The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

[Logos14]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

I watched this movie for the first time, and by the end of it I was left with a huge ?

What was George's big problem with Eugene and why was he so against his mother marrying him even after father died? I don't get it

The idea is that by rejecting Eugene she didn't marry for love, so instead she loved her son all the more, causing him to be spoiled and overly attached. George can't tolerate having a rival for his mother's affections. As I understand it, the book emphasized this Freudian aspect less and instead George's antipathy to Eugene was rooted in reactionary hatred for modernity as exemplified by the automobile.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Logos14

The idea is that by rejecting Eugene she didn't marry for love, so instead she loved her son all the more, causing him to be spoiled and overly attached. George can't tolerate having a rival for his mother's affections. As I understand it, the book emphasized this Freudian aspect less and instead George's antipathy to Eugene was rooted in reactionary hatred for modernity as exemplified by the automobile.

But Eugene was nothing but kind toward him and his mother. There was no reason for him to be so nasty. Even Lucy was very kind-hearted. There should be a motive for him to act like that other than jealousy. I did not get it

[Logos14]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

But Eugene was nothing but kind toward him and his mother. There was no reason for him to be so nasty. Even Lucy was very kind-hearted. There should be a motive for him to act like that other than jealousy. I did not get it

Well yes, that's one of the flaws in Welles' adaptation. In the novel, George is an aristocratic reactionary who despises industrialization, which is what Eugene represents. In casting Eugene as a gentleman and George as a boor, Welles inverted the thematic relationship of the characters and failed to develop this element. And as I said, he also brings in a good deal of Freud and that changes the emphasis.