American film director Wells Orson: biography, filmography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

It is hard to imagine what modern cinema would be like if it had not been influenced by outstanding directors since the time of silent films. This article is dedicated to just such an outstanding person who stood at the origins of sound cinema. His approach and manner of creating were ahead of their time, and his statements were dismantled into quotes. Talented and controversial genius Wells Orson! The paintings of this master to this day have not lost their relevance and are included in the golden fund of world cinema. And the story of the radio show "The War of the Worlds" based on the work of H. G. Wells is still remembered, noting the power of the impact of art on the listener.

Biography of the master

Who is Orson Welles? The years of his life are 1915-1985. The famous American film director is a native of the small town of Kenosha (Wisconsin, USA). From an early age, the boy began to show interest in art. He took part in school productions, studied dramaturgy, took music and painting lessons. His hobbies were encouraged by his parents, who themselves were creative individuals. His father made a fortune from his inventions, and his mother was a well-known pianist in musical circles.

Losing his mother early, a boy with a headgoes into creativity. He studies at a prestigious school in Illinois. The teachers noticed the talent of the young talent, and Wells Orson starts staging theatrical performances, plays the main roles in them, and often creates colorful scenery.

Artist talent

Contrary to the expectations of his teachers, after graduating from school in 1931, a talented young man is in no hurry to continue his studies. Fascinated by the fine arts, he chooses the beauty of the nature of Ireland to create his sketches, where he goes, having a very limited amount of money with him.

A determined young artist decides that moving around and finding the right environment for his masterpieces will be easier if he buys transportation. But since there is only enough money for a horse-drawn one, he buys a donkey and a wagon. For some time, Wells Orson leads a nomadic life, writes sketches and sleeps in the open. This idyll continues until the first cold weather. Then the young man goes to Dublin. There, by the will of fate, he finds himself at the play of the Gate Theater, where he meets his friend, who works as an extra. Having learned about the difficult financial situation of a friend, he introduces Orson to the director of the theater. It is not known what the result of the interview could have been if not for the resourcefulness shown by the young Orson Welles. He introduced himself to the director as a famous Broadway actor and theater director. Of course, it was hard to believe his words. But the director decided to give the impudent young man a chance and subsequently never regretted his decision. Orson really turned out to be talented. This is how it startsacting career of the future star.

First steps

After spending several years in the theatre, touring and traveling all over Ireland, he also shows a talent for writing, detectives write. In Spain, where the actor goes after the tour, he tries himself as a bullfighter, acting under the pseudonym "American" in a bullfight. Returning to the USA in 1934, he joins the creative team of a traveling theater, where he tries his hand as a stage director. In 1937, on Broadway, Orson, together with producer John Houseman, created a small theater Mercury Theatre, where already popular actors were invited to work on the play. So the audience first got acquainted with a new approach to classical works. And Wells Orson gained popularity and public recognition. The play "Julius Caesar" based on the work of Shakespeare was played without scenery and in the spirit of modernity. The innovative filmmaker doesn't stop there.

Working in broadcasting

He decides to try his troupe's hand in radio shows. And already in 1938, the Mercury Theater became a regular participant in the radio broadcast. Radio performances of the performances of this theater are broadcast every week. The most famous - a production based on the novel by H. Wells "The War of the Worlds" - aired on October 30, 1938. The performance was presented in a realistic manner reporting on an alien invasion.

Since the performance was broadcast on the eve of Halloween, the tradition of which includes stories of various scary stories, the directorI could not think that many citizens would take what was told for official news. There was a panic, people left their homes, and traffic jams appeared on the roads. The telephone lines of the police were overloaded due to the constant reports of aliens that seemed to frightened people everywhere. New Jersey was particularly hard hit. Because it was there, according to the director's idea, that the first alien landing force arrived. The authorities, who took more than a month to finally convince the citizens that it was just a radio show, did not appreciate such a power of art, and the performance became notorious.

Director's work

What else did Orson Welles do? The director from the actor turned out to be good, albeit a beginner. He showed great promise, so he could not help but get into the field of view of Hollywood. He is offered interesting contracts and roles, but the ambitious young man does not want to limit his creative freedom. Finally, one of the companies agrees to his demands.

