I’m glad you’re looking at the restoration, because every added frame deserves scrutiny. For me authenticity means two things: first, that the footage was actually shot for the film and belongs to the director’s original vision, and second, that it’s integrated in a way that preserves the pacing and emotional beat the director intended. The 2011 restoration added scenes from the 1941 outtakes that Welles had actually planned, so they feel like extensions rather than intrusions. But if a new cut stretches or compresses the rhythm—like inserting a longer dialogue beat that wasn’t in the original theatrical version—it can feel like a hijack. I decide by lining up the original 1941 theatrical print, the 1957 cut, and the restoration side by side, noting every frame. In my spreadsheet I log the release year, transfer quality, aspect ratio, and any editorial changes. If the added footage matches the original lighting, camera movement, and narrative flow, I consider it authentic. If it feels out of sync, I pause the screen and re‑evaluate—after all, restoration is a moral duty, not a gimmick.

You’re right, the ultimate test is how the audience feels—if it sounds like Welles walking down that hallway again, it’s probably right. But I keep my spreadsheet because it’s the only way I can keep track of how many years of prints have gone through each frame. The numbers help me spot a subtle shift in lighting or a frame rate slip that might change the rhythm without me noticing. So I still pause, double‑check, and then let the viewers decide. Control, yes, but with an eye on the data that backs the experience.

I get what you’re saying, but my spreadsheet isn’t a verdict—it’s a safety net. Without it I’d be guessing whether that “authentic” feel comes from the director’s intent or from an accidental pacing shift. I use it to catch those micro‑changes that can make a scene feel off even when the audience says it feels right. So I still pause, double‑check, and then let the film speak for itself. Control, yes, but with a check‑in that keeps the restoration honest.