Orson Welles, indie filmaker. Biography

Orson Welles. (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) Though little appreciated in his time, Orson Welles is today one of classic Hollywood's most acclaimed cinematic visionaries and was once nominated for Academy Awards in four separate categories for his contribution to one film (see below). Always an outsider to the studio system which dominated filmmaking at the time however, Welles never condescended to play by Hollywood's rules and his arduous four-decade career was pocked with moments of brilliance, excess and waste.
CITIZEN KANE (1941). Welles produced, directed and starred in this classic which was nominated for nine Academy Awards, four of which Welles shared in: Best Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. The film won only one of the Oscars for which is was nominated however, that for the screenplay co-written by Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz.

Filmography

• Hearts of Age (1934) - Welles's first film, a silent one-reeler made at age 18.
• Too Much Johnson (1938) - assorted scenes to accompany stage play, all footage now lost
• Citizen Kane (1941) - won Oscar for Best Writing (Original Screenplay); nominated for Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Director.
• Tanks (film) (1942) - Film unknown, valued at 18 million dollars, one of the three copies are available in Argentina, in the Archives of Roberto Di Chiara.
• The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) - nominated for Oscar for Best Picture; shortened and recut against Welles's wishes, excised footage lost
• The Stranger (1946) - nominated for Oscar
• The Lady from Shanghai (1947) - shortened and recut against Welles' wishes but with his cooperation, excised footage lost
• Macbeth (1948) - shortened and recut by Welles at studio's request, restored to original version in the 1970s
• Othello (1952) - won the Palme d'Or, 1952 Cannes Film Festival
• Mr. Arkadin (also known as Confidential Report) (1955) - shortened and recut against Welles' wishes, extended Criterion restoration released in April 2006.
• Touch of Evil (1958) - won the top-prize at the Brussels World's Fair; shortened against Welles's wishes, some of Welles' requested editorial changes made in 1998
• The Trial (1962)
• Chimes at Midnight (1965)
• The Immortal Story (1968) - T.V. film only broadcasted in France
• F for Fake (also known as Vérités et mensonges) (1974) - Documentary
• The Orson Welles Show (1979) - Welles directed as G.O. Spelvin. Unaired TV show with Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickinson, Frank Oz, Jim Henson