Latest ‘War of the Worlds’ scorned by critics
Seldom does a film gets such negative press that it musters only 3 percent from Rotten Tomatoes, but the latest incarnation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds has done so.
‘Third Man’ surfaces as lavish 4K SteelBook
Lionsgate Limited’s bonus features are quite similar to those found on the European set released by StudioCanal Vintage Classics last year.
‘Third Man’ musical gets mixed reviews
Based on the Graham Greene’s written story and Carol Reed film, the production features music by George Fenton, a book by Christopher Hampton, and lyrics by Don Black.
Criterion ‘Citizen Kane’ bolstered by fabulous extras (review)
Orson Welles fans drawn to the Criterion Collection’s new 4K UHD release of Citizen Kane for its stunning restoration and transfer will be delighted to find a treasure trove of extras.
‘New Deal for Artists’ recalls WPA impact on arts (review)
At the start of the documentary “New Deal for Artists,” Pulitzer Prize winner Studs Terkel — who got his start in the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project — laments that the contribution the New Deal and WPA made to the arts is not taught in schools and has been lost to history.
The remastered and re-released “New Deal for Artists” is narrated by Orson Welles, himself a beneficiary of the Federal Theater Project. In addition to Welles and Terkel, the WPA aided thousands including writers Richard Wright, Margaret Walker and Ralph Ellison; painters Diego Rivera, Jackson Pollock and James Brooks; and actors Will Geer, John Houseman and Howard Da Silva.
‘Magnificent Ambersons’ gets white-glove treatment (review)
By RAY KELLY For much of Wellesnet’s history, two topics have dominated conversation here: The completion of The Other Side of the Wind and the desire to see a superb DVD (later Blu-ray) release of The Magnificent Ambersons. This month, Welles fans finally got both. The Criterion Collection today released its long-awaited domestic Blu-ray and […]
Orson Welles’ brave, bold ‘The Other Side of the Wind’ (review)
By RAY KELLY It would be comforting to think that in the great beyond, Orson Welles is sipping a Negroni between puffs on a Macanudo and overjoyed that The Other Side of the Wind has been skillfully completed by an immensely talented team of friends and admirers. In actuality, he is probably wincing about a particular […]
Review: ‘The Eyes of Orson Welles’ offers fresh, insightful look at filmmaker
By RAY KELLY Orson Welles famously wrote, “A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.” He would have certainly been impressed then by Mark Cousins’ penetrating and engaging new documentary, The Eyes of Orson Welles, which had its world premiere today at the Cannes Film […]
Review roundup: ‘The Lady From Shanghai’ on Blu-ray
Updated on June 4, 2014: TCM Shop has not only put out an improved version of The Lady from Shanghai on Blu-ray, there is also an exchange program for those who have already purchased the previous version. If interested, call the TCM Shop at (888) 982-6746 and tell them you want to exchange your copy. […]
‘War of the Worlds: The True Story’ drawing mixed reviews
“War of the Worlds: The True Story,” filmmaker Timothy Hines’ ambitious faux documentary about a Martian invasion, has drawn opposing views from two prominent West Coast critics. The film opened in select theaters on October 30, but has only recently gained notices from the Hollywood press as the Pendragon Pictures release now plays in Los […]
DVD debut of Orson Welles’ ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ is not very magnificent
By ROGER L. RYAN On September 13th The Magnificent Ambersons made its very belated DVD debut in North America as an Amazon.com exclusive “add-on” for customers who buy the Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of Citizen Kane. Even though fans had been very vocal about wanting Ambersons released on DVD for a decade or more, the […]
The Orson Welles Library now available on Blackstone audio CD
**************************** THE ORSON WELLES LIBRARY 1. Wakefield by Nathaniel Hawthorne 2. The Red Room by H. G. Wells (with intro by OW) 3. The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad 4. The Secret Sharer (part two) Sredni Vashtar by Saki (with intro by OW) 5. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe The Way Through the […]