The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 28min
- Drama, Romance
- 10 Jul 1942 (USA)
- Movie
The spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Joseph Cotten | ... |
Eugene Morgan
|
|
| Dolores Costello | ... |
Isabel Amberson Minafer
|
|
| Anne Baxter | ... |
Lucy Morgan
|
|
| Tim Holt | ... |
George Minafer
|
|
| Agnes Moorehead | ... |
Fanny Minafer
|
|
| Ray Collins | ... |
Jack Amberson
|
|
| Erskine Sanford | ... |
Roger Bronson
|
|
| Richard Bennett | ... |
Major Amberson
|
|
| Orson Welles | ... |
Narrator (voice)
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Edwin August | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
| Georgia Backus | ... |
Matron (uncredited)
|
|
 |
Harry A. Bailey | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
|
Olive Ball | ... |
Mary - Maid (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jack Baxley | ... |
Reverend Smith (uncredited)
|
|
|
William Blees | ... |
Young Man at Accident (uncredited)
|
|
|
Lyle Clement | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
|
Bobby Cooper | ... |
George Minafer as a Boy (uncredited)
|
| Don Dillaway | ... |
Wilbur Minafer (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Heenan Elliott | ... |
Workman (uncredited)
|
| John Elliott | ... |
Guest (uncredited)
|
|
| William Elmer | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
James Fawcett | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
|
Mel Ford | ... |
Fred Kinney (uncredited)
|
| Nancy Gates | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Nina Guilbert | ... |
Guest (uncredited)
|
| Maynard Holmes | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
| Edward Howard | ... |
Chauffeur (uncredited)
|
|
| Harry Humphrey | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Elmer Jerome | ... |
Attendee at Funeral (uncredited)
|
| J. Louis Johnson | ... |
Sam - Butler (uncredited)
|
|
| Lew Kelly | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
| Del Lawrence | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
| Bert LeBaron | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
| John McGuire | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Philip Morris | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
|
|
|
Anne O'Neal | ... |
Mrs. Foster (uncredited)
|
| Gil Perkins | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Charles R. Phipps | ... |
Uncle John (uncredited)
|
|
|
Hilda Plowright | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
|
|
|
Drew Roddy | ... |
Elijah (uncredited)
|
| Henry Roquemore | ... |
Hardware Man (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jack Santoro | ... |
Barber (uncredited)
|
| Gus Schilling | ... |
Drug Clerk (uncredited)
|
|
| Kathryn Sheldon | ... |
Matron (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Sada Simmons | ... |
Wife (uncredited)
|
| Dorothy Vaughan | ... |
Mrs. Johnson (uncredited)
|
|
| James Westerfield | ... |
Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Joe Whitehead | ... |
Citizen (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Orson Welles | ||
| Fred Fleck | ... | (uncredited) (additional sequences) |
| Robert Wise | ... | (uncredited) (additional sequences) |
Written by
| Booth Tarkington | ... | (from the novel by) |
| Orson Welles | ... | (script writer) |
| Joseph Cotten | ... | (additional scenes) (uncredited) |
| Jack Moss | ... | (additional scenes) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Jack Moss | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| George Schaefer | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Orson Welles | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Bernard Herrmann | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Stanley Cortez | ... | (photographer) |
| Jack MacKenzie | ... | (uncredited) |
| Orson Welles | ... | (uncredited) |
Editing by
| Robert Wise | ... | film editor |
| Jack Moss | ... | (uncredited) |
| Mark Robson | ... | (uncredited) |
Editorial Department
| Mark Robson | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| I.J. Wilkinson | ... | negative cutter (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Albert S. D'Agostino | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Albert S. D'Agostino | ... | (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
| Darrell Silvera | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Mel Berns | ... | makeup department head (uncredited) |
| Robert J. Schiffer | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Maurice Seiderman | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Fred Fleck | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Harry Mancke | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| A. Roland Fields | ... | set dresser (as Al Fields) |
| Mark-Lee Kirk | ... | set designer |
| Chesley Bonestell | ... | background paintings (uncredited) |
| Charles Sayers | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bailey Fesler | ... | sound recordist |
| James G. Stewart | ... | sound recordist |
| Terry Kellum | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Roy Meadows | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Earl B. Mounce | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| James Thompson | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| John E. Tribby | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Vernon L. Walker | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Clifford Stine | ... | process photography (uncredited) |
Stunts
| David Sharpe | ... | stunt double: Tim Holt (uncredited) |
| Helen Thurston | ... | stunt double: Anne Baxter (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Russell A. Cully | ... | photographer: additional scenes (uncredited) |
| William Eglinton | ... | camera department head (uncredited) |
| Eddie Garvin | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Ralph Hoge | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Alexander Kahle | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Bill McLellan | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Russell Metty | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) / photographer: additional scenes (uncredited) |
| Earl Miller | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Nicholas Musuraca | ... | photographer: additional scenes (uncredited) |
