Movies

Deepfaking Orson Welles’s Mangled Masterpiece

February 2, 2026

Edward Saatchi reflects on Orson Welles's 1942 film 'The Magnificent Ambersons', which was significantly altered by R. K. O. Pictures. The studio cut 43 minutes from the original film and imposed a happy ending, leading to a lasting intrigue among cinephiles about the film's lost content.

Deepfaking Orson Welles’s Mangled Masterpiece

Credit: ByMichael SchulmanFebruary 2, 2026

Key Highlights

Edward Saatchi first saw 'The Magnificent Ambersons' at age twelve.
R. K. O. Pictures cut 43 minutes from Welles's original film.
The studio added a happy ending and destroyed the excised footage.
The alterations have fueled decades of speculation among film enthusiasts.

Magazine / Brave New World Dept.Magazine / Portfolio / Inverted

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Deepfaking Orson Welles’s Mangled Masterpiece

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Deepfaking Orson Welles’s Mangled Masterpiece

Key Highlights

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