Compulsion (1959)

[RayKelly]

I have never heard the looping story before, but the taxes story is well known.
Welles' was great in the final courtroom sequence.
In the Peter Bogdanovich book "This Is Orson Welles," Welles said that scene was two reels long and required all of his energy. He said it was shot in one take without cuts.
I have a VHS of it somewhere in the closet. I will have to watch it again.
Like you, I was interested only in Welles when I bought it, but I recall that Stockwell was wonderful in it.

[mido505]

The looping story is in Barbara Leaming's bio. In recounting the tale, director Richard Fleischer proudly exhulted "We screwed Orson!". Welles later called Fleischer and apologized, and Fleischer always spoke highly of his collaboration with Welles on COMPULSION and CRACK IN THE MIRROR.

It was on one of these two films, I can't remember which, where there was a moment when Welles had to walk down a hallway set and turn left. The set was built so that the left turn was the only one possible. Welles told Fleischer that he wanted to turn right, and when Fleischer objected because of the logistics, Welles said, "you know, if I were directing this film, I would have the set torn down and wait while it was being rebuilt." Fleischer answered, calmly, "Well, Mr. Welles, I guess that is why I am directing this film and you aren't." Welles waited a beat, looked at Fleischer and said, "I guess you're right," and completed the take as requested.