Orson Welles: A Biography

by Barbara Leaming

Book Overview

.,."[A] beautifully researched, valuable study of one of America's most influential and mysterious artists. ...[What] makes this book remarkable is Welles's own contribution. His comments, opinions, interviews cut in and out of the narrative with an almost cinematic force." -Patricia Bosworth

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670528951
• ISBN13: 9780670528950
• Release Date: September 1985
• Publisher: Viking
• Length: 562 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 1.0" x 1.0"

Customer Reviews

Boy Wonder, Cinematic Genius, Exile, Spendthrift, Failure, All of the Above

I have read several books about Orson Welles, including biographies, critical reviews and essays. What sets this volume apart is the biographer had complete access to Welles and the cooperation of his many associates. While the biography is thorough, some readers may complain that it is not entirely free of meandering. Of course, others may argue that the digressions on the part of Welles may be the best parts. Too many people recall Welles as the overweight commerial pitchman for Paul Masson wines and as a late night television guest. I was surprised to learn, therefore, that the first book that Welles (as a high school student) authored was a popular instructional manual for coaches on successful basketball techniques! Leaming reminds us that in his prime, Welles was a handsome and much sought after celebrity who managed to conduct romances with many of Hollywood's top female stars. Thrice married, Welles' most notable bride was Rita Hayworth. He also struggled against considerable odds to produce a dozen motion pictures inside and outside of the studio system while begging for the funds to complete his projects. Welles was a prolific writer who continually revised his scripts (much to his producers' dismay), punched out a syndicated newspaper column and produced a novel. Contrary to critic Pauline Kael's influential essay, Welles did have a hand in writing the screenplay of "Citizen Kane." Great fun.

Orson Welles and Magic

I have always been a fan of Orson Welles on radio and television. Having collected a ton of radio broadcasts on CD and audio cassette and having watched most of his movies, I appreciate the genius of his work. I picked up a copy of this book recently and am amazed at the amount of research put into it. An aspect of Welles rarely discussed is his magic career. At the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention this September in Aberdeen, Maryland, I plan to attend the presentation about Orson Welles and his magic career so I can watch rare footage and films with Welles, and get an even deeper insight to his trickery. Book comes recommended.

The Only Biography from Welles's Perspective

There are many biographies of Orson Welles but only one was written with his cooperation. Welles never wrote his autobiography past his childhood, so along with This Is Orson Welles, this is all we have to judge his life from, using his words. Despite the book's many flaws, most glaringly without details about many of Welles's most important films and with only bar and the fact that Leaming does seem to be very obsequious toward her subject, it still captures much of his personal life, especially with Rita Hayward. Overall, the book is intoxicating and a very compelling read considering the many other biographies about Welles, most of which are full of hyperbole and outright lies about the man, his life and his work. To get the best idea of Welles, read this book along with This Is Orson Welles, to get an idea about Welles's ideas about his movie and stage careers, Citizen Welles which is a fair overview of his life without hyperbole and Whatever Happened to Orson Welles, which focuses on Welles's career from the 1960s to his death. All of which add up to get a real picture of this man who created some of the greatest films of the 20th century and wanted to be a mystery above all other things.

Welles is his own words, almost.

Barbara Lemmings' biography on Orson Welles is one of the most gripping accounts of the late, famous radio, tv and screen personality. It delves deeply into his youth and life before he shocked the world with Citizen Kane. The most fascinating aspect of this book is that it was written with the assistance of Welles, therefore it is almost an autobiography with areas and events fleshed out by Welles' contemporaries, business associates and friends. Hearing Welles comment on events in his life puts a different spin on the legend and no doubt makes the reader rethink what ever opinions s/he had on Welles. One possible down side for film buffs is that production information on Welles' films is scantly touched on, but considering this book is about his life as whole, not just the brillinat films he intermitantly made, one shouldn't be too disappointed. One excellent point of the book is the production detail in which Welles' final film, The Other Side of the Wind, a possible masterpiece was put together, then unceremoniously taken away from him and lost (which is the story of his entire film directing career) to the world. After finishing the text, one will be left with a sense of wonder, sadness and disappointment in regards to Welles' life which turns out to be tragic in nature