My favorite author on Orson Welles is Joe McBride.
i got 17 hits on his name in amazon.
Here are some of Joe McBride's books of interest:
1.
"Orson Welles" ISBN: 0306806746 McBride's excellent essays from the early '70's on each film Welles directed. includes TOSOTW, which McBride was in.
Re-issued in 1996
2.
Amazon lists:
"Orson Welles Actor & Director" ASIN: 0156701707
My copy's title is "Orson WELLES An Illustrated History of the Movies"
ISBN 0-15-670170-7
PN2287.W456M3 791.43'028'0924 (b) 77-76450
This little paperback gem is the only book if its kind.
It has a photo and description of each film that Welles appeared in through the mid '70's when the book came out.
It covers Welles acting career from from "The Hearts of Age" to "F for Fake" & "The Voyage of the Damned". (It even manages to include Ambersons)
There he is as Mr. Rochester, Orson Welles (Follow the Boys) Harry Lime, Michael O'Hara, Lord Mountdrago, Father Mapple, Hank Quinlan, Jonathan (Darrow) Wilk, and of course, Capt. Hart. The book also includes pictures and articles about Welles as Emile Hagolin, The Advocate, Max Buda, Falstaff, Cardinal Wolsey, LeChiffre, Mr. Clay and Gen. Dreedle.
This is the one book of mine that I will never lend to anyone.
3.
"John Ford" ISBN: 0306800160
This wonderful little book of essays from the mid- '70's is similar to the book McBride wrote at that time on Welles.
It looks in depth at certain of Ford's greatest films.
Included are essays on the Searchers and Liberty Valence.
4.
"Searching for John Ford" published in 2001 ISBN: 0312242328
This is the finest biography I have ever read. I'm reading it for the fourth time.
Buy the hardcover for $28 through the Wellesnet link to amazon. Here is a link to 37 sample pages:
http://www.amazon.com/exec....er-link
McBride teaches Irish Culture and History and covers this important aspect of Ford's life and films.
I can't wait to read his treatment of Welles experiences in Ireland at age 16, and the events portrayed in "Orson's Shadow"
If McBride's biography of Welles is comparable to his bio of Ford, we're in for a treat!
Joseph McBride - writer now working on a welles bio
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by Fat Annie » Tue Jan 28, 2003 2:15 am
More on McBride, Ford & Welles:
McBride's essays on Ford and Welles's films are personal. He began his book of essays on some of Ford's greatest films with Ford's funeral, which McBride attended, at which he notes touching "Fordian" moments. His reporting of his interview with Ford reads like a film too.
There is no other place to get this insight on Ford's films. That's why he is a unique biographer of Ford. He starts with a love for Ford, cinema and Ireland and it shines through this wonderful book.
There have, I think, been around the same number of biographies of Welles as films directed by Welles. It has been remarked around this board, that none of them is really satisfying. McBride is in a position to write the same insightful and well intentioned, bio of Welles as he did for Ford. In his book of essays on Welles, he writes of being a young film buff suddenly cast as a character, somewhat like himself, in TOSOTW. We may never see TOSOTW, but by now the stories written about the film are more interesting than most fiolms I've seen in the last 25 years. I'm especially interested in reading more of McBride's insights on the making of TOSOTW.
Finally, to repeat on McBride and Ireland. Ireland was central to Ford's personal life and body of film work. McBride captures this wonderfully in both of his Ford books. Ireland made a very deep impression on the adolescent Welles. This aspect of Welles's personality and work has never been adequately handled by biographers. Finally, we know that Welles said the "old master" that was most influential to him was Ford.
I'm interested in the intersection of their lives and careers. McBride writes that Ford intended to cast Welles in the role that went to Spencer Tracy in "The Last Hurrah". The misconduct of Welles manager (once again) blew it for him.
On Welles and Ford:
Their life stories would each make facinating films.
One made more films than any other great director, one less than any other.
Welles watched 'Stagecoach' over and over again with Toland as depicted in RKO 281.
McBride's essays on Ford and Welles's films are personal. He began his book of essays on some of Ford's greatest films with Ford's funeral, which McBride attended, at which he notes touching "Fordian" moments. His reporting of his interview with Ford reads like a film too.
There is no other place to get this insight on Ford's films. That's why he is a unique biographer of Ford. He starts with a love for Ford, cinema and Ireland and it shines through this wonderful book.
There have, I think, been around the same number of biographies of Welles as films directed by Welles. It has been remarked around this board, that none of them is really satisfying. McBride is in a position to write the same insightful and well intentioned, bio of Welles as he did for Ford. In his book of essays on Welles, he writes of being a young film buff suddenly cast as a character, somewhat like himself, in TOSOTW. We may never see TOSOTW, but by now the stories written about the film are more interesting than most fiolms I've seen in the last 25 years. I'm especially interested in reading more of McBride's insights on the making of TOSOTW.
Finally, to repeat on McBride and Ireland. Ireland was central to Ford's personal life and body of film work. McBride captures this wonderfully in both of his Ford books. Ireland made a very deep impression on the adolescent Welles. This aspect of Welles's personality and work has never been adequately handled by biographers. Finally, we know that Welles said the "old master" that was most influential to him was Ford.
I'm interested in the intersection of their lives and careers. McBride writes that Ford intended to cast Welles in the role that went to Spencer Tracy in "The Last Hurrah". The misconduct of Welles manager (once again) blew it for him.
On Welles and Ford:
Their life stories would each make facinating films.
One made more films than any other great director, one less than any other.
Welles watched 'Stagecoach' over and over again with Toland as depicted in RKO 281.
- Fat Annie
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by L French » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:26 pm
I talked with Joseph McBride who hosted the recent Welles's tribute with Gary Graver at the Tiburon Film Festival, and he tells me his new book, WHATEVER HAPPEND TO ORSON WELLES?: A Portrait of an Independent Career (Ecco Press) is finished and at the printers.
It is tenatively scheduled for release later this year, probably in October or November.
It is tenatively scheduled for release later this year, probably in October or November.
- L French
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- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 5:23 pm
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