Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Date of Birth:

May 06, 1915

Place of Birth:

Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985), best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality, Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century, especially for his significant and influential early work—despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood. His distinctive directorial style featured layered, nonlinear narrative forms, innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots, and long takes. Welles's long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios. Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased. He has been praised as a major creative force and as "the ultimate auteur."

After directing a number of high-profile theatrical productions in his early twenties, including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock, Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring. Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated, they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety.

Citizen Kane (1941), his first film with RKO, in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane, is often considered the greatest film ever made. Several of his other films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1974), are also widely considered to be masterpieces.

In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics, and a wide survey of critical consensus, best-of lists, and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time. Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States. Well known for his baritone voice, Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time. He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety shows in the war years.

filmography:

It's Not All True It's Not All True

1986

An Arabian Night An Arabian Night

1960

River of the Ocean River of the Ocean

1962

Salvador Dalí: A Soft Self-Portrait Salvador Dalí: A Soft Self-Portrait

1970

Kelly Country Kelly Country

1973

The Lions of Capitalism: Some Call It Greed The Lions of Capitalism: Some Call It Greed

1977

Power and Corruption Power and Corruption

1973

Lords of the Forest Lords of the Forest

1958

South Seas Adventure South Seas Adventure

1958

Genocide Genocide

1982

Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles

1993

The Battle of Austerlitz The Battle of Austerlitz

1960

Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina

1958

Mexico City, Old and New Mexico City, Old and New

1945

Know Your Ally: Britain Know Your Ally: Britain

1944

The Double McGuffin The Double McGuffin

1979

The Enemy Before Us The Enemy Before Us

1970

Shogun Shogun

1981

Wagner e Venezia Wagner e Venezia

1982

The New Deal for Artists The New Deal for Artists

1981

NBC: The First Fifty Years NBC: The First Fifty Years

1976

Something Else Something Else

1970

Magnificent Monsters of the Deep Magnificent Monsters of the Deep

1975

Almonds and Raisins Almonds and Raisins

1985

In Our Hands In Our Hands

1984

To Try Again... and Succeed To Try Again... and Succeed

1979

The Man Who Came to Dinner The Man Who Came to Dinner

1972

The New Media Bible: Book of Genesis The New Media Bible: Book of Genesis

1979

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

1980

A Gift of Harvest A Gift of Harvest

1981

Search for the Titanic Search for the Titanic

1981

The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1998

The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art

1974

They'll Love Me When I'm Dead They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

2018

Disorder Disorder

1950

The Greenstone The Greenstone

1980

The Quest for Fire Adventure The Quest for Fire Adventure

1982

Working with Orson Welles Working with Orson Welles

1993

Bugs Bunny: Superstar Bugs Bunny: Superstar

1975

Filmmakers vs. Tycoons Filmmakers vs. Tycoons

2005

The Orson Welles Show The Orson Welles Show

1979

A Horse Called Nijinsky A Horse Called Nijinsky

1970

Show-Business at War Show-Business at War

1943

Duel in the Sun Duel in the Sun

1946

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Rita Rita

2003

NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3 NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3

2001

Lost in La Mancha Lost in La Mancha

2002

The Enchanted Journey The Enchanted Journey

1981

Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

2000

The Other Side of Welles The Other Side of Welles

2005

Battle for Survival Battle for Survival

1946

Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française

1983

Hopper/Welles Hopper/Welles

2020

Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit

2018

The Cave The Cave

1973

La Classe américaine La Classe américaine

1993

Around the World of Mike Todd Around the World of Mike Todd

1968

The Hitch Hiker The Hitch Hiker

2004

The Eyes of Orson Welles The Eyes of Orson Welles

2018

The Battle of Sutjeska The Battle of Sutjeska

1973

The Welles Raft The Welles Raft

2022

Orson Welles: The Paris Interview Orson Welles: The Paris Interview

2010

High Journey High Journey

1959

Orson Welles' Sketch Book Orson Welles' Sketch Book

1955

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael Landon The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael Landon

1984

Lucifer et moi Lucifer et moi

2009

Jodorowsky's Dune Jodorowsky's Dune

2013

Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend

2022

Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees

1965

From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight

2023

The Witching The Witching

1983

Alfonso Sansone: Producer by Chance Alfonso Sansone: Producer by Chance

2014

Man in the Shadow Man in the Shadow

1957

The Dreamers The Dreamers

1985

Emergency: Donald Trump’s Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil"