And in 1939, Wells Orson signs a contract with RKO RadioPictures, the studio gives him complete freedom in choosing the subject and manner of filming that the director decides to use. But the plot of future films and an innovative approach to shooting leave Hollywood movie stars of that time indifferent. The film's profitability and success depended heavily on celebrity participation. Therefore, the studio management refuses to finance Wells' projects.

Citizen Kane

What masterpieces did Orson Welles create? His filmography is extensive. Let's startperhaps from the painting "Citizen Kane".

In 1940, after lengthy negotiations, the director seeks funding from the film studio for this film drama. He becomes a co-writer, director and lead actor. The film is released in 1941.

The plot of the film tells the story of the life of a media mogul who, at the beginning of his career, tried to benefit society and influence politics by reporting news. But gradually the thirst for profit and the receipt of high monetary rewards turned him into a puppet in the service of the powers that be. The film is highly acclaimed by film critics and nominated nine times for an Oscar.

The Magnificent Ambersons

In 1942, the director presents the film The Magnificent Ambersons to the world. The film tells the story of the Amberson family, who have been living in a quiet American town for three generations. Their rich life flows measuredly, but new times are coming, and they have to adapt to the realities of the modern world. Money and position become the main goal of the protagonist. In order to achieve his goal, he refuses love without hesitation.

During the filming of the movie, there are changes in the management of the film studio, a decision is made to cut costs, the contract with Wells is reviewed, and the final version of the picture is edited without him. Despite a lot of footage being cut, the film received four Oscar nominations.

Outlander

Removed in 1946Wells' last picture in collaboration with RKO Radio Pictures. The film "The Stranger" tells about the horrors of the Second World War, about the genocide of Jews, about how the former executioner tries to escape from justice, about love.

The Lady of Shanghai and Macbeth

In 1947, the detective "The Lady from Shanghai" was published. The plot of the picture is confusing. The protagonist saves a beauty from the bandits, who, in gratitude, offers him participation in the deal. But as it turns out, instead of the promised benefits, the protagonist can pay with his life.

In 1948, the director, in his usual manner, creates a film adaptation of the famous work of W. Shakespeare "Macbeth".

Both films received positive reviews from European critics and failed American ones.

Othello and The Third Man

The director leaves for Europe. There he continues to make films for his own money. In 1952, another film adaptation of Shakespeare, Othello, was released, which received the main prize of the Cannes Film Festival - the Palme d'Or.

In the intervals between working on his own films, the master manages to star in the film "The Third Man". His hero Harry Lime is considered one of the best roles played by Orson Welles, the director's biography in the future is just as interesting and rich.

"Mr. Ardkin" and "Trial"

He is filming the 1955 film drama Mr. Ardkin. In this picture, the director again raises the topic of universal values, such as honor and conscience. The main character got rich dishonestly. He tries to erase these events frommemory.

The film work "The Trial" is a film adaptation of the novel by F. Kafka. She was released in 1962. The plot of the film is dedicated to a small man who is able to challenge a huge system. Orson himself called this picture his best directorial work.

More paintings

Further work of Wells Orson brought the following results:

• in 1965 he again turned to the work of Shakespeare and created the painting "Midnight Bells";
• released in 1968, The Immortal Story received excellent reviews from film critics and became very popular in Europe. This is a touching story about what a person is ready to go for the sake of an heir;
• picture "F is fake". This is a comedy pseudo-documentary film in which the director from the outside tries to evaluate the history of his work. Released in 1973;
• The director devoted the last years of his life to work on the film "The Other Side of the Wind". This is a frankly satirical look at the work of the director and what the author has to face when he wants to tell the world his view of his device.

Private life

Now it's clear who Orson Welles is. His personal life was quite turbulent. Like many geniuses, the director was often fascinated by women. He needed a muse in his creative search. Therefore, Wells was married three times and had three children. His last wife and love was the actress Oya Kodar.

Conclusion

So you found out who Orson Welles is. An actor, a brilliant director, he proved himself in many genres, leaving an invaluable creative heritage to posterity.