Discovering Orson Welles

Discovering Orson Welles by Rosenbaum, Jonathan. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780520251236.

Of the dozens of books written about Orson Welles, most focus on the central enigma of Welless career: why did someone so extravagantly talented neglect to finish so many projects? Film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum has long believed that to dwell on this aspect of the Welles canon is to overlook the wealth of information available by studying the unrealized works. Discovering Orson Welles collects Rosenbaums writings to date on Welles―some thirty-five years of them―and makes an irrefutable case for the seriousness of his work, illuminating both Welles the artist and Welles the man. The book is also a chronicle of Rosenbaums highly personal writers journey and his efforts to arrive at the truth. The essays, interviews, and reviews are arranged chronologically and are accompanied by commentary that updates the scholarship. Highlights include Rosenbaums 1972 interview with Welles about his first Hollywood project, Heart of Darkness; Rosenbaums rebuttal to Pauline Kaels famous essay "Raising Kane"; detailed essays and comprehensive discussions of Welless major unfinished work, including two unrealized projects, The Big Brass Ring and The Cradle Will Rock; and an account of Rosenbaums work as consultant on the 1998 re-editing of Touch of Evil, based on a studio memo by Welles.