Orson Welles

Rating:
Summary: Welles is his own words, almost.
Review: 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