Tackling ‘King Lear’ by Orson Welles
An essay by Orson Welles, published before his final New York stage production in 1956.
Orson Welles: ‘Race hate must be outlawed’
“The sin of race hate be solemnly declared a crime”
Fragments, notes for Orson Welles autobiography uncovered by archivists
University officials declined to disclose the purchase price of the papers.
80th anniversary celebration of Orson Welles and Roger Hill’s Todd Theatre Festival underway in Woodstock, Illinois
Todd Tarbox, grandson of Roger Hill, opened the 80th anniversary of Orson Welles’ Todd Theatre Festival in Woodstock.
Beatrice Welles interview – Part 2: Orson Welles early ‘autobiography’ found, art exhibit planned, ‘Othello’ on Blu-ray, and fate of ‘Chimes at Midnight’
By RAY KELLY Beatrice Welles’ decision to put more than 70 items belonging to her late father, Orson Welles, on the auction block later this month drew national attention when it was announced Monday. Most of the items were found in two trunks, which had been left unopened for nearly 50 years. She detailed the […]
Beatrice Welles interview – Part 1: Treasures to be auctioned, life with Orson Welles and public misconceptions
By RAY KELLY On April 26, Heritage Auctions will sell more than 70 items once owned by the late Orson Welles. The items include film memorabilia, clothing and personal accoutrements, including script pages and black and white film stills from Citizen Kane, scripts and still photos from The Magnificent Ambersons, a pair of personal scrapbooks […]
Orson Welles on his childhood: ‘My Father Wore Black Spats’ and ‘A Brief Career as a Musical Prodigy’
Editor’s note: With the interest in the Orson Welles’ celebrations planned in Woodstock, Illinois, in 2014 and 2015, as well as the recent publication of “Orson Welles and Roger Hill: A Friendship in Three Acts” by Todd Tarbox, Wellesnet is offering up a look at Welles childhood from the man himself. While he never penned […]
Paul Masson ad executive remembers his own lunches with Orson Welles
Advertising executive John Annarino recalled his own lunchtime chats with Orson Welles in an article for The Desert Sun. Annarino was creative director for DDB Needham, one of the top advertising agencies in the country. Its clients included Paul Masson wines. Inspired by Henry Jaglom’s best-seller “My Lunches With Orson,” Annarino recalled his meeting with […]
Peter Biskind discusses ‘My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Orson Welles and Henry Jaglom’
By RAY KELLY “My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Orson Welles and Henry Jaglom,” which arrives in stores today, is clearly one of the most-talked about Welles books in recent years. Based on lunchtime chats recorded by Jaglom between 1983 and Welles’ death in 1985, the book presents an unvarnished, often unflattering, look at Welles. […]
Todd Tarbox on ‘Orson Welles and Roger Hill: A Friendship in Three Acts’
By RAY KELLY Todd Tarbox, grandson of Orson Welles’ beloved mentor, Roger “Skipper” Hill, has recently published “Orson Welles and Roger Hill: A Friendship in Three Acts,” which recounts their life-long relationship in a series of candid and often moving conversations. Available online through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other major retailers, “Friendship” is essential reading for […]
A taste of ‘My Lunches with Orson: Conversations Between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles’
By RAY KELLY “My Lunches with Orson: Conversations Between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles,” written by Peter Biskind, arrives in stores on July 16. The book from Macmillan/ Metropolitan is based on conversations between the two filmmakers recorded in the final three years of Welles’ life. Wellesnet.com interviewed Henry Jaglom about the book back in […]
‘The Complete Citizen Kane’ documentary is now online
The seldom seen British Arena special “The Complete Citizen Kane” has made its way to YouTube.com, courtesy of online video poster Citizen Welles. The 91-minute documentary opens with a faux, but effective, “Heart of Darkness” and includes BBC interviews with Orson Welles filmed in 1960 and 1982. Also interviewed are Peter Bogdanovich and Pauline Kael. […]
Henry Jaglom talks about those tapes, ‘Big Brass Ring’ and leaked footage from ‘The Other Side of the Wind’
By RAY KELLY Filmmaker Henry Jaglom, whose recorded conversations with Orson Welles form the basis of an upcoming book, graciously agreed to field a few questions about his late, great friend. Jaglom’s relationship with Welles dates back to his freshman 1971 film “A Safe Place.” In the interview, he discussed those legendary lunches with Welles […]
Rosebud meaning in ‘Citizen Kane’ as given by Orson Welles
“What does ‘Rosebud’ mean in ‘Citizen Kane’?” It is perhaps the question most often fielded by Wellesnet. The most detailed answer given by Orson Welles was contained in a press statement released by RKO Radio Pictures prior the film’s release in May 1941.
Audio book planned of ‘My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles’
By RAY KELLY The book “My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles,” which Wellesnet reported on back in October, will also be released as an unabridged audio book on July 9. Presumably the audio book will utilize the recordings made by Jaglom during Welles’ final years. While the hardcover book will […]
Oja Kodar interview on Hungarian website
By RAY KELLY Interviews with Orson Welles’ longtime love and collaborator Oja Kodar are rare to come by, but the Hungarian website mozinet.hu recently spoke with the Croatian actress-writer. Sadly, none of the six questions asked of Kodar delved into the status of “The Other Side of the Wind” or any of Welles’ unfinished film […]
Orson Welles in Madrid, June, 1966 talking about ‘The Sacred Beasts’
There is one town that would be better than Aranjuez to see your first bullfight in if you are only going to see one and that is Ronda. That is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone. The entire town and as […]
Orson Welles as a special guest on The David Frost Show, May 12, 1970
By LAWRENCE FRENCH Orson Welles appearance on The David Frost Show recorded on May 12, 1970 came before most of the numerous biographies about Welles had been published, providing us with Welles’ own point of view on some very interesting aspects of his life and work. This interview also took place in the midst of […]
‘My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles’ due in July
By RAY KELLY Orson Welles’ candid lunchtime conversations with director Henry Jaglom will be the basis of the upcoming book “My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles.” Peter Biskind (“Easy Riders, Raging Bulls”) is editing the book using transcripts of conversations taped by Jaglom. “I’m excited about it. I’m reliving these […]
Orson Welles on Micheál Mac Liammóir and “Put Money in thy Purse”
Here is Orson Welles witty Foreword to Micheál Mac Liammóir’s diary of the making of Othello, Put Money in thy Purse, first published in 1952 by Methuen in London. Photos of Welles and Mac Liammóir from Othello along with shots of the locations Welles used in Morocco can be seen at the Wellesnet Facebook page […]