Daily BirthdaysOrson Welles Forum
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| by Harry How do they arrive at the popularity chart? "(www.thepoplist.com)" Comment on this... |
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| by Betty Taylor there was a movie about the "war of the worlds" broadcast a few years back. A movie of the story of Orson Wells coming to the radio theater and doing the broadcast. Showing how it affected the people and what went on around the day of the broadcast. Can you give me the name of this movie and the actor who protrayed Orson Wells? Comment on this... |
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| by Mags Orson Wells made a film called "The night that Panicked America". Can I buy this movie, if so where. The spin off movie to this was "War of the Worlds". I hope someone out there can help me with this information. Comment on this... |
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| by grace if u can help my group feel free to email plz Comment on this... |
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| by james i have all of welles' commercially available films, and a bunch that are not commercially available, or hard to find. every film he made has something of interest that makes it worth watching. any time welles was in command of the camera he created magic. the stranger most consider the weakest of his films, but in reality it has more artistry than most other films. as far as battle over citizen kane dvd goes, it might be factually right about hearst but it's way off the mark on welles. a documentary that is factually accurate is the welles segment of the rko story. Comment on this... |
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| by Dawn I cannot believe no one has taken the time to comment on Welles prior to this! Orson Welles, a prodigiously talented director/writer/ actor/producer/consummate artist, has produced more high-quality films in one lifetime than three or four average filmmakers combined. Of course, there's his masterpiece, "Citizen Kane" (1941), which is well-worth watching, especially as an introduction to Welles' work. Every time I watch it, I find something new that I missed in prior viewings. There aren't too many films I can say that about. Many contemporary audiences who watch it may not see the beauty, daring, and innovation inherent in its every frame. Take a good look at films that were released before 1941, and compare their aesthetics to those of "Kane." The difference is starkly noticeable. Welles was truly a man far ahead of his time--and he was only 25 years old when he made it! Amazing. We've become so used to the techniques that were first introduced by this film (deep-focus; the chaotic composition of many of its scenes; long, uncut takes--some lasting for several minutes at a time; special effects so subtle, so seamless, that one is not aware of their existence--yes, special effects SHOULD remain unobtrusive; the sharp contrast between light and darkness), that many people take this film's many innovations for granted. If it were not for the imagination and creative courage of director Orson Welles and his main collaborator on "Kane," cinematographer Gregg Toland, the world of contemporary cinema would look quite different from the way it does. Other Welles films that are worth at least one viewing are: "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942) --despite the fact that the existing print is a truncated version of what Welles had envisioned, it is still worthy of your time; "The Trial" (1962), starring a post-"Psycho" Anthony Perkins in the lead role of this Kafka adaptation; "Touch of Evil" (1958) which has a great cast, much suspense, and a heavily made-up Orson as the police chief who possesses a questionable sense of morality. I have yet to see "Chimes At Midnight" (1966; Welles' adaptation of "Falstaff"), but I hear it's phenomenal; definitely one on my personal "gotta rent" list. I've seen "The Stranger" (1946) but, in my opinion, it's one of Welles' weaker offerings. You're better off with "Touch of Evil," or "Kane." Lastly, if you ever have the opportunity to check out the documentary, "The Battle Over Citizen Kane," which relates the immense adversity Orson Welles encountered in trying to get "Kane" released theatrically back in 1941, do yourself a favour, and rent that too. I promise you, it is as fascinating and entertaining a film as the masterpiece of which it speaks. "Citizen Kane": once you've fallen under its spell, there's no turning back. Comment on this... |