What a magnificent work this is! Even in its sadly butchered state, it seems like a masterpiece. Citizen Kane may have scored higher on technical innovation, but it is less touching and involving than this.
I always thought of Gregg Toland as the master b/w cinematographer of all time mostly for his work on Kane, but the cinematography by Stanley Cortez on the Ambersons is as good if a little less showy, and surprisingly similar to Kane's.
Maybe, like the Venus de Milo, the flaws resulting from the petty interference with the director's vision somehow add to the overall impression. We can look at the film and imagine what if? how about this? rather than merely saying the film is perfect.
I always thought of Gregg Toland as the master b/w cinematographer of all time mostly for his work on Kane, but the cinematography by Stanley Cortez on the Ambersons is as good if a little less showy, and surprisingly similar to Kane's.
Maybe, like the Venus de Milo, the flaws resulting from the petty interference with the director's vision somehow add to the overall impression. We can look at the film and imagine what if? how about this? rather than merely saying the film is perfect.