Stills

THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS: THE STILLS

In the 1940s when a film was made at a major studio—and this holds true even today— for publicity purposes photographs or “stills” were prepared. These include formal photographs of the stars taken in a photography studio often dressed as their characters and more often than not photographed prior to the picture going into production. Some of these have no relation to the film but are just a head shot of a star used to publicize a film. For example, the Orson Welles head shots were prepared when he came to RKO and were used to publicize both CITIZEN KANE and THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. Photographs are then taken of the film in production showing the director, technical people, etc. in the process of making the movie. Finally photographs are taken on the set which attempt to duplicate as best as possible in still photographs the scenes being shot by the film camera. To do this the still photographers will often stand beside the camera and take their photographs before and after a scene is photographed or during camera rehearsals. Again, this is done to make the photograph as close a representation of a filmed scene as possible.

To the best of my knowledge the complete studio set of photographic stills for THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS comprised 275 numbered photographs. This master set was prepared after filming was completed. Before that, stills – some of which were omitted from the studio set – called candids and production stills were sent out to various publications to promote the film and, so, were numbered differently and never on the still itself. Example of these numberings are B4273-3 or N4237-1. Therefore, there could be as many as 600 – or perhaps even more – stills for THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. What I have here is over 475; and, trying to be as complete as possible, 14 were scanned from publications and with these therefore there is a noticeable loss in quality. In addition, I have organized this material first by Photography Studio (OW, JC, TH , AB, DC.) and (MA-ADV), second by production (MA-PUB-A) and finally scene duplication (MA-).

The studio set numbers used here are not to be confused with the sets of stills distributed to theaters. These stills had their own numbering and included various stills from the original studio set. This is a reason why many stills do not have the original numbers as they were removed for this “theater set” which did not have their identification number on the still itself but below to the right of the film’s title. As theaters were required to purchase these stills, few returned them to the studio and, over the years they became available to collectors. For this site I have tried my best to locate and organize AMBERSONS stills by their original studio identification numbers and, when I couldn’t find one, I placed the still nearest photographs from the same scene or performer.

What is of interest is that the scene duplication or “MA” still-set photographs contain stills from almost every scene deleted from the 131 minute “rough Cut” and even scenes that Welles cut from his “rough cut” and, so, are the only representations of these lost scenes we have. (Welles did have a set of frame enlargements but most of these are now lost. ) There is a reason for this. The complete studio set was compiled for the film’s planned April 1942 release, therefore much of this material was sent out to publications for articles written for that April release. Therefore these articles contain stills from scenes that do not exist in the film’s release version. In fact, many of the stills for deleted scenes have found their way into subsequent articles, advertisements and even Home Video packaging.

STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY STLLS PRIOR TO PRODUCTION

ORSON WELLES 50

ORSON WELLES 51

ORSON WELLES 52

ORSON WELLES 53b

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RAY COLLINS B Series (B41813-0)

RAY COLLINS 4G

RAY COLLINS 7G

RAY COLLINS 9C

TIM HOLT 19

TIM HOLT 30

TIM HOLT 255

TIM HOLT

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ANN BAXTER B Series (B4246-9)

ANN BAXTER

ANN BAXTER 4C

ANN BAXTER 5C

ANN BAXTER 8C

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ANN BAXTER 15C

ANN BAXTER 38C

ANN BAXTER 41C

ANN BAXTER 48C

DOLORES COSTELLO 19B

DOLORES COSTELLO 21B

DOLORES COSTELLO 9B

DOLORES COSTELLO 112

DOLORES COSTELLO R42413-6

STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY STILLS IN COSTUME

These formal studio photographs were usually distributed to publications before and after a film goes into production in order to create an awareness with the general public of the movie and its cast. A few of the stills in this set were taken on set.

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 1

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV-2

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 3

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 4

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 5

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 6

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 7

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 8

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 9

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 10

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 11

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 12

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 14

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 15

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 16

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 17

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 18

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 19

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 20

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 21

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 22

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 23

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 24

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 25

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 27

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 29

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 30

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 31

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 32

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 33

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 34

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 35

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 36

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 37

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 38

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 39

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 40

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 41

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 42

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 43

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 44

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 45

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 46

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 47

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 49

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 50

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS ADV 51

IN PRODUCTION STILLS

These production photos were used in pre-release publicity prepared for general interest and trade publications. Most were taken on the set while the film was in production

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ORSON WELLES 93a

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A3

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ORSON WELLES 95a

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A5

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A6

ORSON WELLES 97a

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A7

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A8

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A9

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A10

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A11

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB R SERIES

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A12

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A13

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A16

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A17

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A18

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A19

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A20

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A21

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A23

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A24

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A25

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A26

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A27

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A28

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A29

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A30

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A31

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A32

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A33

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A34

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A35

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A36

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A37

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A38

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A39

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A40

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A42

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A43

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A44

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A45

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A46

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A47

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A48

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A49

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A50

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A51

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS B Series (B42323-5)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A54

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS R Series

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A55

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A56

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A57

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A58

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A59

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A60

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A61

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A62

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A63

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A64

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A65

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A66

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A69

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A70

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A71

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A72

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A73

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A74a

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A75

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A76

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A77

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS B Series (B42325-7)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A79

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A80

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A81

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A82

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB B Series

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A83

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A84

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A85

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A86

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 1890 PHILION ACHILLE

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS N Series (N4273-1)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS N Series (N4273-5)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 1890 PHILION ACHILLE

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A90

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A91

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A92A

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS R Series

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A95A

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A96

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A97

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A99

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A100

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (ASE 39)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A101

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS B Series (B42325-6)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A103

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A104

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A105

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A106

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A107

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A108

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A109

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS PUB A110

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FILM FRAME SIMULATION STILLS

This final set of photographs are attempts to duplicate the motion picture’s frames and are distributed when the film is released and are seen by the public in displays prepared by theaters playing the film as well as well as in general publications including reviews. These final set of stills eventually find their way into film journals and various book publications decades after the film’s release. (See below) These photographs are also included in what is known as press kits—along with studio prepared literature on the film, so that reviewers and anyone writing about the film can have at their fingertips information about actors, the plot and various other facts related to the film. Included in a press kit is a selection of photos for publications. As mentioned earlier this still-set contains stills from almost every scene deleted from the 131 minute “rough Cut.” In fact there are stills even for scenes that Welles cut from his “rough cut” and, so, they are the only representations of these lost scenes we have.

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 1

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 1B

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 2

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 3

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 4

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 5

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 7

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 11

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 12

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 14

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 15

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 18

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 20

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 24

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 27

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 29

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 30

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 31

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 32

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 34

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 35

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 40

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 41

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 42

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 44

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 45

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 46

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 46b

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 47

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 48

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 49

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 50

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 52

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 56

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 57

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 60

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 61

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 62

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 63

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 64

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 66

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 67

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS B Series (B4235-5)

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (340-00)

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 70

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 71

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 72

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 73

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 75

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 76

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 77

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 80

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 82

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 83

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 84

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 85

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 86

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 87

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 89

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 90

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 91

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 92

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 99

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 101

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 103

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 105

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 106

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 111

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 112

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 114

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 115

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 117

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 118

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MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 122

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 125

MAGNIFICENT AMBERSON 127

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SPECIAL AT HOME PHOTOGRAPHS

This rare set of ‘The Star At Home” photos taken of Dolorous Costello at the time she signed with RKO for THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. Costello had been off the screen for a number of years and these photographs were used to re-ignite public awareness of the actress. They were usually used in the Fan Magazines.