Canadian actor Bob Random stars as John Dale in Orson Welles’ The Other Side of the Wind. (Netflix photo)
By RAY KELLY
Forty eight years after Bob Random was cast by Orson Welles as John Dale, the Canadian born actor has finally seen his starring turn in the recently completed The Other Side of the Wind.
Random had already appeared in such films as Village of the Giants, …tick… tick… tick… and This Property Is Condemned when he was tapped by Welles to star in his comeback film. The 20-something Random had logged 50-plus hours in episodic TV, appearing on The Virginian, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Gunsmoke.
Random, now 73, returned to his Canadian roots in 2002. He and his wife reside on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
When the completion effort was first announced by producers Filip Jan Rymsza and Frank Marshall four years ago, Random told Wellesnet at the time he was “tempted to believe it,” despite decades dashed hopes.
Random kindly agreed to field some additional questions about The Other Side of the Wind.
What was your reaction to the completed movie?
The first time I saw it was on Netflix. However, I had been in possession of all my edited work on video tape for 40-plus years, thanks to Orson’s right-hand man Gary Graver.
Of course, I have no idea of what Orson was trying to do ― no script, no dialogue ― but I loved it: It was Orson.
Some critics have noted John Dale’s resemblance to Jim Morrison or the gender bending nature of the role. What direction did Welles give you in establishing the character of John Dale?
The resemblance to Jim Morrison is a new one to me, but I like it.
As for Orson, he was basically making it up as he went along. He once said, “If there’s any talent to directing ― which I doubt ― it is the ability to take advantage of unexpected situations that occur during the filming.” He was different from other directors because he did just that.
The film-within-a-film has been described as a send-up of European art films of the period. Both you and Oja Kodar appear deadly serious in your roles. How did Welles want you to approach the material? Did the two of you and cameraman Gary Graver ever go off alone to shoot some of your scenes or was Welles always present?
If Oja and I appear deadly serious, it’s only because we wanted to get it right for him ― not because he was in any way demanding, but because he gave us the feeling that we were all making it together. He was very free-spirited in his approach and it was contagious.
From what I remember, Orson was always there during the shoot.
Your scenes were filmed in late 1970, but you reportedly showed up years later when Welles was shooting some party scenes in California. What do you recall about that shoot? Did anything from that make it into the final film?
Ah yes, showing up at the party. It had been two or three years and no film had appeared. Of course I felt it was going to positively affect my career, so I was eagerly waiting.
Out of the blue, I was told about a party scene that he was shooting, so I went ― uninvited and unannounced.
I got to the party as it was beginning to wind down and purposefully lost myself in the crowd. There he was, sitting in a big chair at the edge of the goings on.
People began to leave and I hid myself from him until finally the room was almost empty, leaving me purposely posed in front of him. He held out his arms, gave me a big hug and proceeded to tell me with great enthusiasm how well the completion was going. I was immediately disarmed and satisfied.
We chatted a bit and that was the last I saw him or ever heard from him. I didn’t see a cameraman, so I don’t think the encounter got on film.
Before taking on The Other Side of the Wind, you had appeared as an outlaw in director Budd Boetticher’s A Time for Dying, which had very poor distribution. How frustrating was it as a young actor to be in two films that people didn’t see?
I didn’t know that Budd’s picture had poor distribution. I guess it was released, but to me that was not the feather in cap I expected Wind to be.
Did you feel bitter or cheated in the years after filming that no one was seeing this movie?
I have never felt bitter; just a little grumpy.
What’s been the reaction of your family and friends to seeing you in The Other Side of the Wind?
Family and friends have been congratulatory, knowing it’s been such a long time coming.
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