Holy Grail of Lost Film: OG Magnificent Ambersons or King Kong Spider Pit?

[SeanJoyce]

Probably not a stretch to claim that when talking about priceless, unrecovered cinema, Welles' original, unmolested version of The Magnificent Ambersons and the infamous 'spider pit' scene that was snipped from King Kong vy for position of most coveted.

The scant few critics who saw Welles' untampered vision proclaimed it to be his masterpiece, while the creepy crawlies and the havoc they wreaked on the poor sailors in Cooper/Schoedsack's film were deemed too horrifying for modern audiences.

Sadly, only a few stills have survived as evidence that either saw the light of the day. Despite exhaustive efforts by film historians, including a long journey that ended in heartbreaking fashion in Brazil just last year, nobody has succeeded in turning up these hallowed celluloid treasures.

What's your pick, or are you unable to? Is there something out there you deem more worthy of that honor?

[Winslow Leach]

The Magnificent Ambersons.

[An4h0ny]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

The Magnificent Ambersons.

This

[playingphysicist]

Neither (both would be good to find, but I doubt especially the spider sequence survives). London After Midnight is my answer.

[SeanJoyce]

My answer is the spider pit sequence. Given how polished and ahead-of-their-time the effects were in King Kong, I can't imagine what a doozy that scene was.

What little we know about it is nightmare-inducing, and I can easily see it being the film's most memorable sequence if it were left in.

Of course, I also didn't dig The Magnificent Ambersons on my solo viewing, but giving it a second spin as a post-Kane Welles intended it is certainly a mouth-watering proposition.

[Abdrewes]

Ambersons.

[pab1219]

On the fence

[DR Herbert West]

Spider pit

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Spider pit

[Show spoiler]

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by playingphysicist

Neither (both would be good to find, but I doubt especially the spider sequence survives). London After Midnight is my answer.

Mine too, since most of Metropolis was eventually found, this is next on my list.
I suspect any lost Spider Pit sequence would be disappointing in the end.

[djzero]

Uncut Magnificent Ambersons