Okay, You're Stranded On A Desert Island and...

[Shaunfon333]

...you can take only 3, THAT'S THREE DVD'S (Only Orson Welles films, of course), which would they be?

By the way, these can be films that he has directed or acted in.

It's a cliche' question, but an interesting one to ponder none the less. My first choice would be taking a movie about actually being stranded on a desert island, perhaps giving me an idea of how to get off, but I don't believe an Orson Welles film would fit into this catagory.

Anyway, my choice would be 1. The Trial. (real uplifting, yea right, but my favorite Welles' film that would at least get me into the mood of my situation even more so.)

2. I would choose Othello. I really love this film and the atmosphere and acting really set the tone for what this play could be, adapted to movie form.

3.Lady From Shanghai. Too bad the studio cut some of this film (what a surprise). Aside from the one dimensional soundtrack (1 song in different forms), this is one of the best films of Welles' career in my view. Mystery, noir shadows, great direction, as usual.


On a side note, from what I saw of the Merchant of Venice (in F For Fake), this looks like it was amazing and surely would have been one of my top 3 choices. Too bad about the outcome.

I have also not seen Ambersons or Chimes yet, so of the films I've seen, these would be the ones.

[Store Hadji]

I'd bring my collection of radio stuff before I'd bring the movies. I could fit most of it on three DVDs.

What island is this, where I have electricity and a television set?

I might wish to bring a solar-powered all-band radio instead.

[Shaunfon333]

What island is this, where I have electricity and a television set?

I imagine this would be the "island" of your mind per se. More of a hypothetical. If you had to choose 3 movies of Welles that you could see over and over again, and not want to kill yourself, what would they be?

Perhaps I should have chosen that famous movie "Hypothetical Blues" for this topic instead.

[Kevin Loy]

I imagine this would be the "island" of your mind per se. More of a hypothetical. If you had to choose 3 movies of Welles that you could see over and over again, and not want to kill yourself, what would they be?

Perhaps I should have chosen that famous movie "Hypothetical Blues" for this topic instead.

Well, if I could only have three Welles movies....I wouldn't necessarily pick what I think are his three best films, since I would want a well-rounded portrait of what I love about his work. With that having been said...

1) Campanadas A Medianoche - What more do I need to say? My favorite Welles film, and certainly deserving of a much better fate than it currently has. But then again, don't most of his films deserve a better fate...
2) The Trial - This was a tough choice, because I wanted to pick a film that he directed where he doesn't take quite a bit of prominence as an actor. There are really (unless his role is minor in The Immortal Story, which I haven't seen yet) only two films that he directed in which he isn't a major character: The Trial and The Magnificent Ambersons. I'm tempted to go with Ambersons, since I do really love the film despite the flaws, but if I am to be stranded on an island that has electricity, televisions and dvd players but no reasonable way to escape, then why not be stranded there to the tune of a Franz Kafka story...
3) F For Fake - Certainly not my favorite Welles film OR in my general "top three", but it is a film that exudes more of his personality (or at least what I imagine it was) than anything else he did. That's not to say that his other films lack personality, of course.

[Store Hadji]

Ditto what Kevin said. My 3 picks for films as well(es). Though Fake is in my top 3 in general.

[Holly Martins]

Since there are no women on this island, wouldn't porn be more practical?

[Store Hadji]

Oh, I'm not touching that one...

[Shaunfon333]

Since there are no women on this island, wouldn't porn be more practical?

Perhaps if there was a movie called "Boobs At Midnight", you might be able to substitute, but don't hold your breath.

[Store Hadji]

Or Citizen Pain, if you're into the S&M scene...

[Sherlock Holmes]

Kane, Shanghai and Chimes.

[Store Hadji]

I liked The Frighteners. I'd probably like the thing about the Yak Herdsmen too.

[Tony]

Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil and The Other side of the Wind (when they hire Walter Murch to finish editing it); this way I would have early, middle and late Welles.

[majikbeens]

As I've only seen Orson in 6 movies total (I'm a very recent convert), and as I don't really consider either Muppet Movie or A Man For All Seasons to really be *Orson* movies, I'd have to go with A Lady from Shanghai, Jane Eyre, and The Third Man, though Citizen Kane would pull up a very close fourth.