The Magnificent Ambersons 1942

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Although reams have been written about the mutilation of Orson Welles' second feature, what remains of it is nevertheless a major accomplishment. Read more

Thomas M. Pryor, New York Times: All in all, The Magnificent Ambersons is an exceptionally well-made film, dealing with a subject scarcely worth the attention which has been lavished upon it. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The emotional sense of America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is so palpable you can taste it. Read more

Don Druker, Chicago Reader: A masterpiece in every way (but ignore the awkward ending the studio tacked on without Welles's approval). Read more

Pauline Kael, New Yorker: Even in this truncated form it's amazing and memorable. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: I must say that I much prefer it to Citizen Kane (1941). So sue me. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Even with so many cuts reducing the final third to a frustrating mish-mash of disjointed segments, it retains the occasional power to mesmerize and amaze. Read more

TIME Magazine: Ambersons is not another Citizen Kane, but it is good enough to remove Director Welles for keeps from the novice or one-picture-prodigy class. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Hacked about by a confused RKO, Welles' second film (from the novel by Booth Tarkington) still looks a masterpiece. Read more

Manny Farber, The New Republic: While telling this story, haltingly and clumsily, the movie runs from burdensome through heavy and dull to bad. It stutters and stumbles as Welles submerges Tarkington's story in a mess of radio and stage technique. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Orson Welles devotes 9,000 feet of film to a spoiled brat who grows up as a spoiled, spiteful young man. This film hasn't a single moment of contrast; it piles on and on a tale of woe, but without once striking at least a true chord of sentimentality. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: A pretty sensational movie. Read more