Don Quixote was a project that Welles labored on for more than twenty years, beginning in 1955. Welles worked on the film in much the same manner as Othello, bringing in his cast and crew when he had money to continue filming. However, Welles was unable to finish the film before his death, and the deaths of his leading actors during the 1970s only compounded his problems. The film joined the ranks of the legally challenged and artistically dubious in 1992, when a version of the film was cut together by Spanish schlock director Jess Franco, who had worked with Welles on Chimes at Midnight. This version did not incorporate all existing footage, though, and it’s legitimacy as a true Welles film is not given much credence. Still, as the only place to see footage from the film, one can’t completely ignore it (though one would like to).

Production details for the 1992 Franco version of Don Quixote

DVD Review of the Franco version

Articles on Don Quixote:

LA Times article on Franco version (1992)

1957 article on Welles and Quixote

The first two pictures below feature Mischa Auer as Quixote, before his death in 1955, which led to Francsico Reiguera replacing him. Reiguera is is the other two photos underneath.