Fable, a startup backed by Amazon, has announced an ambitious project to digitally reconstruct 43 minutes of lost footage from Orson Welles’ classic film “The Magnificent Ambersons.” Originally released in 1942, the film is often regarded as a lost masterpiece due to significant cuts made by the studio, which altered Welles’ original vision and added an unconvincing happy ending. Brian Rose, the project’s lead, has spent five years bringing this project to life. He hopes to use artificial intelligence in the process over the next two years to computer-generate the lost films’ scenes.
The unseen footage includes an incredible four-minute, continuous, moving camera shot. Few dispute that its absence is a tragedy. In the current cut of the film, just 50 seconds of this pivotal shot survive. Like Welles’ own legacy in Hollywood, The Magnificent Ambersons has been seen, for years, through the prism of what it could’ve been, its unfinished form adding to the aura that has grown around it.
Brian Rose hopes to use new AI technology to digitally recreate the missing action. David Reeder, who manages the estate of Orson Welles’ daughter Beatrice, expressed skepticism regarding Fable’s initiative. He blasted the selected startup for not having the good sense to talk to the estate before going public with the planned project.
“Even given the courtesy of a heads up,” – David Reeder
The bad reaction from the estate equally underscores worries about the integrity of this final product. Reeder referred to Fable’s project as “an attempt to generate publicity on the back of Welles’ creative genius,” suggesting that the reconstruction may lack the innovation that characterized Welles’ original filmmaking style.
Welles’ directorial efforts in “The Magnificent Ambersons” have left a lasting impression on film history, even in its truncated form. Critics argue that the studio’s interference not only compromised Welles’ artistic vision but derailed his career in Hollywood. The film’s reputation as a lost masterpiece stems from its perceived artistic merit, showcasing Welles’ unique narrative techniques and visual storytelling.
Despite the controversy surrounding Fable’s approach, Rose remains committed to his vision of bringing back a portion of Welles’ original work. He’s convinced that AI is the key to discovering new modes of understanding or enjoying Welles’ artistry. Just a few years ago, this possibility would have seemed unimaginable. What’s critical to keep in mind is that we will still never get Welles’ original cut of “The Magnificent Ambersons.” RKO produced irrevocable damage to it more than 80 years ago.
“A purely mechanical exercise without any of the uniquely innovative thinking [of] a creative force like Welles,” – David Reeder
As Fable moves forward with its plans, it will be subject to close public criticism. Film historians and cineastes who care about Welles’ artistic integrity are going to be watching it very closely. The debate over AI’s role in recreating lost cinematic works raises questions about authenticity and preservation in the digital age.
