Recomendations

[Swithun]

Hi everyone I am relatively new to the genius of Orson Welles. Of his films I have seen only Citizen Kane, last Christmas, and the Stranger; which I thought was very good. So I thought you could help me out. What books on Welles would you recommend?; especially regarding his films and filmaking. And which of his films I haven't seen should I endevour to see first?; if you include the edit and which format would be helpful. From what I have read the Trial looks excellent; can I get the French R2 DVD via the UK amazon store.

Thanks
Swithun

PS. I live in England.

[Roger Ryan]

Welcome Swithun - If you liked "The Stranger", you'll probably love "The Lady From Shanghai" and "Touch Of Evil". If you thought "Kane" was great, then check out "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Chimes At Midnight". If you enjoyed "Chimes At Midnight", then check out Welles' other two Shakespeare adaptations "Othello" and "Macbeth". If you've enjoyed all of those, you'll probably be ready for some of Welles' more esoteric work such as "The Trial", "The Immortal Story", "F For Fake" and "Mr. Arkadin" (although you should probably wait for the Criterion Collection DVD set coming out next year which will present the best versions available of that title). Oh yeah, if you haven't seen "The Third Man", you've got to check that one out - although Welles didn't direct it, it's one of the best films he was ever associated with.

As far as books are concerned, you'll probably get a lot of differing opinions around here. Most agree that "This Is Orson Welles", a book based on actual conversations with the man, is good.

[chrissie]

Touch of Evil is widely and cheaply available and therefore an essential purchase and a great/easy way to see more OW magic. Music Zone has been selling the UK release of The Trial for £4.99 recently -- can't get a better deal!

If you want to see Othello without the (sadly harmful) digital restoration, drop me a line.

Waterstone's often have copies of This is Orson Welles, and it's essential stuff. They'll probably have the recent Despite the System too. Avoid Rosebud!

[Store Hadji]

Regarding books, look for Frank Brady's Citizen Welles.

Barbara Leaming's "approved but not authorized" biography Orson Welles is gossipy, but good.

Simon Callow's Road to Xanadu is chock full of an amazing amount of facts and research, but suffers from a snotty and judgemental attitude.

If you hate Welles, you should enjoy everything Pauline Kael and Charles Higham had to say about him.

Regarding films, also look for Jane Eyre, which Welles starred in and associate produced (whatever that means.)

[Store Hadji]

Oh, and how could I forget that you check out his radio stuff! Fabulous!

Follow this link to get started in that genre:

Mercury Theatre

[Swithun]

Thanks everyone. You been a great help. Just as an aside I thought Kane was great but said that the Stranger was very good because it is normally not highly regarded;well from what I have read it isn't.

[jaime marzol]

the stranger, like the trial, has a lot to appreciate that escapes most reviewers, and even some knowledgable welles writers.

[tonyw]

:;): The film has been underrated by those who compare it with CITIZEN KANE and other Welles masterpieces. As Jaimie says, the film does have a lot going for it, especially if you have read Bret Wood's comments on the original version and what the studio did to it.

Basically, Welles directed the film to dispel rumors about his ability to finish a product - rumors which are still in currency today. What does remain is the theme of a Nazi hiding in an American community totally oblivious of the effect of World War Two, an effect that 30s business personalities like Hearst and their HUAC counterparts wished that the American public remained ignorant about.

[chrissie]

I like The Stranger a lot. I don't even think OW's performance is as bad as many have suggested. Lots of nice touches, decent story -- what's not to like?

I have to say, though, it's one of my mother's fave Welles films and she detests The Trial. So... hm, you'd have to call it accessible product.

[catbuglah]

The film has been underrated by those who compare it with CITIZEN KANE and other Welles masterpieces.

I don't know if this is underrating, but The Stranger reminds of me Hitchcock - perhaps more successfull though, than many a Hitchcock thriller - The clock motifs are cool, the Maestro really goes to town with that (in a timely manner ) - Naremore (Magic World of Orson Welles) has a nice summary of some evocative missing scenes... The cinematography in roughly the first and last thirds strike me as primo Welles...

[Christopher]

Swithun, One of the most illuminating books on the films of Orson Welles as well as the man himself is Joseph McBride's revised and expanded edition of ORSON WELLES, published by Da Capo Press in 1996. McBride knew Welles personally (many of his biographers didn't) and was also an actor in his unfinished film THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND.

[Clive Dale]

What Ever Happened to Mcbride's 3rd book on Welles?

[NoFake]

At Locarno, McBride said it will be out next year. The title: "Whatever Happened to Orson Welles? Portrait of a Blighted Career."

[Gordon]

According to amazon it's

What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? A Portrait of an INDEPENDENT Career

[Lucy]

Saw this one in the store yesterday. It's pretty short, and it doesn't look like there's anything new in it, but it has some interesting pictures, including a very funny self-portrait of Welles wearing a king's robe and crown, carrying a hobo sack over his shoulder. Sure are alot of Welles books lately.