A novice enquires - basic questions from a Welles beginner

[tee]

I hope the subject headings et al explain;

If anyone could be kind enough to enlighten...

Is there as close to a 'definitive' edit of 'On the other side of the wind' available? I'm guessing if so, then not officially.
Anyone know the details of the legal issues withholding this from release?

I love P. bogdonavich's writing...etc...He seems to introduce many of Welles movies on teh criterion issues...
Is there a full length interview available of him speaking about Welles? Something to do with the Janus film institute?

What's the best version (ie closest to OW's Vision) of 'The Magnificent Ambersons' to watch?

Can anyone recommend biographies? I loved Bogdanovich's, enjoyed Leaming's and found Callow's hard going. How does Thompson's 'Rosebud' rate?

Anyone interested in trade, do mail.

lalala_billy@yahoo.com

Thanks

Tee

[catbuglah]

Is there as close to a 'definitive' edit of 'On the other side of the wind' available? I'm guessing if so, then not officially.

The OSOTW thread on this message board is rather comprehensive - You might want to plunge into that.

What's the best version (ie closest to OW's Vision) of 'The Magnificent Ambersons' to watch?

The Films section of this Wellesnet site is a pretty good guide to the best editions of all of Orson's films - Thee is a French edition of Ambersons that is currently favored.

[/quote]Can anyone recommend biographies?[quote]
The Best books on Welles message thread is a good place to start.

Welcome aboard I hope I'm not being a fuddy-duddy ??? in referring you to already existing sections and also suggesting if I may that you take advantage of the message board search engine to explore the extensive information therein.

[Store Hadji]

There's no cut of TOSOTW circulating officially or among collectors that I've ever heard of (despite my notorious comments to the contrary.)

There are two scenes from it available on the AFI Life Achievement Award video.

One of the same scenes in a slightly different and longer form is available in the One Man Band documentary (included on the Criterion F for Fake DVD.)

A little more footage can be found on Gary Graver's Working with Orson Welles.

There's lots of Peter B stuff to be found in the print and audio versions of This Is Orson Welles.

All the available cuts of Ambersons are the same, I think the issue is one of print quality. Roger Ryan's version of Ambersons reconstructs a number of missing scenes, conforms with the original running order of the scenes and restores some of Benny Herrman's music. That's the one to see, but you'll have to get it through a trade. If you can find the original trailer (available for download on Ambersons.com) it contains some of the footage RKO deleted.

Another popular and well-regarded bio is Citizen Welles by Frank Brady. An easy-going read, unlike Callow.

Much of Welles' best work on radio is available for download at mercurytheatre.info

Hope this helps.