Journey into Fear

[Mr Clay]

The BBC just broadcast Journey Into Fear, listing it as co-directed by Welles and Foster. Though Welles denies having a hand in the directing of the movie in TIOW, the opening scenes, the magic act, the scenes on ship - all seem to me to be covered in Orson's fingerprints.
So: is this at least partly a Welles film or not? Should it be aprt of the oeuvre? He produced it and co-wrote it, and I'm certain he directed some, as well as gloriously hamming it up as Chief of Secret Police as well.

[Macresarf1]

Dear Mr. Clay: Although the exact facts of the matter are as hard to nail down as in any other Hollywood tale, I believe the story is that Welles was working on THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS "in his day job," and doing JOURNEY INTO FEAR at night. Obviously, sometimes Welles could not be there. Also, Welles had obligated himself to fly to Under Secretary of State Nelson Rockefeller to fly to Brazil on that infamous "Good Will" mission after shooting on AMBERSONS was complete, but before JOURNEY INTO FEAR was done. By default, the job and the credit fell to Norman Foster. I also think Joseph Cotton, who co-wrote the screenplay, took a hand.

[Somewhere, I have a rather sad article by Foster's son, saying that Foster was willing to drop anything he was doing to go help Welles -- and did!]

Hope this helps.

[Macresarf1]

[maxrael]

i've always thought that Welles had planned to produce, direct and star in Journey Into Fear, and had got so far as to design shots, storyboards etc... then when he had to relinquish the role of director to concentrate on Ambersons, Norman Foster took over, but mainly followed Orsons instructions/plans. hence the split directorial credit is the correct one!! (though i've no evidence to back this up!)