The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) - Blu-ray Forum

ShellOilJunior · 05-31-2018, 10:41 PM

The Magnificent Ambersons Blu-ray

Criterion's May newsletter that was sent out this afternoon dropped this clue. Another blu-ray courtesy of the Criterion-Warner Bros. licensing deal. Great news!

dig311dug · 06-01-2018, 01:21 AM

they found the OG cut of the film?

nitin · 06-01-2018, 01:59 AM

Even in its truncated form, this is a masterpiece so happy to get whatever is possible.

Dailyan · 06-01-2018, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dig311dug

they found the OG cut of the film?

That would be...magnificent.

noirjunkie · 06-01-2018, 02:12 AM

This makes me so happy. Hopefully, they'll include the commentary track from their LD release.

professorwho · 06-01-2018, 02:15 AM

I hope it isn't a Digipak exclusive release. I'd prefer to have an actual case.

Stanis · 06-01-2018, 02:22 AM

Still never seen it, glad to finally get to!

lilboyblu · 06-01-2018, 02:30 AM

Great news! Hope it’s before the end of the year. Was just looking at that Japanese Blu-ray again the other day.

Gacivory · 06-01-2018, 02:34 AM

If they somehow found the original cut and kept it quiet, this would immediately jumpy to top 5 release of theirs of all time.

dex14 · 06-01-2018, 02:37 AM

Wellesnet has confirmed Criterion acquired the home video rights to the film from Warner Bros. in early 2016 and has since been working on a DVD / Blu-ray release.

stepeanut · 06-01-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dig311dug

they found the OG cut of the film?

I very much doubt it. If the lost footage had been found, this would be mainstream news. The best we can hope for is a clean, sharp, well-contrasted transfer and a good selection of extras telling the tortured history of the film.

Happy to be proven wrong, of course.

spanky87 · 06-01-2018, 10:38 AM

Hell yeah. Give me Agnes Moorehead's virtuoso performance in all it's HD glory.

Mr. Thomsen · 06-01-2018, 11:19 AM

I do not think I have seen TMA since the late 1980's on local TV, so can anyone explain the clue in the drawing to me?

biglou114 · 06-01-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I do not think I have seen TMA since the late 1980's on local TV, so can anyone explain the clue in the drawing to me?

It’s a pun. The And symbol is technically called an ampersand. The jewels around it are magnificent; The Magnificent Ampersands.

profholt82 · 06-01-2018, 03:08 PM

Wonderful news. Heck, I was excited back in 2011 or 2012 when it was finally released on dvd. I had been nursing an old VHS copy from the 80s prior to that. Great to see that this Welles classic will finally be receiving a proper treatment. But I won't hold my breath for any of the original footage notoriously destroyed by RKO.

For those interested, there is an excellent book by author Robert Carringer entitled 'The Magnificent Ambersons: A Reconstruction' which uses many original sources to show us what the movie originally looked like, including the script, storyboards, stills, notes, et cetera. It's highly recommended reading for any serious Welles fan.

Cremildo · 06-01-2018, 03:36 PM

If the original cut/deleted footage had been found, it'd be the biggest home video news ever - and I'm not exaggerating. It'd be huge news, period, even if unrelated to an upcoming physical format release. There'd be no reason for them to keep quiet on this. There'd probably be a theatrical re-issue first.

Fans will have to make do with the existing version.

stepeanut · 06-01-2018, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profholt82

Wonderful news. Heck, I was excited back in 2011 or 2012 when it was finally released on dvd. I had been nursing an old VHS copy from the 80s prior to that.

The first DVD edition was this French box set, which dates from 2001. I still have a mint copy of it. The picture quality is pretty ropey, but the packaging and booklet is really nice.

The Sovereign · 06-01-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepeanut

I very much doubt it. If the lost footage had been found, this would be mainstream news. The best we can hope for is a clean, sharp, well-contrasted transfer and a good selection of extras telling the tortured history of the film.

Happy to be proven wrong, of course.

I agree - very doubtful a discovery like that would have escaped wider attention. Still, if we can get the other qualities that you mentioned, I'll be quite happy with it.

dumb_dutchman · 06-01-2018, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cremildo

If the original cut/deleted footage had been found, it'd be the biggest home video news ever - and I'm not exaggerating. It'd be huge news, period, even if unrelated to an upcoming physical format release. There'd be no reason for them to keep quiet on this. There'd probably be a theatrical re-issue first.

