By RAY KELLY
American: An Odyssey to 1947 is now available as a deluxe edition, region-free DVD or Blu-ray that independent filmmaker Danny Wu says captures his exploration of the changes in U.S. politics of the 1930s and ’40s via Orson Welles’ turbulent career.
Wu’s documentary begins with the promise of FDR’s progressive New Deal in the early 1930s and concludes with the chill of the Hollywood Blacklist of the late ’40s. American features a collection of stories, including Welles’ crusade to bring to justice the police officer who blinded Black serviceman Isaac Woodard. Besides talking to Woodard’s relatives, Wu spoke with film scholars and authors Simon Callow, Harlon Lebo, Richard France, Catherine Benamou, Todd Tarbox, James Naremore, and the late Robert Carringer.
The deluxe edition home video release boasts the feature film, deleted scenes, a making-of documentary and a postcard size poster. The DVD is priced at $15 and the Blu-ray at $18. Both are region-free and can be ordered online at mapleroadpictures.myshopify.com.
Wu is proud of the physical media release of his documentary, which had its premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in October 2022, played festivals in the U.S. and Europe in 2023, and later streamed on Amazon’s Prime Video and Tubi.
“I think what makes it special for me is that because it’s our international release, we really took our time to make it right for the wider audience,” Wu told Wellesnet. “I’m the most excited about the additional 20-minute bonus documentary that highlights the journey of making this project and the highs and lows of being an indie filmmaker in this day and age..”
The deluxe edition also includes a short telephone conversation Wu had with Welles’ eldest daughter, Chris Welles Feder.
“She shared her thoughts about American.,” Wu said. “It’s been a wonderful journey, I have learned so much and to be able to feel I have contributed in some ways to the legacy of Orson Welles, there’s nothing much more I can ask for.”
__________
Post your comments on the Wellesnet Message Board.