AROUND THE WORLD WITH ORSON WELLES.

[tonyw]

Last night I began watching two segments of this fascinating series that Welles directed for the 50s independentt TV company Associated Rediffusion. The first focused on the district of St.Germain in Paris championing creativity and non-conformism as well as the excitement of French cultural life while the second, "Chelsea Pensioners" evoked the missing climax of the original AMBERSONS. interviewing two sets of senior citizens, Orson marveled both at their vitality and a system that allowed them dignity in old age as well as privacy. Those stills of Fanny in the boarding house drained of all individuality and lacking privacy immediately came to mind as well as Arkadin's sardonic response to the elderly Zouk in MR, ARKADIN who he has not seen for many years .. I'm sure US distribution was hindered by suspicious about Orson's "commie sympathies." Though never mentioned, the contrast with American values was very obvious.