Fans will have to make do with the existing version.

I, too, think we would have heard something if more footage (any lost footage) had been found. It comes close to Chaney's London after Midnight in terms of lost/sought after film.

I never bought the Ambersons DVD, hoping for this eventual Blu. I've only seen it on TCM, where the image was so dark and out-of-whack, that some of the scenes were void of any detail.

stepeanut · 06-01-2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumb_dutchman

I never bought the Ambersons DVD, hoping for this eventual Blu. I've only seen it on TCM, where the image was so dark and out-of-whack, that some of the scenes were void of any detail.

I think I’ve got four different DVD editions, plus the Japanese BD. Being a Welles collector is a lot easier than it used to be. We truly live in a golden age for home video.

05-31-2018, 10:41 PM	#1
ShellOilJunior Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2009 Location:USA Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:10	The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) The Magnificent Ambersons Blu-ray Criterion's May newsletter that was sent out this afternoon dropped this clue. Another blu-ray courtesy of the Criterion-Warner Bros. licensing deal. Great news! Last edited by Deciazulado; 11-23-2018 at 09:21 AM.

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06-01-2018, 01:21 AM	#2
dig311dug Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:427 Blu-ray collection:6183 Trading Score:73	they found the OG cut of the film?

06-01-2018, 01:59 AM	#3
nitin Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Feb 2010 Trading Score:9	Even in its truncated form, this is a masterpiece so happy to get whatever is possible.

06-01-2018, 02:12 AM	#5
noirjunkie Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2012 4K collection:127 Blu-ray collection:4169 DVD collection:692 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:699	This makes me so happy. Hopefully, they'll include the commentary track from their LD release.

06-01-2018, 02:15 AM	#6
professorwho Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:982 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:7	I hope it isn't a Digipak exclusive release. I'd prefer to have an actual case.

06-01-2018, 02:22 AM	#7
Stanis Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2016 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- MA collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Trading Score:23	Still never seen it, glad to finally get to!

06-01-2018, 02:30 AM	#8
lilboyblu Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Apr 2010 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:19	Great news! Hope it’s before the end of the year. Was just looking at that Japanese Blu-ray again the other day.

06-01-2018, 02:34 AM	#9
Gacivory Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Apr 2016 Location:Los Angeles, California 4K collection:1120 Blu-ray collection:5610 DVD collection:183 Digital collection:25 Trading Score:1	If they somehow found the original cut and kept it quiet, this would immediately jumpy to top 5 release of theirs of all time.

06-01-2018, 02:37 AM	#10
dex14 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2011 Trading Score:132	Wellesnet has confirmed Criterion acquired the home video rights to the film from Warner Bros. in early 2016 and has since been working on a DVD / Blu-ray release.

06-01-2018, 11:19 AM	#13
Mr. Thomsen Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Dec 2010 Location:Denmark 4K collection:248 Blu-ray collection:3143 DVD collection:293	I do not think I have seen TMA since the late 1980's on local TV, so can anyone explain the clue in the drawing to me?

06-01-2018, 03:08 PM	#15
profholt82 Special Member Member since:Apr 2011 Location:Michigan 4K collection:198 Blu-ray collection:1019 Trading Score:16	Wonderful news. Heck, I was excited back in 2011 or 2012 when it was finally released on dvd. I had been nursing an old VHS copy from the 80s prior to that. Great to see that this Welles classic will finally be receiving a proper treatment. But I won't hold my breath for any of the original footage notoriously destroyed by RKO. For those interested, there is an excellent book by author Robert Carringer entitled 'The Magnificent Ambersons: A Reconstruction' which uses many original sources to show us what the movie originally looked like, including the script, storyboards, stills, notes, et cetera. It's highly recommended reading for any serious Welles fan.

06-01-2018, 03:36 PM	#16
Cremildo Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Brazil 4K collection:165 Blu-ray collection:1050 Trading Score:51	If the original cut/deleted footage had been found, it'd be the biggest home video news ever - and I'm not exaggerating. It'd be huge news, period, even if unrelated to an upcoming physical format release. There'd be no reason for them to keep quiet on this. There'd probably be a theatrical re-issue first. Fans will have to make do with the existing version.

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