Pretty much essential to anyone making a movie, especially in times like these.

When I was in my early 20's I prefer this to F for Fake as I prefer Ambersons to Kane, I was probably just been a contrarian in both cases, but it is really close, particular this one. It is not quite as formally playful as F for Fake (despite having a few hidden gems of sleight of hand), but it so relaxed and insightful and as ar as I'm concerned Welles is at his best when he is playing his essaystic radio host role as here.

as a big admirer of orson's film and the biggest orson welles fan that hasn't even seen all of his movies, i am so grateful for this wonder's existence. a documentary as sophisticated as the movie it documents, as fascinating as the creator behind it. seeing one of cinema's greatest titans being so humble and honest about sharing his wisdom and also his experiences and ideas about one of the pieces of art he created is deeply inspiring, orson welles was making profoundly insightful video essays way before youtube. essential viewing for everyone who would like to make a movie in the future, or for anyone that is simply interested in the art of cinema for that matter. we are unworthy of this shit

orson welles: “i won’t go on”
orson welles, for fifteen more minutes: goes on

Surprisingly entertaining given its academic trappings, basically just Orson Welles sitting in his house talking about his film version of Othello from all possible angles - or maybe not so surprising, given that this is Orson Welles we're talking about. My favorite part is probably the footage taken from a Q&A after a screening of the movie in Boston, both for Welles' funny rapport with the audience members and because it's kind of mind-blowing that not so long ago one could attend such an event with Orson goddamn Welles.

Orson Welles invents the commentary track.

He would have really loved the DVD format.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OF THE IMPORTANT CINEMA CLUB PODCAST ON GARY GRAVER

Welles displaces a great cubic capacity of air in this proto-commentary track/homemade collage video essay.

I leave you with a confession: This hasn’t been as easy as I could’ve wished. There are too many regrets, too many things I wish I could’ve done over again. If it wasn’t a memory, if it was a project with a future, talking about Othello would’ve been nothing but delight. Promises are more fun than explanations. With all my heart I wish that I wasn’t looking back at Othello, but looking forward to it... That Othello, would be one hell of a picture.

*lights cigar

*puff

Good night.

Anthology Film Archives - DCP

Welles discussing one of his fine works. This work imitates that work in Welles' editing skillset where something can be shot 1000 miles away in a restaurant but the turnaround coverage is shot in Welles' home in Hollywood.

NYC audiences should take note of the directors Q&A with film fans at the Orson Welles Cinema segment to prepare for the next time they make fellow audience members suffer through the most asinine of questions.

The avuncular Welles spends 90 minutes regaling the audience with the cigar-smoking anecdotes (the Moorish national anthem is probably something "vaguely Oriental"), interpretations of his formal approach brought upon by production woes, and conversations with co-stars & wicked smaht Boston Q&Aers. Mainly this exists as a direct response to criticism for and against his Othello, and with the feeling of being in his living room you also share his pangs of regret. It's much easier to look forward to a production than look back, he remarks.

To add to the clubhouse atmosphere, a quartet of drunken hipsters wandered into the theater, kind of like the shitty nephews and nieces begrudgingly attending their uncle's dinner party.

Filming Othello has a man talk about a film he made 30 years ago, while not giving his opinion on it.

If I could get around to it I'd read the book he mentions. Welles has a beautiful face and dazzling personality, he is also a genius of film. 
It's interesting to hear his friends talk about envy, women, and Iago. Hearing his voice tell you that he kept shot of scenes in his head across months... wow!

But it is just a man talking for an hour - not visually interesting. 

Less compelling than F is for Fake, regales tales more incredible.

A fascinating and riveting documentary film from Orson Welles in the last completed film he released as he discusses his 1952 adaptation of Othello and its many troubles including his own interpretation of the story and the film itself.

I watched this because I really like Orson Welles' Othello. Ironically, the bits where Orson Welles is by himself, talking to the camera about Othello are the most boring. They're not bad - just a bit tedious. however, this tediousness is broken up by a lunch that Welles has with his mentors, Hilton Edwards and Michael Macliammoir, who played Brabantio and Iago in his adaptation, respectively, and by an excerpt from a Q&A that Welles had with film buffs after a Boston screening of Othello. It's worthwhile if you liked both Othello and F For Fake (which I did), but if you disliked either then you won't enjoy this.

So this is what it wouldn't feel like visiting Welles in one of his multi-national homes; him talk about his work for more than ten minutes.

Filming Othello has a man talk about a film he made 30 years ago, while not giving his opinion on it.

If I could get around to it I'd read the book he mentions. Welles has a beautiful face and dazzling personality, he is also a genius of film. 
It's interesting to hear his friends talk about envy, women, and Iago. Hearing his voice tell you that he kept shot of scenes in his head across months... wow!

But it is just a man talking for an hour - not visually interesting. 

Less compelling than F is for Fake, regales tales more incredible.

I will always treasure the mumbly grunts Welles makes while fishing about for his next sentence or point. Massive respect to Gary Graver, first in the end credits. "She gave me for my pains a world of sighs..she loved me for the dangers I had passed and I loved her that she did pity them. That's the speech. Now, uh, last winter, they invited me to Boston..."

as a big admirer of orson's film and the biggest orson welles fan that hasn't even seen all of his movies, i am so grateful for this wonder's existence. a documentary as sophisticated as the movie it documents, as fascinating as the creator behind it. seeing one of cinema's greatest titans being so humble and honest about sharing his wisdom and also his experiences and ideas about one of the pieces of art he created is deeply inspiring, orson welles was making profoundly insightful video essays way before youtube. essential viewing for everyone who would like to make a movie in the future, or for anyone that is simply interested in the art of cinema for that matter. we are unworthy of this shit

Orson’s acting teacher understands the play better than he does imo

The parts that aren’t informative production anecdotes (the rough-and-tumble circumstances under which he made a film as gorgeous as Othello are nothing less than extraordinary) or interesting public conversations with a livelier, less inebriated Welles function a bit as an unintentionally stark and sad portrait of the guy’s self-pitying late-career malaise. Interesting to see him reproduce the exact vocal cadences in his attempts at deep musings on the Bard that he uses to hawk cheap wine.

Orson Welles, literally insane genius and heavy user of the tangent

Welles displaces a great cubic capacity of air in this proto-commentary track/homemade collage video essay.

I leave you with a confession: This hasn’t been as easy as I could’ve wished. There are too many regrets, too many things I wish I could’ve done over again. If it wasn’t a memory, if it was a project with a future, talking about Othello would’ve been nothing but delight. Promises are more fun than explanations. With all my heart I wish that I wasn’t looking back at Othello, but looking forward to it... That Othello, would be one hell of a picture.

*lights cigar

*puff

Good night.

Orson Welles, greatest Shakespeare professor of all time

It’s an insane ego trip of a DVD featurette but that’s why it’s great. I feel like it does elevate Othello a bit for me and Welles’ performance in this, and it definitely is a performance, is good all on its own. This would be a good thing to show English class that are reading the play, the discussion between Orson and the two old theatre guys is fantastic.

Of course only Welles could make a bonus extra which stands as arguably a greater work than the original film. This is much more mercurial in its greatness than F for Fake, even if it’s just as beloved by the Welles fans who know it. The man did talk well, but also here in the reliable Gary Graver’s rich cinematic framings, he may be even more beautiful than he is in Fake.

It’s everything we love about Welles: raconteuring, baroque framing, outlandish and unlikely tales, the stitching together of a scene across multiple locations, and the contradictory curmudgeonly warmth Welles deployed to his admirers and analysers.