"Houseman Again" - How Important was he?

[Fat Annie]

How legitimate was Houseman's beef with Orson?
How much of their success together was due to him?
Do you think things would have gone differently if they'd stayed as a team?
What do you think of his memoirs?

I still find Houseman's books the most enjoyable writing on Welles to read.

[Glenn Anders]

Dear Annie: My take is that Welles and Houseman were tremendous collaborators, but like many collaborators, they got under each other's hides. Given tremendous pressure, much anxiety over the first film project, and apparently working, one way or another, 20 hours a day, Welles blew up at Houseman's questions about their direction, and insulted Houseman in front of the Mercury Players at Chasens, a public place, physically attacked him. Houseman never forgave him, and attempts at later reconciliations erupted in fresh arguments. Houseman had a legitimate desire, as did others, to be recognized for his contributions. [It should be noted, however, that they all colluded in the romantic notion that Welles did EVERYTHING, whereas he actually did maybe 80% of what he was credited with.

They were a great team, each giving what the other needed, to create unmatched quality, with verve and genius, going from strength to strength in several mediums, as long as they were together. Geraldine Fitzgerald, who knew them both well, said Welles was "like a busted water main," and that Welles needed Houseman to direct the flow of his talents. He was never so successful again, following the end of their partnership with Native Son, on Broadway. Houseman went on to show that he was very good with many theatrical, film and academic projects.

We can only speculate what might have been accomplished, if they had stayed together. Houseman was a man of great taste, judgment and business acumen.

I like his memoirs. He perhaps needed to escape Welles' charisma, in any case. The hurt was obviously very deep, on both sides.

Glenn

[blunted by community]

dear annie, my take on it is that orson was a great talent with emotional problems. houseman was no collaborator. Houseman got welles' output and arranged it. he was an editor at best. an editor and everything else welles needed. houseman's real worth was that he was the buffer between welles and the money men. welles never needed to meet with investors during radio days. houseman did that, then dealt with welles, who threw fits, threw dish warmers, and hamburgers at houseman. when houseman had enough and left, welles was throwing hamburgers at the money men.

i have some quotes from mercury players i formed my opinion from.

had houseman been able to continue dealing with orson's behavior, we would have tons of the most innovative cinema work ever seen. it's all houseman's fault for being too sensitive.

welles had very bad behavior problems, he had no control, and he was gobbling diet pills which don't help.

and houseman's book, A RUN THROUGH, is an incredible read, and in my opinion, i found no ax to grind in it. if houseman is lyin in RUN THROUGH, so are all the quotes i've read from mercury players. this book is available through inter library loan from your local public library.