امبرسون های باشکوه

BFI Film Classics

by V.F. Perkins, قاسم مومنی (Translator)

دهه‌هاست سینما و تاریخش درگیر این مسئله است که چرا و ‌چه‌طور مدیران یک استودیو با حماقت و بی‌مبالاتی توانستند با فرمول چسب و قیچی هر بلایی دلشان خواست بر سر فیلمی بیاورند که برای این ساخته شده بود که شاهکار همه‌ی اعصار باشد! همه می‌دانیم که اورسن ولز، نابغه‌ا‌ی چموش با زبانی تیز بود که شوخ‌طبعی‌اش هم نیش داشت، اما همه‌ی اینها برابر فوران نبوغ او این‌‌قدر بی‌اهمیت بود که مشتی سرمایه‌دار بی‌استعداد حق نداشته باشند عیش تماشای یک شاهکار را از ما بگیرند. کتاب «امبرسون‌های باشکوه» پرکینز، با شرح بلاهت سازمان‌یافته‌ی تهیه‌کنندگان و سرمایه‌گذاران استودیوی RKO شروع شده و با حرکت در مسیر همه‌ی کاری که ولز کرده و آن‌ها نتوانسته‌اند نابودش کنند، از مسیر تولید و تخریب هم‌زمان به خسران بزرگ می‌رسد، همان که رابرت کرینگر درباره‌اش می‌گوید: «مضحکه‌ای که RKO سر پایان‌بندی امبرسون‌های باشکوه به راه انداخت همان حدواندازه‌ی همیشگی شعور هالیوود است.» پرکینز کتابش را با شرح ملال‌آور اندوه و خسران ابدی ننوشته و همه‌ی کارهای ولز در تصویر و صدا و نریشن(صدای خود ولز و نثر شکسپیری‌اش) را یک به یک واکاوی کرده و دلایل شکوه بی‌پایان فیلمی را برشمرده که همه‌ی تلاش‌ها برای نابودی‌اش، به بن‌بست خورده است!

Genres: Film, Criticism, Classics, Media Tie In, Nonfiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 1999

About the author

Victor Francis Perkins, usually cited as V.F. Perkins, was an English film critic, best known for his work on film aesthetics and interpretation.

Perkins was a founder-editor of the journal Movie (1962 - 2000) and was employed as Teacher Adviser at the British Film Institute (BFI) before leaving to take up an academic post in 1968. He co-founded the film department at the University of Warwick in 1978, where he acted as a full time lecturer/senior lecturer until 2004.

Best known for his first book, Film as Film (1972), which quickly became a core text in Film Studies courses, Perkins influenced the way in which film is studied and became internationally known for his sharp intellect and jargon-less approach to the critical analysis of film. Perkins remained an active scholar until he died, continuing to lecture at Warwick University, as well as write and give papers on film analysis at home and abroad.

Reviews

[Jeff Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

As any film fan will know 'The Magnificent Ambersons' is a 'lost' film...lost in that RKO sliced and burned almost an hour of Welles' original footage, editing in hastily reshot alternate scenes that rob the film of Welles' vision, Tarkington's story, and, in many ways, simple cohesion. There are many books and articles about this, all of which are worth hunting down.

What makes Perkins' book different is that it celebrates the second way in which this is a 'lost' film; that is lost because nobody recognises it any more, it's never screened or referenced in the same way that, for instance, 'Kane' is still a recognisable film, even to those who have never seen it. Although he does draw it in when required, this book is a celebration of the film we do have, the 'RKO' cut, call it what you will, but unless someone finds some hitherto unknown stock, this is the film we have...and it is still a masterpiece to be enjoyed, studied and marvelled at - even through the choked back tears of what once was, as we see tiny reflections within that which remains.

Why is it a 'lost masterpiece'? That's not for me to say here - watch the film (if you can find it), then read this 71 pages of excellent film study - you will not be disappointed, I promise.

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Booo-ring! I think a play based on this would be better. Maybe more life brought to the characters. The writing style just plodded.

[Mont · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ambersons, a powerful family in a modest Indiana town, are in decline. George Amberson Minafer, the heir to the family fortune, is arrogant to the point of insufferability. His pride and fixation on the past is so strong that he would rather see his mother lonely and unhappy than bless her marriage to a wealthy commoner.

[David Sterritt]

V.F. Perkins is a first-rate film scholar, and his BFI study of “The Magnificent Ambersons,” treating it as an existing masterpiece rather than a ruined might-have-been, is consistently solid and simply terrific near the end, where he deals with Welles’s multifaceted use of time. Definitely recommended.

[Kieslowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

مجموعه خوبیه این مجموعه نشر خوب.

به طور کامل و از چندین جهت ساخته ولز رو و بلایی که استدیو سر فیلم میاره و ریزه کاری های فیلمساز رو بررسی میکنه.
بعد از دیدن فیلم خوندنش لذت تماشای فیلم رو دو چندان میکنه

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the main character, Georgie, is a pain that you love to hate, the book is really a good read. It shows the rise and fall of an affluent family during the beginnings of the automobile. The writing is definitely Indiana in nature. (I read this as part of an Indiana writer's class.) However, if you are interested in literature that discusses the impact of technology on society, then this is a good read for you!

[Christopher Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orson Welles following citizen kane

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough for me to finish.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

#100

Fun read!