The first was orson welles sketch book, a series of six 15minute shows featuring welles drawing in a sketchbook to illustrate his reminiscences for the camera including such topics as the filming of its all true and the isaac woodard case, and the second was around the world with orson welles, a series of six travelogues set in different. Twentyfour years after his death at 70, welles is more than ever a great man. Orson welles is alive and well and residing in the body of british actor christian mckay. Welles and the theater are not heroes at all in this telling. A novel and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Me and orson welles by richard linklater starring zac efron. Orson welles 1937 staging of julius caesar for his newly founded mercury theatre is widely regarded as one of the most audacious, memorable, and exciting plays ever performed in america. Goodreads members who liked me and orson welles also liked. It is based on a novel regarding the circumstances surrounding welles s 1937 production of william shakespeares julius caesar for the mercury theatre, and stars christian mckay, claire danes, and zac efron. Orson welles and shakespeare folger shakespeare library. And he did a lot of research into orson welles and they wrote the book me and orson welles.
Dec 10, 2003 me and orson welles author robert kaplow came across a black and white photo of a young boy on stage with orson welles in a 1937 production of julius caesar. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. See all books authored by orson welles, including this is orson welles, and citizen kane, and more on. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama that overcomes its sometimes fluffy tone. Documentary charting welless attempts to attract funding for the sacred beasts, later made as the other side of the wind. When i saw the trailer for the upcoming film me and orson welles, i knew i had to read the book on which the movie is based. This is the period of my fathers youth, and the novel is dedicated to him, as his spirit and humor invigorate. From 1983 until just before his death, in 1985, at the age of seventy, orson welles met his friend, the director henry jaglom, for lunch nearly every week at the hollywood restaurant ma maison. The story of a whirlwind week in 1937 nyc when a young aspiring actor zac efron is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the opening of welles historic staging of shakespeares julius caesar.
Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Richard linkletter, the director of the film, saw the show, thats where he found mckay, and. Orson welles dramatic anthology series mercury theatre on the air, infamous for its halloween broadcast of war of the worlds, found a sponsor and became campbell playhouse in december 1938. In the late 60s and early 70s, filmmaker peter bogdanovich had. Find books like me and orson welles from the worlds largest community of readers. After a chance encounter with a theatre company outside a derelict theatre, the mercury, richard soon finds himself inside chatting with orson welles, the director of broadways first shakespearean production, julius caesar. Mar 17, 2011 highschooler richard samuels lucks into a role in a daring broadway production of julius caesar.
The great lionel barrymore portrayed ebenezer scrooge in campbell playhouses annual performance of a. Me and orson welles stars zac efron of high school musical as richard, a 17yearold who wants to be on the broadway stage. Orson welles christian mckay uses his skills as a magician to impress lorelei lathrop imogen poots. The story looked tailormade to cater to my tastes the clothes, the music, the theater of the time period, i love it all. I was given an advance copy, a publishers proof of national public radio contributor robert kaplows novel me and orson welles that was found on the dollar table of a local used book store. Robert kaplow richard is a 17yearold kid from new jersey with the gift of the gab and an eye for the ladies. Me and orson welles is a 2009 american film directed by richard linklater about the life of a high school student, richard, who gets a part in orson welles production of julius caesar at the mercury theatre. This summary of me and orson welles includes a complete plot overview spoilers included.
Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to perform in orson welles s groundbreaking stage adaptation of william shakespeares julius caesar. A novel paperback june 28, 2005 by robert kaplow author. The impersonation of welles by christian mckay in me and orson welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. Bond was a 22yearold film school student when he was hired by welles longtime private secretary, ann rogers, to deliver ten 400foot rolls of 35mm film, and 100 no 1 montecristo havana cigars to welles in yugoslavia, where the. Me and orson welles, by robert kaplow the independent.
Robert kaplow, who teaches english at summit high school, is the author of a novel, me and orson welles, that has just been made into a movie starring claire danes and zac efron. Yet marymount university professor marguerite rippy doubts that welles could have fully anticipated such a response. Mckay is simply stunning here as welles the look, the eyebrow, the mannerisms, the bounce, the voice never have i seen welles, as a character, better done. Zac efron at the me and orson welles uk premiere film. For example, when a couple of actors are talking with efron and saying that in a book, all. But his staging of julius caesar as a mirror of contemporary fascist politics was certainly a modernist coup which helped galvanize attention towards the rising horrors of totalitarianism abroad. C entred around welles s 1937 production of julius caesar at new yorks mercury theatre, which pared down shakespeares play to 94 minutes and disposed of. Jun 28, 2005 when i saw the trailer for the upcoming film me and orson welles, i knew i had to read the book on which the movie is based. Coming in 2009, the major motion picture from the director of slacker the irresistible story of a stagestruck boy coming of age in the golden era of broadwaywith some very famous supporting characters me and orson welles is a romantic farce that reads like a whos who of the classic american theater.
