Description
From the British Film Institute:
MAGICIAN
The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
WITH OPTIONAL SUBTITLES. No of discs: 1. Colour and Black & White. Biography.
Director: Chuck Workman Running Time: approx 87 mins. Year: 2014.
Directed by Oscar®-winning documentary filmmaker Chuck Workman, Magician explores the life and career of Orson Welles, taking the viewer on a wild journey through his accomplished career in theatre and radio; and in film and television – both in Hollywood and
in Europe. With new interviews with Welles authorities, including Simon Callow and Peter Bogdanovich; and illustrated with a wealth of
archival material and film extracts, Magician reveals a pioneering, uncompromising artist who, although misunderstood in his own time, is now rightfully lauded as a master of his art.
Remembered for his innovative work in radio, theatre and film, Welles is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, whose works included Touch of Evil, F for Fake and The Immortal Story.
Welles’ remarkable life began as a musical prodigy at age 10, a director of Shakespeare at 14, a painter at 16, a star of stage and radio at 20, and a filmmaker at 25 with the groundbreaking Citizen Kane.
An outsider to the studio system, Welles struggled for creative control on his early projects with the major film studios in Hollywood and later in life with independent financiers across Europe, where he spent most of his career. Many of his films remain unreleased.
Magician features scenes from almost every Welles film plus clips from his television and commercial work. There are interviews with Welles and his family plus Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Richard Linklater.
Extras:
• Original theatrical trailer
• A conversation with director Chuck Workman (2014, 9 mins).
Film scholar Annette Insdorf interviews the award winning director.
• A Personal Appreciation of Orson Welles by Simon Callow (2015, 31 mins).
An insightful interview with the acclaimed actor and Welles biographer.
• Fully illustrated booklet with an essay by Paul Fairclough and full film credits.
