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Actors: Joseph Cotten, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead, Dolores Costello, Ray Collins
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Magnificent Ambersons |
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Based on Booth Tarkington novel, THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS has been written and directed by Orson Welles in 1942.
Indianapolis, at the end of the XIXth century. The Ambersons are a wealthy very upper-class family. The only son of Isabel Amberson is handsome and spoiled. When Joseph Cotten, once Isabel's lover, comes back to town after a 20 years break, he's a widower and successful automobile maker, father of a beautiful young girl, Lucy. The young George Amberson falls in love with Lucy who would like him to choose a job before thinking of marriage. Meanwhile, Isabel's husband dies and Joseph Cotten, who had never forgotten her, begins his courtship. George doesn't accept that his mother socializes with Cotten anymore and organizes a trip around the world for his mother and himself. A few months later, George must come back with his dying mother who passes away before having seen again Cotten. The economical situation has also changed and the Ambersons are ruined while Joseph Cotten has become even richer. George must work for the first time in his life.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Magnificent Ambersons |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- matchbreaker interference
Family, loving
Yes
Special relationship with
- mother
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- "the rich"
Strong "rags to riches" component?
Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Woman/class/friends story?
- story of "the rich"
Story of city/rural life?
- Big City
Culture of surrounding area:
- American urban
- American Midwest
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- simply wealthy
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Check here if B&W
Yes
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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