The 1942 title card for The Magnificent Ambersons.
By RAY KELLY
The Criterion Collection is apparently teasing fans about a future release of Orson Welles’ classic The Magnificent Ambersons on Blu-ray and DVD.
The notoriously tight-lipped Criterion has yet to publicly comment on an Ambersons release. However, the pun-happy mystery doodlers at work on the company newsletter depicted two “&” symbols against a spectacular background ― The Magnificent Ampersands. (Special thanks to Ben Testa. movielocke and the cinematic sleuths at Criterion Forum.)
Wellesnet has confirmed Criterion acquired the home video rights to the 1942 film from Warner Bros. in early 2016 and has since been working on a home video release.
A release date and what extras will be included is unknown.
Welles was working in Brazil on the ill-fated It’s All True when RKO Studios recut Ambersons without his involvement. A 131-minute cut was chopped to 88 minutes and a new ending shot for the film.
The original elements were destroyed by RKO and no copy of Welles’ longer cut is believed to still exist.
The Magnficent Ambersons was released as a short-lived, bare bones DVD by Warner Home Video in 2011. It has not been released on Blu-ray in North America.
A far superior laser disc was released by The Criterion Collection in 1989. It included production stills, an informative commentary track by scholar Robert Carringer, and footage from Pampered Youth, the 1925 silent film based on The Magnificent Ambersons.
The Criterion Collection is home to many fine Welles restorations including Chimes at Midnight, Othello with Filming Othello, Mr. Arkakin, F For Fake with One Man Band and The Immortal Story.
__________
Post your comments on the Wellesnet Message Board.