By RAY KELLY
A few hours ago, I finished the second of two appearances with Beatrice Welles and film critic Jeffrey Lyons at the 2015 Sedona International Film Festival.
Wonderful stories were told and exciting news shared with film-goers.
Beatrice Welles told a receptive audience at showings of Chimes at Midnight and, later, Chuck Workman’s Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles that a major DVD/Blu-ray label is interested in restoring and releasing Chimes at Midnight.
While she is not involved in the restoration or release, she has offered to do press and whatever is necessary to get the film out on home video. (A formal announcement has not been made, but we hope to have more details in the months ahead).
Also, her late father’s artwork, some of which is now being exhibited at Goldstein Gallery in Sedona, will be getting even greater exposure. She is negotiating for a New York showing of his paintings.
Although a painful illness has forced Beatrice to rely on a pair of forearm crutches to walk in recent months, she made it clear she intends to be less reclusive. She signaled a desire to be more active in projects following a change in advisors with the Welles Estate. She spoke kindly of Workman, adding she wished his request for her cooperation on Magician had come fully to her attention.
On a personal note, Beatrice not only invited me to take part in the Sedona salute to her father, but warmly welcomed me into her home. After hours of storytelling, she showed me boxes of unpublished sketches and letters written by Orson Welles in the 1930s to his guardian “Dadda” Bernstein. Some handwritten, others typed, they are signed “Pookles” and cover his school years and climb to stardom.
The artwork and letters, which include missives ranging from commentary on life in Dublin to the search for work on Broadway, will be featured in a planned coffee table book. Beatrice has been meeting with a respected Welles author to compile the materials. Trust me, it’s going to blow fans away.
I would be remiss not to also thank Patrick Schweiss, executive director of the Sedona film festival. He was kind enough to include me in the festivities and invite me to write essays on Citizen Kane, Othello and Chimes at Midnight for the program book. Putting on a nine-day film festival is no easy task, but Patrick did it with skill and good humor.
Finally, a tip of the hat to Richard M. and company, who talked with me for two hours in the Sedona Performing Arts Center parking lot about The Other Side of the Wind and all things Welles tonight. It’s great to get to meet people who share a love of Orson Welles and enjoy this website.
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