TMI (Today’s Movie Info)
February: Director’s Month
ORSON WELLES (1915-1985) directed what many consider to be the greatest film ever, Citizen Kane (1941). Amazingly, it was his first feature film and he was only 26 years old. He won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, but the Best Picture went to How Green Was My Valley … and not Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon or Suspicion. Welles is one of the few writer/directors whose work has become more appreciated over time … many of his films were box office failures. He was also a prolific actor and radio personality, and is still remembered for his Halloween prank gone bad … the radio rendition of “The War of the Worlds”, in which many listening actually thought aliens had invaded earth. Welles was also a talented musician, painter and magician. His other must-see film is Touch of Evil (1958). He turned down the offer to be the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars (James Earl Jones accepted). Commenting on his early career success, he said “I started at the top and worked down.” In the late 70’s and early 80’s, Welles became the commercial spokesperson for Paul Masson wine … his “we shall sell no wine before it’s time” became the stuff of advertising legend. Watch one of the ads:
Movie Reviews from the Dark 