Welles screen tests before RKO

[Tony]

Here are two oddities: 2 excerpts of screen tests Welles did, both from about 1937, at least 2 years before War of the Worlds, and Schaeffer's invitation to come to Hollywood. Welles always said he didn't want to go to Hollywood, and only went when Schaeffer offered him complete artistic control; but here's evidence that he was interested to come to Hollywood as an actor before 1938:

http://video.google.com/videopl....+welles

The film is "Art and Life: Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth"; the first two minutes are free, and the video should start automatically.

[Roger Ryan]

I believe those screen tests were done for Warner Brothers. There was a plan for them to be screened as part of the Locarno retrospective last year, but WB requested too high a fee for the single showing.

[Tony]

Do you know if they were specifically for any films, or just general tests? They shocked me, as Welles had always said he had no interest in Hollywood before Schaefer enticed him with that carte blanche contract.

[Roger Ryan]

They were not for specific films as I understand, just general tests. Welles complete lack of interest in Hollywood prior to the generous R.K.O. offer would probably be one of those "myths" we've been talking about. The fact that he was interested in film from an early age suggests he must have toyed with the idea of being a movie actor or director. I suspect he was invited to Hollywood by Warner Brothers sometime after the success of "Julius Caesar" (or perhaps "Dr. Faustus") which would have demonstrated his serious acting ability in addition to his production work. The tests probably didn't amount to much at the time, so he didn't care to draw attention to them. I recall reading that after "War Of The Worlds" broke, Welles spent more time courting Hollywood, but felt he could hold out for something more remarkable than a leading role or supporting part in someone else's project. He would have been quite interested in a Hollywood career, but only one that would be a continuation of the standards he had set on stage and radio (which, of course, is why he picked "Heart Of Darkness" as his first film, then stumbled for a while when that project proved too expensive).