A&E is currently taking pre-orders for DVD and VHS box sets of “The Magnificent Ambersons”. The VHS set will available on January 14 while the DVD will be ready on January 24 (this could be a website mistake however). The DVD features cast bios, filmographies, and hopefully more extras. Both formats are $24.95 so if you want to save money but wait a little longer, you can try Amazon.com which is selling the VHS format for $22.26 and the DVD format for only $18.71 but both are listed to come out February 26 for some reason.
A&E has also finally put up a website for “The Magnificent Ambersons” with small images, a bio for Jonathan, and an interview with him (extended text interview from the Making of documentary). If you have not read the book or seen the original film, there are plenty of spoilers in some of the interviews. Gretchen Mol’s interview is definitely one to read. Here’s a little excerpt from it: “I have to say, Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Georgie is so perfect. Acting with him, he really brings me to life, I think.”
Don’t forgot that “The Magnificent Ambersons” will premiering on the A&E on Sunday, January 13 at 8 pm (7pm Central). It will also air on the 14, 17, 18, 19 and 20th. And if you missed “The Making of The Magnificent Ambersons”, it will be reairing on A&E, Jan. 6, 7, and 13. Check your local listings for times.
Thanks to alec757 for passing along some corrected news about “The Magnificent Ambersons”:
December 4, 2001, The Record
A&E is attempting to restore Orson Welles original vision for his movie “The Magnificent Ambersons.” The cable network in January will premiere a remake of the 1942 film, based on Booth Tarkington’s novel. The cast and crew of the new version worked from Welles original screenplay, nearly 60 years after RKO Pictures executives re-edited the movie and released it against the director’s wishes.
“The Magnificent Ambersons” tells the story of a prominent but fading Midwestern family in the early 20th century. The Amberson family spans three generations, none of which can see that the world is changing faster than they are and that their tradition-bound way of living is disappearing into history.
Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Bruce Greenwood, and Jennifer Tilly star in the remake, which was directed by Alfonso Arau.
A&E’s remake of “The Magnificent Ambersons” is scheduled to premiere at 8 pm Jan. 13.
“Happy Now” is premiering at the Edinburgh Film Festival August 20 at 10pm. Tickets are £7. It is in competition. Thanks to alec757 for sending along this info. It is also going to be shown August 22 at 9pm. The official festival website has the following information about the film:
“This isn’t some film where zombies take revenge,” says Paddy Considine. We can?t be so sure. All grown up and gunning for political power in a small North Wales community, Considine and his best mate harbour a dark secret which seems to be coming back to haunt them. But can the daughter of a local woman (Susan Lynch) just returned from Alaska be the same girl the two lads buried fourteen years earlier? Only local policeman Ioan Gruffudd can solve the case with help from wrongly accused tramp Om Puri. A superb cast give this Telltale Heart a touch of class.
Thanks to Ann for also passing along that “The Disappearance of Finbar” has been rereleased for sale on video in the UK. Blackstar is selling it for £14.29. And thanks to alec757 once more for sending along this Orson Welles site that posted a favorable review of “The Magnificent Ambersons”.
View the trailer for “The Magnificent Ambersons” at the deAngelisGroup website.
PBS is set to air “Gormenghast” finally in June. It will also be released on DVD here in the US.
“The Magnificent Ambersons” is gearing up for it’s premiere. The novel will be republished with a new cover that shows off the cast of the tv movie.
Christina Ricci has been doing a lot of publicity lately and “Prozac Nation” keeps popping up in many articles. Still no word on when it may finally get released.
Also no word on what Jonny’s next project will be.
Above are the first images out on the web of Jonny with co-star Gretchen Mol. You can find the original animated gif at the official production company website RKO Pictures with a brief synopsis of this movie. Thanks to cmt21 at the fabulous message forum that’s part of this site for posting about the new images.
Jonathan will be filming a small role in Ioan Gruffudd’s new film “Happy Now” next month in Wales (thanks to Jenny and Rebecca for passing this along). Have any plans for Halloween? “Gormenghast” will be re-airing in it’s entirety beginning with the making of documentary starting at 6:30pm on BBC America October 31 (thanks wolfgoddess).
And lastly, was sent a little tidbit of info about “The Magnificent Ambersons”. The four hour miniseries will air on A&E in the US but is to be packaged as a feature internationally (thanks Sandi). It also appears Thora Birch is no longer attached to the project. Gretchen Mol is instead reported to be playing Jonathan’s character’s girlfriend.
First off, the “Titus” DVD that’s set to be released August 15 in the US is going to be a special collector’s edition filled with trailers, costume gallery, commentary and a behind the scenes documentary.
And some more exciting news to report thanks to Caroline for passing it along. Jonathan is set to star in a new TV miniseries but this time for US cable channel A&E. As reported by Yahoo, Orson Welles 1942 film “The Magnificent Ambersons” is being remade using the original shooting script. Jonathan will star along with James Cromwell, Madeleine Stowe, Jennifer Tilly and Thora Birch. The miniseries will be directed by Alfonso Arau and will air sometime next year. “The Magnificent Ambersons” is based on a Booth Tarkington 1918 novel and revolves around the decline of a wealthy family at start of the 1900’s.
