Look out! He's got a knife!

Callow on Welles pt 2

I see that the second volume of Simon Callow's big fat biography of Orson Welles is finally out. Much as I'd love to stick it on my shelf next to vol. 1, I'm disinclined to spend $80 on a book right now. Has anyone else read it?

I am pleased to noticee that it's now going to be at least three volumes, as this one only takes us as far as MacBeth. The first ended with the release of Citizen Kane, and it would have been a shame if Callow had followed the usual biographical model for Welles: half a book on his first 24 years, and half a book on his last 44.

The myth that Welles only ever made one good movie has been growing mould on it for years, and in my not-terribly-humble opinion he made at least three better movies in his later years (Touch of Evil, The Trial, and Chimes At Midnight) and even most of his lesser projects (like F For Fake and Mr. Arkadin) are fascinating and under-documented.

Mind you, although Callow is an interesting writer with much to say he's also very critical of Welles and some of his research in vol. 1 is a bit dodgy (especially his reliance on John Houseman's memoirs), so maybe his books aren't the best place to look for insights. On the other-other hand, many Wellesians are way to fucking precious about Our Hero and criticism does not equate to condemnation, and Callow certainly does not deny Welles's epic levels of sheer talent and bravado.

Speaking of Arkadin, the Criterion Collection have just put out a 3-disc edition containing the two previously released editions and a newly put together "integral" version. Welles never got the chance to put this film together himself (a real shame, as his greatest talent - for all his genius behind the camera - was in the editing room) so we'll never have a clue what he would really have done, but this should be interesting. They did a splendid job with the F For Fake dvd, and I can't wait to check out this one (which features interviews with, among others, Simon Callow).

I decided recently that my two favourite American filmmakers are Orson Welles and John Cassavettes. (I also decided that Ray Carney deserves a kick in the bollocks, but that's another story, and besides I'll probably never get a chance to swiftly connect my steel caps with his nut sack.)

For those who love to click things: here is Welles's infamous voice-over tantrum. The page has many other bizarre MP3s.

Posted by joey at June 15, 2006 1:58 PM