Orson welles talks about citizen kane in 11minute 1960 interview duration. Me and orson welles is one of those books that starts off a bit strange but by the end i was really enjoying it. Orson welles s most popular book is this is orson welles. Centred around welless 1937 production of julius caesar at new yorks mercury theatre, which pared down shakespeares play to 94. Why orson welles lived a life like no other books the. Sep 08, 2008 me and orson welles is an agreeable, reasonably convincing imagining of the circumstances surrounding welles legendary staging of julius caesar. Me and orson welles is a 2008 period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay, and claire danes. Orson welles books list of books by author orson welles. Welles never quite lived up to his early promise, and must have been very difficult to work with. People try to act like he has more artistic intentionality than perhaps he does, says rippy, who wrote about the war of the worlds in her 2009 book orson welles and the unfinished rko projects. In 1992, the first publication of this is orson welles brought a priceless document to light.
This is orson welles is a 1992 book by orson welles 19151985 and peter bogdanovich that comprises conversations between the two filmmakers recorded over several years, beginning in 1969 xxiv the wideranging volume encompasses welless life and his own stage, radio and film work as well as his insights on the work of others. This, in fact, is the uk premiere of me and orson welles, the new film from richard linklater. Me and orson welles a schoolboy stumbles upon a major role in welles s production of julius caesar in this sublime adaptation of robert kaplows book philip french critic of the year. Me and orson welles is an enchanting comingofage story set in 1930s. Allstarrko i was determined that, unlike the laughton book for which i had simply seen all the films, read all the available published sources and. Although the poster makes me and orson welles out to be a tribute to welles and the magic of peforming, it is much darker than that. Apr 29, 2018 dorian bond, who worked as a personal assistant for orson welles during a yearlong stint 50 years ago, has written a book recounting those days, me and mr. Me and orson welles is a 2008 britishamerican period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay, and claire danes. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama. He does resemble the boy genius a bit but more crucially. Richard samuels 17 is bored with school and dreams of treading the boards on broadway. The movie me and orson welles feels like it has a similar trajectory. Books by orson welles author of this is orson welles. In 1999, michael anderegg, then a professor at the university of north dakota, explored all the elements of orson welless mission to save shakespeare and put it down in a book, orson welles, shakespeare, and popular culture.
Me and orson welles reflects a lifelong interest in the theatre and in the 1930s. My main issue was the thrownin quotes from various plays that seemed to create a disjointedness when reading. Kaplow had previously published only young adult titles. Sketches and drawings from the welles estate, to be published by titan books on 19 february.
Toronto at the heart of me and orson welles is an uncanny impersonation of the young orson welles by english actor christian mckay. Author of me and orson welles is a teacher in summit the new. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the. Orson welles, joseph cotten, and the mercury theater. Buy a cheap copy of this is orson welles book by orson welles. Nov 22, 2009 richard linklater is keen to point out that his new film, me and orson welles, is not a biopic. Hes bored with school and dreams of making it big in the dazzling world of 1930s manhattan. While working on the production, he falls in love with sonja jones, the production assistant. The program continued to feature the charismatic and fiery welles as both a host and an actor. The war of the worlds dramatized audiobook by orson. Me and orson welles book download pdf bkcwskwkobun. So enjoyable and reviving a book should be rationed and savoured. Simon braund, author of the orson welles portfolio.
The message, to me, is that the meek shall inherit the earth. Me and orson welles is a backstage caper in which zac efron helps to put on a. We invited professor anderegg to come in and talk about some of the innovations in shakespeare that welles brought about. Coming in 2009, the major motion picture from the director of s. Me and orson welles me and orson welles orson uses magic. Me and orson welles is a 2008 period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring. Orson welles has 76 books on goodreads with 8295 ratings. Based on a historical novel by richard kaplow, it has the period details down pat, but it feels selfconsciously meticulous, unable to really enjoy its script about the backstage foibles of a theater production. Nov 25, 2009 orson welles career began with robust shakespearian orations, soared with highly touted cinematic masterpieces, floundered in later bgrade films and ended with weary, rumbling baritone hawks for frozen peas and cheap wine.
Kaplow conceived the idea for the book while being a student at rutgers university. Me and orson welles is set during the launch of the then twentytwoyearold orson. Author of me and orson welles is a teacher in summit the. Author of me and orson welles is a teacher in summit.
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