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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 9)*

                             The Neiman Marcus Group
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                              Common Stock Class A
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    640204202
                         ------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [_].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such
class.)(See Rule 13d-7).

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
  initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
  securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
  would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).

SEC 1745 (10-88)



-------------------------                                     ------------------
  CUSIP NO. 640204202                                          Page 2 of 5 Pages
-------------------------                                     ------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Names of Reporting Persons.
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons (entities only).

           ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
           # 36-3219058
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2.   Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
                                                                (a) [_]
      Not Applicable                                            (b) [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3.   SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization
           Illinois Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     5.   Sole Voting Power
   NUMBER OF                 Ariel -  5,543,625
    SHARES         -------------------------------------------------------------
 BENEFICIALLY        6.   Shared Voting Power
   OWNED BY                  Ariel -  0
     EACH          -------------------------------------------------------------
  REPORTING          7.   Sole Dispositive Power
    PERSON                   Ariel -  6,697,755
     WITH          -------------------------------------------------------------
                     8.   Shared Dispositive Power
                             Ariel -  0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
           Ariel -  6,700,375
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares*
           Not Applicable                                                [_]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
           Ariel - 6,700,375 / 27,913,014 = 24.004%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person* (See Instructions)
           Ariel - IA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILING OUT!

*    This report is being made on behalf of John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Capital Management, Inc., who may be deemed to
have beneficial ownership of the securities of the issuer. Mr. Rogers disclaims
beneficial ownership of shares held by Ariel Capital Management, Inc.



                                                                Date:   08/08/03
                                                                        --------
                                                                     Page 3 of 5

Item 1(a) Name of Issuer

          The Neiman Marcus Group
          -----------------------

Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

          One Marcus Square; 1618 Main Street; Dallas, TX  75201
          ------------------------------------------------------

Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing

          Ariel Capital Management, Inc.
          ------------------------------

Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:

          200 E. Randolph Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601
          ----------------------------------------------------

Item 2(c) Citizenship:

          an Illinois corporation
          -----------------------

Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:

          Common Stock
          ------------

Item 2(e) CUSIP Number

          640204202
          ---------

Item 3.   This statement is filed pursuant to 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) and the
          person filing is an investment adviser registered under section 203 of
          the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Item 4.   Ownership.

          (a) Amount beneficially owned:

          (See Page 2, No. 9)
          -------------------



                                                                Date:   08/08/03
                                                                        --------
                                                                     Page 4 of 5

          (b) Percent of class:

          (See Page 2, No. 11)
          --------------------

          (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

              (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

                    (See Page 2, No. 5)
                    -------------------

              (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

                    (See Page 2, No. 6)
                    -------------------

              (ii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                    (See Page 2, No. 7)
                    -------------------

              (iii) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                    (See Page 2, No. 8)
                    -------------------


Item 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

               If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
          the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial
          owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the
          following: [_]

Item 6.   Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

               All securities reported upon this Schedule are owned by
          investment advisory clients of Ariel Capital Management, Inc., no one
          of which to the knowledge of Ariel Capital Management, Inc. owns more
          than 5% of the class.

Item 7.   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
          Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

          Not Applicable
          --------------

Item 8.   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

          Not Applicable
          ---------------

 Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of a Group

          Not Applicable
          --------------



                                                                Date:   08/08/03
                                                                        --------
                                                                     Page 5 of 5

Item 10.  Certification

               By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
          belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in
          the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held
          for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the
          control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are
          not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction
          having that purpose or effect.


                                    SIGNATURE

     The undersigned hereby agree that this statement is being filed on behalf
of each of them and hereby certify, after reasonable inquiry and to the best of
their knowledge and belief, that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.


                                      ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ John P. Miller, CFA
                                          ----------------------------------
                                               John P. Miller, CFA
                                               Senior Vice President,
                                               Portfolio Management