Orson Welles (1915–1985) was an American director, actor, writer, and producer who is best remembered for his innovative work in radio, theatre and film. He is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time.
While in his twenties, Welles directed a number of stage productions before creating the infamous 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds. Welles's directorial film debut Citizen Kane (1941), in which he also starred as Charles Foster Kane, garnered him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Actor and Best Director. The film is consistently ranked as the greatest film ever made. Welles's second film was The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), which he wrote and directed. He worked as actor, screenwriter, uncredited producer and uncredited co-director of 1943's Journey Into Fear, and directed and co-starred in 1946's The Stranger, his only substantial commercial success as a director. He then directed and starred in the film-noir The Lady from Shanghai (1947), appearing opposite his estranged wife Rita Hayworth.
His 1951 film Othello won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1958, Universal-International released the Welles-directed Touch of Evil, in which he also starred alongside Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh. His The Trial (1962) received a nomination for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. He subsequently directed Chimes at Midnight (1966), in which he also starred as Falstaff. Welles's last completed features were the essay films F for Fake (1973) and Filming Othello (1978). Throughout his career, he also worked on numerous films which he abandoned due to legal issues, lack of funds, or loss of interest and which were never completed or released. Two of these unfinished feature films have been completed and released posthumously: Don Quixote (1992) and The Other Side of the Wind (2018). However, many of Welles's other projects are now considered lost films.
Welles also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in dozens of films. In 1937, he collaborated with Ernest Hemingway on The Spanish Earth. In 1943, he starred opposite Joan Fontaine in Jane Eyre. His first appearance as Harry Lime in the 1949 film-noir The Third Man was heralded as "the most famous entrance in the history of the movies" by Roger Ebert. Also in 1949 he played Cesare Borgia in the film Prince of Foxes. In 1956, he appeared as Father Mapple in the John Huston-directed Moby Dick. His performance in Compulsion (1959) earned him the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. Welles starred as Le Chiffre in the James Bond film Casino Royale (1967). He portrayed Louis XVIII in Waterloo (1970). In 1979, he appeared in The Muppet Movie. His performance in Butterfly (1982) garnered him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Welles also narrated several documentaries, television series, and films, including King of Kings (1961), Bugs Bunny: Superstar (1975), and Mel Brooks's comedy film History of the World, Part I (1981).
Welles was granted an Academy Honorary Award for his works in 1971. Four years later, he became the third recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. In 1983, two years prior to his death, Welles received the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
Production Completed feature films
+ Year Title Credited as Notes Director Writer Producer 1941Citizen KaneCo-written with Herman J. Mankiewicz1942Also Uncredited cinematographer1943Journey into FearDirector of additional scenes; co-written with Joseph CottenWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 377.Thomas and Berthomé (2008), p. 306.1946Co-written with Anthony Veiller andJohn Huston1947Co-written with William Castle,Charles Lederer,Fletcher Markle1948MacbethAlso uncredited set designer 1951OthelloWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 410.1955 Also art director, costume designer, and uncredited editor Welles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 416–417.1958Touch of Evil1962Also Uncredited editor Welles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 429.1966Chimes at MidnightAlso Costume designerWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 432.1968French TV movie released theatrically in some countries, including the US; co-written with Louise de VilmorinWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 434.1973F for FakeDocumentary film; Also Uncredited editor; co-written with Oja Kodar1978Filming OthelloDocumentary film2018Originally shot between 1970 and 1976Completed and released posthumously; co-written with Oja Kodar; Also editor 2020Hopper/WellesDocumentary film released posthumously
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Completed short films
+ Year Title Credited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer Editor1933Twelfth NightDress rehearsal of Welles's Todd School stage productionWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 330.Brady (2015), p. 44.1934ScenarioWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 331.1940Citizen Kane trailerWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 360.1953Magic TrickWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 412.19691970Six 30-minute recitationsGraver (2008), p. 166.1976F for Fake trailer1978Orson Welles's JeremiahGraver (2008), p. 172.Unsung HeroesGraver (2008), p. 173.1984Graver (2008), p. 175. Completed television programs
+ Year Title Credited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer1955Orson Welles' Sketch BookSeries of commentariesAround the World with Orson WellesSeries1956Camille, the Naked Lady and the MusketeersAlso DesignerMusic arrangerUnsold pilotLostWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 290, 421.Thomas and Berthomé (2008), p. 309.1958Also DesignerMusic arrangerWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 424.Portrait of GinaUnsold pilotWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 423, 519.1961Orson Welles on the Art of BullfightingEpisode of UK series Tempo1964In the Land of Don QuixoteSeriesFilmed c. 1961Aired in 1964.Welles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 430–431.1978Filming OthelloWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 447.1979Unsold pilotGraver (2008), p. 172.
Film fragments for stage productions
+ Year Title Credited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer Editor1938Too Much JohnsonWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 344.Thomas and Berthomé (2008), p. 310.1939Also actorPrologue for a vaudeville programLost filmWood (1990), p. 153.1946Around the WorldFilm component of Broadway productionLost filmWood (1990), pp. 205–206.1950Film component of a stage productionLost filmWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 406.Wood (1990), p. 230.
Uncompleted films and television programs + Year Title Credited as NotesDirectorWriter Producer Editor1941–1942It's All TrueThomas and Berthomé (2008), p. 308.1950Two vignettes from the German tour of Welles's stage showLostWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 407.Thomas and Berthomé (2008), p. 311.1955""Episode from the TV series Around the World with Orson WellesWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), p. 418.McBride (2006), p. 322.Moby Dick—RehearsedFilm version of Welles's London stage production1957–1972Don QuixoteThomas and Berthomé (2008), pp. 222–228.1960Orson Welles in Dublin19671967–1970Welles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 437–438.1968ViennaSegment for the unfinished Orson's Bag TV specialWelles, Bogdanovich, and Rosenbaum (1998), pp. 434, 437.Thomas and Berthomé (2008), pp. 309–310.McBride (2006), pp. 233–234.1968–1971One Man BandAlso known as Orson Welles' LondonGraver (2008), pp. 164–165.1981Filming The TrialGraver (2008), p. 174.1980–1982Graver (2008), p. 173.1976–1985Orson Welles' Magic ShowGraver (2008), pp. 170–171.1985King LearTest footageGraver (2008), p. 175.
Performance Film