Welles also became an iconic movie star and celebrity, appearing in classic movies such as the third man and a man for all seasons. Magician features scenes from almost every existing. The screen goes pillarboxed for all of the films pre touch of evil. The astonishing life and work of orson welles looks at the remarkable genius of orson welles on the eve of his centenary the enigma of his career as a hollywood star, a hollywood director for some a hollywood failure, and a crucially important independent filmmaker. With orson welles, simon callow, christopher welles, joanne hill styles. Magician looks at the life of orson welles the boston globe.
The astonishing life and work of orson welles director. The astonishing life and work of orson welles chuck workman. He was 24 years old and already famed as the boy wonder of live theatre and radio. Dec 12, 2014 john candy, doing a slightly pointed sendup of orson welles, made that joke in a great sctv sketch in 1982. It looks at the remarkable genius of orson welles on the eve of his centenary the enigma of his career as a hollywood star, a hollywood director for some a hollywood failure, and a crucially important independent filmmaker. Welles astonishing life, work get doc worthy of auteurs own struggles. Magician is a good primer for those who are unfamiliar with welles, while functioning as a greatesthits reel for students of. The astonishing life and work of orson welles dvd a film by chuck workman. His final completed feature, f for fake, opens with him doing a little. The astonishing life and work of orson welles 2014 starring orson welles and peter bogdanovich on dvd and bluray. The astonishing life and work of orson welles 2014 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
North american premiere at the 2014 telluride film festival. The huge assortment of clips is presented in mostly excellent condition. Documentary magician explores orson welles genius sfgate. An indepth study of orson welles singular life and career would run the length of a miniseries, but chuck workman engagingly hits a good many highlights in stoneskipping fashion in magician. Chuck workmans elegiac ode to orson welles, magician. I must have seen and read everything there is on welles, if thats possible, and this particular documentary borrowed heavily from the best there is the bbc interview with welles, which was one of. Jul 03, 2015 as its title suggests, welles specialised in deception and sleight of hand.
The older interviews are carefully cleaned up where possible. The astonishing life and work of orson welles 1 hours and 31 minutes movie 2015 magician. The filmmakers also reveal how he became one of the biggest stars in the world before the age of 25, battled his entire career to raise money to make movies the way he wanted to, and lived an outsized. The astonishing life and work of orson welles, may be leaden with fondness and nostalgia, but its no hagiographic air kiss. The astonishing life and work of orson welles looks at the remarkable genius of orson welles on the eve of his centenarythe enigma of his career as a hollywood star, a hollywood director for some a hollywood failure, and a crucially important independent filmmaker. The astonishing life and work of orson welles is a documentary from 2014 about the great filmmaker, actor, magician, and personality.
The astonishing life and work of orson welles on sunday, april 2, at 2 p. The filmmakers also reveal how he became one of the biggest stars in the world before the age of 25, battled his entire career to raise money to make. A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist. Oscarwinner chuck workmans famed for his academy award clip montages and iconic trailers impressive, comprehensive documentary tells the tragic, extraordinary story of orson welles, a great filmmaking genius whose masterpieces were interspersed with films compromised by studio intervention or never completed at all. Basically, he arrived in theater as a teen with pair of brass balls. As its title suggests, welles specialised in deception and sleight of hand. Like every other book or film about the genius of orson welles, the narrative. The astonishing life and work of orson welles is a midling documentary about the director of such classic movies as citizen kane, magnificent ambersons and touch of evil. Apr 02, 2015 chuck workmans elegiac ode to orson welles, magician. Welles recalls a waiter asking him in an interview included in chuck workmans documentary magician.
The astonishing life and work of orson welles looks at the remarkable genius of orson welles on the eve of his centenary the enigma of his career as a hollywood star, a hollywood. The astonishing life and work of orson welles is a lively and entertaining documentary that positively swings with informative forward momentum. Chuck workmans documentary offers an excellent primer on the maestros career. Additionally, by delving into the protean talents bag of unfinished projects, the veteran. Additionally, by delving into the protean talents bag of unfinished projects, the veteran documentary and clipsreel whiz tries to counter the view. The extraordinary life of orson welles 19151985, an enigma of hollywood, an irreducible independent creator. The astonishing life and work of orson welles 2014 dvd. The magician is an actor, welles himself is heard reflecting at the opening of this entertaining documentary directed by chuck workman, the master montagemaker whose work is a consistent highlight of the academy awards ceremonies every year. The astonishing life and work of orson welles 2014. The astonishing life and work of orson welles movie. It includes excerpts of nearly all of welles s films, archival footage and audio, and interviews with colleagues, biographers, critics, friends and contemporary directors who credit. Magician looks at the life of orson welles the boston. It includes excerpts of nearly all of welles s films, archival footage and audio, and interviews with colleagues, biographers, critics, friends and contemporary directors who credit his influence. The way i figure is youve got only so much luck, hes heard to say in chuck workmans smart, highly entertaining documentary magician.
In it, welles performs various magic tricks for the camera, promising that no trick photography is used welles had a lifelong interest in magic, having been taught his first magic tricks by harry houdini in the 1920s, when welles was still a boy. The astonishing life and work of orson welles is broken into several brief and relatively indistinguishable biographic chronological sections. Though welles never suffered from a shortage of ego, its a bit of selfdeprecation that acknowledges the difficulties he faced after that debut. Orson welles magic show is an unfinished television special by orson welles, filmed between 1976 and 1985. If youre an orson welles fan, you wont want to miss magician. The astonishing life and work of orson welles glenn kenny december 12, 2014.