CHRIS WELLES FEDER: My father thought Chimes at Midnight was his masterpiece, and I think that, as well. Falstaff was a role that was really made for him and I think his playing of that part is probably his greatest moment on the screen as an actor. When Prince Hal says, “I know thee not old man,” it’s an extraordinary moment. I wish the film could be seen more in this country, but it’s almost never shown here. I believe it is still tied up in all kinds of legal red tape.

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So, wouldn’t it be fitting if Cambridge could show CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, as Welles first brought it to Boston on the stage way back in 1938?

In any event, Boston and Cambridge, Mass. are obviously very important to the cinematic legacy of Orson Welles, as not only did FIVE KINGS open there, but so did AROUND THE WORLD, eight years later.

In fact, it is really due to the Welles fans at Universities across the county and in Europe that Orson Welles legacy is so vibrant. The Lilly Library at the Univ. of Indiana, The Univ. of Michigan, Yale, UCLA, USC, NYU, and of course the famous Univ. of Bridgeport. CT were Warren Bass and Michael Kerbel taught. These are just a few of the many colleges and universities, without whose work the legacy of Orson Welles would not be anywhere as rich as it is today.

Sadly the ORSON WELLES CINEMA in Cambridge, no longer exists. It was made especially famous in FILMING OTHELLO, thanks to Larry Jackson, who invited Welles to Cambridge on January 7, 1977, for the Boston premiere of F FOR FAKE. Welles came, and along with his cameraman, Gary Graver, they shot a long Q & A session with the audience that was used in FILMING OTHELLO. If Welles did the same thing today, we could see the video on YouTube within minutes after he had spoke.

So, on June 6, 2010 I imagine there will be a lot more documentation of Chris Welles visit to Cambridge than was ever possible than when Orson Welles visited in 1977!

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Chris Welles Feder will be in Cambridge, Mass. at the Brattle Theatre on June 6 to introduce a 1:15 pm screening of THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI and will answer questions and sign copies of her marvelous book about ORSON WELLES, In My Father’s Shadow.

Following the screening, Chris will answer questions from the audience and autograph copies of her book, before the screening of TOUCH OF EVIL.

The Brattle Theatre is located at 40 Brattle Street, near Harvard Square. For full details, check out their web site: www.brattlefilm.org