2019

The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles

2003

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

2021

Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote

2000

Edge of Outside Edge of Outside

2006

Notre Dame de la Croisette Notre Dame de la Croisette

1983

Parkinson at 50 Parkinson at 50

2021

Magic with the Stars Magic with the Stars

1982

The Paranormal Peter Sellers The Paranormal Peter Sellers

2001

The Other Side of the Wind The Other Side of the Wind

2018

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2022

Twelfth Night Twelfth Night

1933

LIFE BEYOND: Visions of Alien Life LIFE BEYOND: Visions of Alien Life

2024

The Shadow Knows The Shadow Knows

2012

Looking Back Before You Leap Looking Back Before You Leap

2023

It's Pretty, but is it Art? It's Pretty, but is it Art?

2023

Othelo, O Grande Othelo, O Grande

2023

Tall Tales: The Ireland of Orson Welles Tall Tales: The Ireland of Orson Welles

2021

Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure

2011

AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special

2023

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1986

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

2012

American: An Odyssey to 1947 American: An Odyssey to 1947

2022

The Lost Print: The Making of Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons The Lost Print: The Making of Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons

2022

Orson Welles - The Marketed Genius Orson Welles - The Marketed Genius

1975

A Legend a Lifetime: Citizen Welles A Legend a Lifetime: Citizen Welles

1974

Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years

1979

Charmed Lives: A Family Romance Charmed Lives: A Family Romance

1970

The Great Buster: A Celebration The Great Buster: A Celebration

2018

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

2020

Disorder Is 20 Years Old Disorder Is 20 Years Old

1967

Out of Darkness Out of Darkness

1956

King Penguin: Stranded Beyond the Falklands King Penguin: Stranded Beyond the Falklands

1983

The Psychic Connection The Psychic Connection

1983

Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady

1982

Baryshnikov in Hollywood Baryshnikov in Hollywood

1982

Let Poland Be Poland Let Poland Be Poland

1982

Doug Henning's World of Magic Doug Henning's World of Magic

1982

The Magic History of Cinema The Magic History of Cinema

2017

Embers & Dust Embers & Dust

2016

Night of 100 Stars Night of 100 Stars

1982

Who Is Henry Jaglom? Who Is Henry Jaglom?

1997

The Deep The Deep

2007

According to Occam's Razor According to Occam's Razor

1999

Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional

1997

Welles' Language Welles' Language

1990

A Life for Movies: Lotte Eisner A Life for Movies: Lotte Eisner

2020

Beggars Would Ride Beggars Would Ride

1967

Vive le cinema! Vive le cinema!

1972

Brasil Brasil

1981

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

2010

Caesar's Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles Caesar's Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles

1978

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard The Blinding of Isaac Woodard

2021

The Land of the Basques The Land of the Basques

1955

From Fiber to Fabric: Wool's a Natural From Fiber to Fabric: Wool's a Natural

1977

The Well The Well

2005

Orson Welles: The One-Man Band Orson Welles: The One-Man Band

1995

Royal Affairs in Versailles Royal Affairs in Versailles

1954

Othello Othello

1951

The Biggest Battle The Biggest Battle

1978

The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla

1980

A Safe Place A Safe Place

1971

Tepepa Tepepa

1969

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow The Man Who Saw Tomorrow

1981

Malpertuis Malpertuis

1971

Tomorrow Is Forever Tomorrow Is Forever

1946

Mr. Arkadin Mr. Arkadin

1955

The Black Rose The Black Rose

1950

Prince of Foxes Prince of Foxes

1949

The Kremlin Letter The Kremlin Letter

1970

Three Cases of Murder Three Cases of Murder

1955

Slapstick (Of Another Kind) Slapstick (Of Another Kind)

1982

Hot Tomorrows Hot Tomorrows

1977

Ro.Go.Pa.G. Ro.Go.Pa.G.

1963

Ferry to Hong Kong Ferry to Hong Kong

1959

Get to Know Your Rabbit Get to Know Your Rabbit

1972

Future Shock Future Shock

1972

The Force Beyond The Force Beyond

1977

The Fountain of Youth The Fountain of Youth

1958

It's All True It's All True

1993

Black Magic Black Magic

1949

Ten Days' Wonder Ten Days' Wonder

1971

Trent's Last Case Trent's Last Case

1952

The Immortal Story The Immortal Story

1968

The Late Great Planet Earth The Late Great Planet Earth

1978

Voyage of the Damned Voyage of the Damned

1976

David and Goliath David and Goliath

1960

The Southern Star The Southern Star

1969

Napoleon Napoleon

1955

Twelve Plus One Twelve Plus One

1969

The Trial The Trial

1962

Catch-22 Catch-22

1970

The Lady from Shanghai The Lady from Shanghai

1947

Is Paris Burning? Is Paris Burning?

