"Marching Song: A Play," written by Welles, edited by Todd Tarbox

[Wellesnet]

The previously unpublished Orson Welles play, MARCHING SONG, will be released this summer, alongside a revealing look at the legendary director's formative years.
Wellesnet was given a sneak peek at the 200-page book from Todd Tarbox, which includes a foreword by biographer Simon Callow.
MARCHING SONG: A PLAY is bookended by two illuminating essays by Tarbox — The Gestation of Genius: Orson Welles, Roger Hill, and the Road to Marching Song and the epilogue The Social Conscience of Orson Welles.

http://www.wellesnet.com/marching-song-play-orson-welles/

[RayKelly]

The Criterion Collection has given a plug to Marching Song in the latest Criterion Daily:

Marching Song, a previously unpublished play by Orson Welles, will be out in August, reports Ray Kelly at Wellesnet. Written when Welles was seventeen, the play “recounts the life of abolitionist John Brown through multiple, sometimes contradictory recollections—a narrative framing device used nearly a decade later in Citizen Kane.” The book will also include a foreword by Welles biographer Simon Callow and two essays by Todd Tarbox, the author of Orson Welles and Roger Hill: A Friendship in Three Acts.

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6278-april-books

[RayKelly]

Peter Bogdanovich has lavished praise on the forthcoming MARCHING SONG and its editor, Todd Tarbox:

"Those of us who love Orson Welles owe a large debt of gratitude to Todd Tarbox for continuing to fill in the amazing puzzle pieces of Welles’ extraordinary creative life. That Orson was able to write as mature a piece as 'Marching Song' at the age of 17 defies belief. But then he did make 'Citizen Kane' at 25, not to mention all the masterpieces that followed, including 'The Other Side of the Wind,' shown for the first time 40 years after he shot it, and still it seems ahead of its time. But even from the grave, Orson is unstoppable."

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538125526/Marching-Song-A-Play

[tonyw]

This is so impressive. Rowman brought out my JAMES JONES: THE LIMITS OF ETERNITY, a book that also had a very traumatic gestation though not as bad as Joe's experiences with FRANK CAPRA: THE CATASTROPHE OF SUCCESS. This non-mainstream publisher, like Hightower Press, is publishing some very important work.

[RayKelly]

MARCHING SONG by Orson Welles with Roger Hill won't be published by Rowman & LIttlefield until August 15, but you can read excerpts — including Simon Callow's foreword and part of editor Todd Tarbox's essay — now on Google Books.

https://books.google.com/books?id=SfCYDwAAQBAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions

[Wellesnet]

Wellesnet interview with editor Todd Tarbox about MARCHING SONG.
http://www.wellesnet.com/todd-tarbox-marching-song-was-first-flowering-of-orson-welles-liberal-social-consciousness

[tonyw]

I've just finished the first draft of my review for FILM INTERNATIONAL. Thinking of how I can bring in some new material, I remembered that Norman Rodway (Hotspur in CHIMES) appeared in a 1978 BBC Play of the Month version of DANTON'S DEATH playing the title role. I wonder if this production survived since I remember seeing it at the time and the cast included Ian Richardson as Robespierre and Zoe Wanaker as Lucille. Rodway also appeared in BBC compilation of James Joyce Stephen Daedalus novels on BBC TV in 1963. They belonged to a time before BBC had "dumbed down."

[RayKelly]

I've just finished the first draft of my review for FILM INTERNATIONAL. Thinking of how I can bring in some new material, I remembered that Norman Rodway (Hotspur in CHIMES) appeared in a 1978 BBC Play of the Month version of DANTON'S DEATH playing the title role. I wonder if this production survived since I remember seeing it at the time and the cast included Ian Richardson as Robespierre and Zoe Wanaker as Lucille...

[tonyw]

Thanks Ray. As i mentioned to Todd Tarbox, my review will contain a comparison with Warner Bros's version of The John Brown Story with Errol and The Gipper uniting North and South on the trail of a crazy Mr. Brown portrayed by Raymond Massey. I remember one scene with a terrified young African-American who seems unhappy at the prospect of liberation (unless it is another movie). Anyway, we have the full version on youtube. All three will reunite two years later in DESPERATE JOURNEY confronting Raymond's evil Nazi "The Iron Fist." The Gipper leaves his solo interrogation with the smirking remark - "Well, I guess The Iron Fist has a glass jaw!" Is this the film that ends with Errol's "And now for a crack at the Japs"?

[RayKelly]

"The play’s themes of racial justice remain significant and the text offers a glimpse of the young author’s immense creativity and burgeoning social conscience; however, the supplementary essays are what make this publication a particular treat for Welles fans ... While Marching Song remains a minor work in the legacy of Orson Welles, the cumulative effect of the play, the essays, and rare photos and illustrations makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read. Moreover, its publication feels like a fitting tribute to Roger Hill and the friendship that was so meaningful to both men." — Book & Film Globe

https://bookandfilmglobe.com/theater/marching-song-orson-welles/

[tonyw]

My review with fn. thanks to WebMeister Ray.

http://filmint.nu/?p=28217

[Wellesnet]

Excellent review, Tony. Here are two others:
TLS
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/marc ... 1dkFXb73BE

Some Came Running:
https://somecamerunning.typepad.com/som ... PsjM23033Y