20世纪初，Amberson家族在当地是一个名门望族。年轻人EugeneMorgan（约瑟夫科顿JosephCotten饰）苦苦追求Amberson家的Isabel（多洛雷斯卡斯特洛DoloresCostello饰）无果，Isabel最终嫁给了WilburMinafer（DonaldDillaway饰演），两人生下儿子George（提姆霍尔特TimHolt饰）。George在父母的溺爱下长大，从小就是个骄横的孩子，长大后更是变本加厉。从大学回家的George遇到了来他们TheMagnificentAmbersonshttp:www.criterion.comcurrentposts803-the-magnificent-ambersonsIfeventshadturnedoutdifferently,TheMagnificentAmbersons,OrsonWelles’secondfilm,mightwellbewidelyregardedas“thegreatestfilmofalltime”ratherthanCitizenKane.ButinWelles’absence,RKOStudiosrecuttheoriginalversionofthefilmmercilesslyWellessaiditlookedlikeithadbeen“editedwithalawnmower”reducingitsrunningtimefrom131tothepresent88minutes.Nevertheless,whatsurvivesisstilloneofthemoststrikinglybeautifulandtechnicallyinnova