By RAY KELLY
Wellesnet is delighted to introduce a page dedicated to the lost, longer cut of Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons.
Five days before a disastrous preview on March 17, 1942 in Pomona, a cutting continuity was prepared by RKO Radio Pictures that reflected Welles’ original 131-minute cut. Following two unsuccessful previews, RKO drastically recut The Magnificent Ambersons while Welles was in Brazil shooting It’s All True. The excised scenes shot by Welles were later destroyed by the studio.
The new Wellesnet page features a screenplay-style presentation of the cutting continuity. It is largely derived from Joseph Egan‘s work at themagnificentambersons.com. Wellesnet is also deeply indebted to Roger Ryan, Brian Rose and the late author Robert Carringer (The Magnificent Ambersons: A Reconstruction) for their considerable research into the original cut. Roger and Brian have each produced reconstructions using frame enlargements and animation, respectively.
Roger made thoughtful and valuable suggestions in terms of content and presentation of the new webpage. Brian provided a PDF of the original cutting continuity to Wellesnet for those who prefer the original RKO document. Longtime Wellesnetters Michael Hinerman and Mike Teal reviewed the page during its development and provided feedback.
The cutting continuity, frame enlargements, and — to a lesser degree — publicity stills and the pre-production storyboards of excised scenes, found on the new Ambersons webpage provide a better understanding of what Welles intended for his follow-up to Citizen Kane.
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