Working with Orson Welles
by Gary Graver

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DVD Reviews of Working with Orson Welles

DVD Review: Working with Orson Welles
Summary: 3 Stars

DVD Review: Riding the coat tails
Summary: 2 Stars

There are some screen test shots of Welles from "F for Fake," which would be fascinating if only Graver didn't talk all over them. But that sets the tone for the whole documentary: Graver talking over Welles, and stretching his association with him far beyond any purpose other than to toot his own horn. Included, for no good reason, are the first short film Graver ever made, a preview for Oda Kounar's "Jaded," and various other clips and anecdotes that have nothing whatsoever to do with Welles.

Peter Bogdanovich lends a small bit of credibilty with his comments. He's probably the only person (other than Stacy Keach) you will recognize. Peter Jason needed to dial it down a bit; he was a little too enthusiastic.

I did enjoy one thing: a short clip of Orson from "The Tonight Show," performing magic tricks (with Graver included---naturally---as the supposedly random audience member), which was charming.

As another reviewer mentioned, this one is really for Welles fanatics only. I enjoyed seeing Orson in ways I hadn't before; when I got to see him at all, that is.

DVD Review: Document of the last 15 years of the life
Summary: 4 Stars

DVD Review: For Welles Fanatics Only
Summary: 2 Stars

WORKING WITH ORSON WELLES is Graver's take on that body of unfinished work. Sight unseen, you might expect some clips from THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, THE DREAMERS, KING LEAR, and perhaps even DON QUIXOTE. Unfortunately, perhaps for legal reasons, this work is short on such items.

In fact, WORKING WITH WELLES is short on Welles himself. Oh, there are stories...lots of stories...Graver interviews several people involved in the filming of WIND and talks endlessly himself about how much of an honor it was to work with the Man. But in the end, these interviews with Peter Bogdanovich, Cameron Mitchell, Frank Marshall, and others get rather dull. And Graver's canned introductions are even harder to take.

There are some interesting snippets of Welles working in Italy, and the inclusion of the trailer for F FOR FAKE is nice, but two of Gravers' short films seem to be here for no other reason than Graver feels that they should be seen (ditto the trailer for Oja Kodar's JADED, a film it seems she was able to make solely on the strength of her association with Welles).

In short, then, WORKING WITH ORSON WELLES is a curio for Welles fanatics only. Others will find it somewhat less than interesting.

Description of Working with Orson Welles

General DVDs

• Genres > Documentary
• Biography
• Educational
• Special Interests > Art & Artists