| Howard Schwartz | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Bert Shipman | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Phil Stern | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Harry J. Wild | ... | photographer: additional scenes (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Rufus Le Maire | ... | casting: Hollywood (uncredited) |
| Robert Palmer | ... | casting: Hollywood (uncredited) |
| Arthur Willy | ... | casting: New York (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Edward Stevenson | ... | designer: ladies' wardrobe |
| Claire Cramer | ... | wardrobe department head (uncredited) |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Earl Leas | ... | wardrobe: men (uncredited) |
| Margaret Van Horn | ... | wardrobe: women (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Louis Shapiro | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Dave Dreyer | ... | music department head (uncredited) |
| Bernard Herrmann | ... | conductor (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Louis Kaufman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Roy Webb | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Amalia Kent | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Elroy G. Cline | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| William Alland | ... | assistant: Mr. Welles (uncredited) |
| John Barada | ... | ranch manager (uncredited) |
| Leda Bauer | ... | script reader: New York (uncredited) |
| Howard Benedict | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Herbert Drake | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| H. Emolieff | ... | film export manager (uncredited) |
| Fred Fleck | ... | unit business manager (uncredited) |
| Winifred Hablam | ... | production notes (uncredited) |
| John Hamilton | ... | first aid (uncredited) |
| Ross Hastings | ... | production attorney (uncredited) |
| G.B. Hobe | ... | production treasurer (uncredited) |
| J.B. McDonough | ... | business manager (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth McGaffey | ... | research department head (uncredited) |
| Ivy R. McLean | ... | public relations (uncredited) |
| L. Messenger | ... | script reader: Hollywood (uncredited) |
| Howard Nelson | ... | maintenance (uncredited) |
| J.J. Nolan | ... | office manager (uncredited) |
| Roy S. Otto | ... | dailies projectionist (uncredited) |
| Sid Rogell | ... | backlot manager (uncredited) |
| Ann Rogers | ... | secretary: Mr. Welles (uncredited) |
| Richard Wilson | ... | assistant: Orson Welles (uncredited) |
| H. Winnicar | ... | studio teacher (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- RKO Radio Pictures (1942) (United States) (theatrical) (An RKO Radio Picture)
- RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada (1942) (Canada) (theatrical) (as RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada, Ltd.)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1942) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- RKO Pictures (Australasia) (1942) (Australia) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Pictures Argentina (1942) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Radio Filmes (1943) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1943) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Chamartín (1945) (Spain) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1946) (Italy) (theatrical)
- C&C Television Corporation (1955) (United States) (tv)
- TF1 (1983) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- The Criterion Collection (1993) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- Continental Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
- Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Warner Bros. (2020) (United States) (video) (streaming)
- The Criterion Channel (2021) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Astral Video (1985) (Canada) (VHS)
- Nova Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- RKO Home Video (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- The Nostalgia Merchant (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- VidAmerica (1986) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The young, handsome, but somewhat wild Eugene Morgan wants to marry Isabel Amberson, daughter of a rich upper-class family, but she instead marries dull and steady Wilbur Minafer. Their only child, George, grows up a spoiled brat. Years later, Eugene comes back, now a mature widower and a successful automobile maker. After Wilbur dies, Eugene again asks Isabel to marry him, and she is receptive. But George resents the attentions paid to his mother, and he and his whacko aunt Fanny manage to sabotage the romance. A series of disasters befall the Ambersons and George, and he gets his come-uppance in the end.
Written by John Oswalt |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | From the Man Who Made "The Best Picture of 1941" See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $850,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | One of former silent star Dolores Costello's last roles. She was forced to retire from the film business as her face had become badly scarred by early film makeup, which was highly caustic. See more » |
| Goofs | Towards the end of a long tracking shot with George and Lucy in a horse-drawn carriage, a portion of the rear end of a camera car and some sort of filmmaking equipment briefly enters the left side of frame. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Une histoire seule (1989). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo See more » |
| Crazy Credits | All of the credits except the RKO logo, the film's title and the copyright notice are recited orally (by Orson Welles) at the end of the film, not written out onscreen. As Welles recites the names of the production crew, items are seen, such as a motion picture camera when he says "Director of Photography", a pair of hands turning knobs as he says the words "Sound Recording By", etc. See more » |
| Quotes |
Jack:
My gosh, the old times are certainly starting all over again. Eugene: Old times, not a bit. There aren't any old times. When times are gone, they're not old, they're dead. There aren't any times but new times. See more » |