博客

[FCE] AI firm plans to reconstruct lost footage from Orson Welles’ masterpiece The Magnificent Ambersons | Movies | The Guardian

收听本期播客

阅读正文

In a remarkable blend of cinema and technology, an artificial intelligence company named Showrunner, run by the film-making studio Fable, has unveiled an ambitious project to recreate 43 minutes of lost footage from Orson Welles’ iconic 1942 film, The Magnificent Ambersons. Welles, widely celebrated as one of the greatest filmmakers in history, created this masterpiece following the success of Citizen Kane. However, the original vision for The Magnificent Ambersons was altered when the Hollywood studio RKO, unhappy with early audience reactions, removed significant portions of the film and even destroyed the original negatives to save storage space. Welles, who was in Brazil working on another project at the time, was unable to prevent these changes and later expressed deep disappointment over the studio’s decision to re-edit the film and modify its ending without his consent.

The Magnificent Ambersons, based on a novel by Booth Tarkington, portrays the decline of a wealthy family in the American Midwest. The loss of the original 43 minutes has long been a source of speculation among film enthusiasts, with many believing that Welles’ unaltered version could have been one of the greatest films ever made. Now, Showrunner is collaborating with filmmaker Brian Rose, who has been attempting to restore the film since 2019 using animation and special effects. Together, they aim to use AI technology to bring back the missing scenes and offer a glimpse of Welles’ intended narrative after more than eight decades.

Edward Saatchi, CEO of Fable, is optimistic about AI’s potential to enhance storytelling and preserve cinematic history. However, a significant obstacle remains: the team does not own the rights to the film, meaning the reconstructed footage may be limited to educational use or private demonstrations rather than public release. This limitation has sparked debate about the ethics of using modern technology to restore or alter historical works of art. While some view AI as a powerful tool to recover lost cultural treasures, others question whether such interventions risk distorting the authenticity of original creations. As this project unfolds, it raises a deeper question for the future of cinema: should technology be used to recreate the past, or should classic works be left untouched, imperfections included?

阅读练习

1. What is the main goal of Showrunner’s project?

  • A. To create a new version of Citizen Kane
  • B. To recreate lost footage from The Magnificent Ambersons
  • C. To produce a documentary about Orson Welles
  • D. To develop AI technology for modern films

2. Why was the original version of The Magnificent Ambersons altered?

  • A. Orson Welles requested the changes
  • B. The studio wanted to save money on production
  • C. Early audiences did not respond well to it
  • D. The negatives were accidentally damaged

3. What challenge does Showrunner face regarding the recreated footage?

  • A. They lack the technology to complete the project
  • B. They do not have permission to release it publicly
  • C. They cannot find enough information about the lost scenes
  • D. They are unable to collaborate with Brian Rose

4. How does Edward Saatchi view the use of AI in this project?

  • A. He believes it could harm the film industry
  • B. He is unsure about its effectiveness
  • C. He sees it as a negative influence on storytelling
  • D. He thinks it can benefit cinematic history

5. What wider issue does the project raise about technology and art?

  • A. Whether modern tools should be used to change historical works
  • B. Whether AI can replace traditional filmmaking techniques
  • C. Whether old films are still relevant to today’s audiences
  • D. Whether filmmakers should own the rights to their creations