What’s the Big Deal?

Alright, picture this: someone says, “Hey, let’s bring back a classic Orson Welles flick!” And you’re thinking, “Whoa, great idea!” But then they whip out an AI startup backed by Amazon. You’d probably raise an eyebrow, right? Well, that’s exactly what’s been cooking over at Fable, led by the one and only Edward Saatchi.

The Mysterious Missing Minutes

Last year, Fable kicked off a project to reimagine the missing 43 minutes of Welles’ movie, The Magnificent Ambersons. This film dives into the sad saga of a wealthy Midwestern family in the 19th century—great material! But sadly, the studio RKO made some pretty drastic cuts before its release back in 1942. They even slapped on a happier ending and—wait for it—destroyed the original footage. Talk about a cinematic tragedy!

Past Attempts to Fix the Mess

Now, you’d think this was a one-and-done kind of deal, but nope! Filmmaker Brian Rose has already taken a stab at this restoration thing. He once created some animated scenes to fill in missing footage from The Magnificent Ambersons, and it looks like he’s throwing his hat into Saatchi’s ring too.

The Holy Grail of Lost Cinema?

Saatchi hasn’t kept his enthusiasm a secret. In a chat with The New Yorker, he referred to this project as the “holy grail” of lost cinema. “It felt right that we could help bring back what once was,” he mused. You can feel the passion here, folks!

Can They Actually Pull This Off?

At first, Fable’s efforts were thought to be hush-hush, mentioned in whispers among film buffs. Why? Because, believe it or not, they didn’t even hold the rights to the movie! Saatchi made it clear that although they weren’t aiming to cash in on the lost minutes, it was about making sure these clips saw the light of day after 80 years of fans wondering, “What if?” Talk about a history-loving move!

A Skeptical Yet Hopeful Family

Even Welles’ daughter, Beatrice, who has tried her hand at finishing her father’s last film, The Other Side of the Wind, expresses some skepticism. But she’s also optimistic, saying, “They’re coming into this with great respect for my dad and this incredible film.”

The Final Words

So, what’s the verdict? Is turning to AI for reviving a classic film a bold experiment or a risky gamble? Your guess is as good as mine! But one thing’s for sure, the movie buffs are buzzing, and we can’t wait to see how this wild adventure unfolds!