In a tale as dramatic as the film itself, film scholar Robert Carringer unveils the riveting story behind Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons. Welles, famously devastated by the studio's recutting of his masterpiece, declared it a turning point in his career. Now, Carringer meticulously reconstructs Welles' original vision, drawing from a trove of rare studio documents and firsthand accounts. In this spellbinding account, Carringer sheds new light on the film's undoing, exploring the complex web of decisions and circumstances that led to its drastic alteration. A must-read for cinephiles and historians alike, Carringer's groundbreaking work challenges long-held assumptions and offers fresh insight into the legacy of one of cinema's most enduring enigmas.