The Magnificent Ambersons (2002)

The spoiled rotten and utterly unlikable rich kid George Amberson becomes horrified when his recently widowed mother rekindles her relationship with the wealthy Eugene Morgan, who she left ... See full summary »

Director:

Alfonso Arau

Writers:

Booth Tarkington (novel), Orson Welles

Stars:

Madeleine Stowe, Bruce Greenwood, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Madeleine Stowe	...	Isabel Amberson Minafer
Bruce Greenwood	...	Eugene Morgan
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	George Amberson Minafer
Gretchen Mol	...	Lucy Morgan
Jennifer Tilly	...	Fanny Minafer
William Hootkins	...	Uncle George
Dina Merrill	...	Mrs. Johnson (as Dina Merrill-Hartley)
James Cromwell	...	Major Amberson
Keith Allen	...	George (Age 9)
Jane Brennan	...	Nurse
Laura Brennan	...	Lucy's Friend #2
Kelly Campbell	...	Lucy's Companion
Michael Devaney	...	Eugene's Secretary
Mairead Devlin	...	Nurse
Bernard Deegan	...	Youth

Storyline

The spoiled rotten and utterly unlikable rich kid George Amberson becomes horrified when his recently widowed mother rekindles her relationship with the wealthy Eugene Morgan, who she left decades earlier in order to marry George's father. As George struggles to sabotage his mother's new romance, he must deal with his own romantic feelings for Morgan's daughter and the consequences of his meddling as his once great family falls into ruin due to his machinations...

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Plot Keywords:

family character name in title | family relationships | tension | senator | riches to rags | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Was originally to be directed by veteran director Herbert Ross, but heart problems led to his exiting the film in early 2001. He never directed again and late in 2001 he died of congestive heart failure.

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Goofs

During George and Lucy's sleigh ride in town, George's lips frequently do not match what he's saying.

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Quotes

George Amberson Minafer: [sobbing] You could have stopped it!
Fanny Minafer: No Georgie, no one could have stopped you; you were too strong.

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Connections

Version of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

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Soundtracks

O Mio Bambino Caro (Oh My Beloved Child)
from the opera "Gianni" Schicchi
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Giovacchino Forzano
[Played while Isabel Minafer Amberson awaits Morgan's arrival to go motoring]

User Reviews

I liked it

I thought Jonathan Rhys Meyers performance as the snobbish, bullying, insecure Georgie was great. This guy bases his whole life on being the scion of a wealthy, upper crust family. When his family status drops, Georgie must find himself to escape from his arrogant dependence on his family name.

I found the romance between Bruce Greenwood and Madeline Stowe somewhat tepid. Stowe looked old, and hardly the radiant beauty that Greenwood remembers. However the critics who say that Georgie shouldn't have been able to break up his mother's romance don't understand the social climate of the time period.

The turn of the 19th to the 20th Century was an interesting time in America. Tarkington's book is about the changing social order, by showing the rise of self-made men over old money and lineage. I thought that was done very well in this production, but based on the other comments I appear to be in the minority.

Details

Official Sites:

DeAngelis Film Production and Distribution

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Magnificent Ambersons

Filming Locations:

Dunsany Castle, County Meath, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A+E Networks, De Angelis Group, RKO Pictures

Technical Specs

Color:

Color