turns out, and it does seem incredibly depressing, but I'm all for finally seeing what Orson Welles really wanted to show us.