Everett Autobiography Mentions Welles

[Roger Ryan]

Rupert Everett has just published an autobiography entitled "Red Carpets And Other Bananna Peels" in which he devotes a portion of one chapter to discussing Welles' "The Cradle Will Rock" film project. As you may know, Everett was selected to play the role of the young Welles in the proposed 1985 production which was abandoned when financing fell through. Everett describes receiving an initial phone call from Welles while at home entertaining friend Simon Callow(!) and is informed that Welles loved his performance in "Another Country" and thinks he would be perfect to play the director as a young man. Soon, Everett is dining at Ma Maison in West Hollywood as Welles regales him with fabulous stories about his past and/or explodes in rage over the service at the restaurant (no surprise there). Everett also reports that one of Welles' dogs attacked him under the table leaving a bloody gash on his ankle. The author has high praise for the "Cradle" screenplay and describes some highlights from it. He relates the oft-told story of Spielberg's lunch with Welles where the younger director decides against putting any money into the "Cradle" project and the chapter is concluded with one last phone call to Welles who informs Everett that "dark storm clouds are forming" and the film has been cancelled.

While it's interesting to get Everett's perspective on the proposed "Cradle" production, there are a number of inaccuracies in his account that question the veracity of it all. Everett states that Welles' screenplay was a rewrite of one John Houseman had scripted when, according to previous reports, Ring Lardner Jr. was the initial screenwriter. Even more curious is Everett's claim that the last phone call he made to Welles was to wish him a "Merry Christmas", then notes that Welles passed away a mere three months later (which would have been March, 1985 as opposed to October when the director actually passed on).

[Store Hadji]

Somehow Rupert just doesn't remind me of Welles:



uh.............

[Tony]

Can't really tell from that picture... ???

Seriously: Welles was a rather beautiful young man in his theatre days; Houseman certainly thought so. I don't think it's that far off. And Everett does have a very good voice. Welles was never one to be homophobic, so Everett's sexuality probably wouldn't have entered his thinking.

Though we'll have to check on that one with Drs. Higham, Carrington, and Thomson.

:laugh: