What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? : A Portrait of an Independent Career

At the age of twenty-five, Orson Welles (1915--1985) directed, co-wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane, widely regarded as the greatest film ever made. But Welles was such a revolutionary filmmaker that he found himself at odds with the Hollywood studio system. His work was so far ahead of its time that he never regained the wide popular following he had once enjoyed as a young actor-director on the radio. What Ever Happened to Orson Welles?: A Portrait of an Independent Career challenges the conventional wisdom that Welles's career after Kane was a long decline and that he spent his final years doing little but eating and making commercials while squandering his earlier promise. In this intimate and often surprising personal portrait, Joseph McBride shows instead how Welles never stopped directing radical, adventurous films and was always breaking new artistic ground as a filmmaker. McBride is the first author to provide a comprehensive examination of the films of Welles's artistically rich yet little-known later period in the United States (1970--1985), when McBride knew and worked with him. McBride reports on Welles's daringly experimental film projects, including the legendary 1970--1976 unfinished film The Other Side of the Wind, Welles's satire of Hollywood during the "Easy Rider era"; McBride gives a unique insider perspective on Welles from the viewpoint of a young film critic playing a spoof of himself in a cast headed by John Huston and Peter Bogdanovich. To put Welles's widely misunderstood later years into context, What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? reexamines the filmmaker's entire life and career. McBride offers many fresh insights into the collapse of Welles's Hollywood career in the 1940s, his subsequent political blacklisting, and his long period of European exile. An enlightening and entertaining look at Welles's brilliant and enigmatic career as a filmmaker, What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? serves as a major reinterpretation of Welles's life and work. McBride clears away the myths that have long obscured Welles's later years and have caused him to be falsely regarded as a tragic failure. McBride's revealing portrait of this great artist will change the terms of how Orson Welles is understood as a man, an actor, a political figure, and a filmmaker. A “personal and passionate” account of the Citizen Kane director's years as an expatriate and self-funded filmmaker (Los Angeles Times). At twenty-five, Orson Welles directed, co-wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane, widely considered the best film ever made. But Welles was such a revolutionary filmmaker that he found himself at odds with the Hollywood studio system, and his work was so far ahead of its time that he never regained the popular following he once enjoyed. Frustrated by Hollywood and falling victim to the postwar blacklist, Welles left for a long European exile. But he kept making films, functioning with the creative freedom of an independent filmmaker before that term became common and eventually preserving his independence by funding virtually all his own projects. Because he worked defiantly outside the system, Welles has often been maligned as an errant genius who squandered his early promise. Film critic Joseph McBride, who acted in Welles's unfinished film The Other Side of the Wind, challenges conventional wisdom about Welles's supposed creative decline in this first comprehensive examination of the films of Welles's artistically rich yet little-known later period. During the 1970s and'80s, Welles was breaking new aesthetic ground, experimenting as adventurously as he had throughout his career. McBride's friendship and collaboration with Welles and his interviews with those who knew and worked with him make What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? a portrait of rare intimacy and insight. Reassessing Welles's final period in the context of his entire life and work, this revealing portrait of this great film artist will change the terms of how Orson Welles is regarded. “[An] anecdote-illuminated account of Welles's later years.” —The Washington Post “Joseph McBride...has a clearer understanding of Welles and his films than almost anyone.” —Martin Scorsese “A definitive study.” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel What Ever Happened To Orson Welles? A Portrait Of An Independent Career Challenges The Conventional Wisdom That Welles's Career After Kane Was A Long Decline And That He Spent His Final Years Doing Little But Eating And Making Commercials While Squandering His Earlier Promise. In This Intimate And Often Surprising Personal Portrait, Joseph Mcbride Shows Instead How Welles Never Stopped Directing Radical, Adventurous Films And Was Always Breaking New Artistic Ground As A Filmmaker. Mcbride Is The First Author To Provide A Comprehensive Examination Of The Films Of Welle's Artistically Rich Yet Little Know Later Period In The United States (1970-1985) When Mcbride Knew And Worked With Him. Mcbride Reports On Welles's Daringly Experimental Film Projects, Including The Legendary 1970-1976 Unfinished Film The Other Side Of The Wind, Welles's Satire Of Hollywood During The Easy Rider Era. Mcbride Gives A Unique, Inside Perspective On Welles From The Viewpoint Of A Young Film Critic Playing A Spoof Of Himself In A Cast Headed By John Huston And Peter Bogdanovich. To Put Welles's Widely Misunderstood Later Years Into Context, What Ever Happened To Orson Welles? Reexamines The Filmmaker's Entire Life And Career. Mcbride Offers Many Fresh Insights Into The Collapse Of Welles's Hollywood Career In The 1940s, His Subsequent Political Blacklisting, And His Long Period Of European Exile.--jacket. Introduction: The High Priest Of The Cinema. -- 1: God, How They'll Love Me When I'm Dead! -- 2: Committing Masterpieces. -- 3: Orson Welles At Large. -- 4: Twilight In The Smog. -- 5: Your Friendly Neighborhood Grocery Store. -- 6: No Wine Before Its Time. Joseph Mcbride. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 310-330) And Index.