1966

And Then There Were None And Then There Were None

1974

The Stranger The Stranger

1946

Moby Dick Moby Dick

1956

History of the World: Part I History of the World: Part I

1981

Chimes at Midnight Chimes at Midnight

1965

A Man for All Seasons A Man for All Seasons

1966

The Magnificent Ambersons The Magnificent Ambersons

1942

The Third Man The Third Man

1949

The Transformers: The Movie The Transformers: The Movie

1986

Touch of Evil Touch of Evil

1958

House of Cards House of Cards

1968

Journey into Fear Journey into Fear

1943

The Long, Hot Summer The Long, Hot Summer

1958

Butterfly Butterfly

1982

Compulsion Compulsion

1959

The Vikings The Vikings

1958

The V.I.P.s The V.I.P.s

1963

F for Fake F for Fake

1973

Macbeth Macbeth

1948

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

1975

Jane Eyre Jane Eyre

1943

Treasure Island Treasure Island

1972

Don Quixote Don Quixote

1992

Casino Royale Casino Royale

1967

The Battle of Neretva The Battle of Neretva

1969

Waterloo Waterloo

1970

The Spanish Earth The Spanish Earth

1937

Marco the Magnificent Marco the Magnificent

1965

Necromancy Necromancy

1972

The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail

1984

A Step Away A Step Away

1980

Moby Dick Moby Dick

2000

Follow the Boys Follow the Boys

1944

Lafayette Lafayette

1962

Orson Welles' Magic Show Orson Welles' Magic Show

1985

Who's Out There? Who's Out There?

1975

The Hearts of Age The Hearts of Age

1934

Upon This Rock Upon This Rock

1970

The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh

1984

This Is Orson Welles This Is Orson Welles

2015

Vienna Vienna

1968

The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice

1969

Swiss Family Robinson Swiss Family Robinson

1940

Filming 'The Trial' Filming 'The Trial'

1981

The Finest Hours The Finest Hours

1964

Freedom River Freedom River

1971

The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal

1969

With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film

1990

London London

1971

A Huey P. Newton Story A Huey P. Newton Story

2001

An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon

1970

Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali

1979

Start the Revolution Without Me Start the Revolution Without Me

1970

A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies

1995

Portrait: Orson Welles Portrait: Orson Welles

1968

Directed by John Ford Directed by John Ford

1971

Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream

1990

King of Kings King of Kings

1961

Oedipus the King Oedipus the King

1968

Tut: The Boy King Tut: The Boy King

1978

A King's Story A King's Story

1965

The Road to Bresson The Road to Bresson

1984

Too Much Johnson Too Much Johnson

2013

The Tartars The Tartars

1961

Is It Always Right to Be Right? Is It Always Right to Be Right?

1970

Man, Beast and Virtue Man, Beast and Virtue

1953

Hot Money Hot Money

1983

Return to Glennascaul: A Story That Is Told in Dublin Return to Glennascaul: A Story That Is Told in Dublin

1953

Tudo é Brasil Tudo é Brasil

1997

Filming Othello Filming Othello

1978

It Happened One Christmas It Happened One Christmas

1977

Mysterious Castles of Clay Mysterious Castles of Clay

1978

I'll Never Forget What's'isname I'll Never Forget What's'isname

1967

Where Is Parsifal? Where Is Parsifal?

1984

Trouble in the Glen Trouble in the Glen

1954

Someone to Love Someone to Love

1987

The Fight for Rome The Fight for Rome

1968

The Muppet Movie The Muppet Movie

1979

The Roots of Heaven The Roots of Heaven

1958

The Battle Over Citizen Kane The Battle Over Citizen Kane

1996

Ten Days That Shook the World Ten Days That Shook the World

1967

Flame of Persia Flame of Persia

1971

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles

2014

Crack in the Mirror Crack in the Mirror

1960

To Build a Fire To Build a Fire

1969

Centinelas del Silencio Centinelas del Silencio

1971

King Lear King Lear

1953

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

1977

The Greatest Adventure--The Story of Man's Voyage to the Moon The Greatest Adventure--The Story of Man's Voyage to the Moon

1979

Orson Welles in Spain Orson Welles in Spain

1966

The Sailor from Gibraltar The Sailor from Gibraltar

1967

Citizen Kane Citizen Kane

1941

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