The Magnificent Ambersons is an A&E Network film for television, inspired by Booth Tarkington's novel The Magnificent Ambersons. It was filmed using Orson Welles's screenplay and editing notes of the original film. Directed by Alfonso Arau, the film stars Madeleine Stowe, Bruce Greenwood, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Gretchen Mol, Jennifer Tilly, Dina Merrill and James Cromwell. This film does not strictly follow Welles's screenplay. It lacks several scenes included in the 1942 version, and contains essentially the same ending as Tarkington's novel.
Contents
Cast
Madeleine Stowe as Isabel Amberson Minafer
Bruce Greenwood as Eugene Morgan
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as George Amberson Minafer
Gretchen Mol as Lucy Morgan
Jennifer Tilly as Fanny Minafer
William Hootkins as Uncle George
Dina Merrill as Mrs. Johnson
James Cromwell as Major Amberson
Keith Allen as George - Age 9
Jane Brennan as Nurse
Reception
Critical response
Shortly after it was released, Variety characterized it as "one more sad step in the tragic film history of The Magnificent Ambersons." On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an audience approval rating of 30% based on 250+ reviews.