Orson Welles: The Paris Interview

Orson Welles aficionados will be pleased to discover this rare 1960 interview shot in a Paris hotel suite and originally broadcast on Canadian television, in which the renowned writer/actor/director discusses his career, critics, political interests, desire to live in Spain, and other topics. Unfortunately, in much of the conversation he appears polite but unenthusiastic (it's obvious that he would prefer not to answer another round of questions about Citizen Kane or his reputation for being reckless). Furthermore, interviewer Bernard Braden seems to have only a passing knowledge of the breadth of Welles' professional life (he seems unaware of Welles' work in theater, for example), and the interviewer makes several statements that Welles rejects with befuddlement, particularly the odd observation that Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud did not have robust theatrical voices. On the other hand, Welles speaks passionately about his then-current production of Don Quixote, recalls how Charlie Chaplin originally meant to have Welles direct him in Monsieur Verdoux (Chaplin eventually directed himself), and makes many amusing comments, such as complaining that modern-day Rome is turning into “Philadelphia with spaghetti.” Ultimately, however, this long-unseen interview will be of interest to only the most devoted of Welles completists. Optional. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)