Thanks to Todd Clark for posting the information about a Welles retrospective in Omaha, Nebraska, on the Wellesnet Facebook page.
Personally, I find it very encouraging that Omaha has a theatre that is willing to devote a whole series of films to Orson Welles. This is even more amazing to me, since a few years ago I couldn’t get the people in charge of the San Francisco Film Festival to devote any kind of retrospective program to Orson Welles. The reason, while not explicitly stated to me, seemed to be quite obvious: Such a program would not make any money!
Unfortunately, I must agree. Just look at the box-office returns for Me and Orson Welles.
Which is why I have to commend Film Streams in Omaha for mounting such a series.
Let’s face it, if a Orson Welles retrospective can’t sell out theatres in San Francisco and Los Angeles, just imagine the financial risks a small theatre in Omaha will be taking!
So, anyone reading this in Omaha, please support the program of Welles Films!
I must also say, I had the most delicious Filet Mignon steaks I’ve ever tasted, that came from Omaha Steaks, of Nebraska, when I got them sent to me as a Christmas gift about ten years ago. I found they were much better than the $50. Fillet Minion’s I had eaten at Ernie’s here in San Francisco (famous from Vertigo), or at The House of Prime Rib. Whether Orson Welles himself would have endorsed them over his nightly meal at Ma Maison, I have no idea, but my educated guess is that, after tasting them, and getting a free supply, he would have been happy to do a commercial for Omaha Steaks. I also think another actor-gourmet, Vincent Price would have been up for an endorsement of Omaha Steaks, as well, since like Welles, he was from the midwest (St. Louis).
While not a complete Welles’s retrospective, the Film Streams Program include both The Trial and F For Fake. So let me once again thank the programmers at Film Streams for taking such a bold step.
Not that The Trial or F For Fake are anything less than cinematic masterpieces, but having run a repertory theater myself, you still want to break even, or at least have a few people in the audience!
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The Omaha Film Streams Series is generously sponsored by:
THE SEVEN ORSON WELLES FILMS IN THE RETROSPECTIVE INCLUDE:
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CITIZEN KANE
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
THE STRANGER
THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI
TOUCH OF EVIL
THE TRIAL
F FOR FAKE
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