Max Alvarez, a New York writer, film historian and frequent speaker on the subject of world cinema culture, will present “Orson Welles: Genius of Stage and Screen” on March 19 at the Mid-Manhattan Library on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
The 90-minute presentation, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will cover Welles’ radio, theatrical and motion picture work. Admission is free and the event is open to the general public.
The New York Public Library writes of the lecture and Welles: “He was a CBS Radio star at age 20. He staged Macbeth in Harlem at age 21. He terrified Middle America with his legendary War of the Worlds radio broadcast at age 23 and directed Citizen Kane for RKO Radio Pictures at age 25. He was none other than the great Orson Welles (1915-1985), actor extraordinaire and visionary stage and screen director who remains one of the most maligned cineastes in history. Much has been made of Welles’ Hollywood “downfall,” but too little has been said of his undervalued and often extraordinary post-Kanecinematic achievements when he was perceived as an industry outcast and independent filmmaker. Join the film scholar as he helps restore the reputation of this genius and his complex filmic creations, from the mutilated masterpiece The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) to such artistic European triumphs as The Trial (1962).”
Alvarez, a former guest lecturer for The Smithsonian Institution, has produced talks and events for general audiences on the Cold War and political blacklisting, 20th Century China, Russian women artists, the history of censorship, 20th century Jewish culture, world tourism, German expressionism, the British and American theater, product placement, and images of businesswomen in motion pictures.
As a guest lecturer for “Smithsonian Scholars in the Schools,” Alvarez presented talks in underserved U.S. school districts on subjects ranging from animation history to political propaganda in mainstream movies.
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