Orson Welles

Orson Welles (1915-1985) was an American actor, director, writer and producer. His first film was Citizen Kane (1941), consistently ranked as one of the greatest films ever made, which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in as Charles Foster Kane. Welles released twelve other feature films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), The Trial (1962), Chimes at Midnight (1966) and F for Fake (1973). Throughout his career, Welles and his financiers, whether Hollywood studios or independent producers in Europe, fought over creative control. In 1984, the Directors Guild of America awarded him the D.W. Grifith Award.

Orson Welles, 1992
Introduction by Jonathan Rosenbaum
ARTICLE
05.08.2015
EN

In almost every instance of this kind – that is to say, where there’s simply a difference of taste between your editing and mine – I have resigned myself to the futility of discussion, and will spare you my comments. In most cases, I can see, or guess, the point of view which has motivated the change, even when I don’t happen, personally, to agree with it. But in some few instances, the point of view remains completely mysterious to me, and in those cases where the improvement is not apparent, and where I cannot fathom the reasons for alteration, I’m registering, as I do here, my objections.

Orson Welles, 1958
ARTICLE
20.07.2016
NL FR EN

À quoi renvoyons-nous exactement quand nous parlons de l’avancée mondiale des cinémas ? L’obsession inévitable des statistiques ? Un individu assis dans une chaise et une salle. En le multipliant par quelques millions, on obtient toujours le même spectateur, mais au pluriel. Inconscient de son importance statistique, ses rêves gardent leurs dimensions humaines. Aucun écran géant ne fera de lui un homme géant. Il n’est pas un géant, il est seulement nombreux.

Orson Welles, 1958
ARTICLE
06.05.2015
NL FR EN

Waarnaar refereren we als we verwijzen naar de wereldwijde opmars van de cinema’s, dat onvermijdelijke verzinsel van de statistiek? Neem een individuele toeschouwer op een enkel zitje in een zaal. Vermenigvuldig hem met een paar miljoen en wat krijg je? Slechts diezelfde toeschouwer in veelvoud. Onbewust van zijn belang voor de statistieken, hangen zijn dromen hardnekkig af van de klassieke mensenmaat. Geen enkel superscherm zal hem tot superman maken. Hij is geen reus, hij is alleen talrijk.

Orson Welles, 1958
ARTICLE
06.05.2015
NL FR EN

What are we referring to when we speak of the world march of the cinemas, that indispensable figment of statistics? An individual sitting in a seat, in a hall. Multiply him by quite a few millions and what do you get more than the same spectator in the plural? Unconscious of his statistical importance his dreams depend obstinately on the old human scale. No super-screen will make him a superman. He is no giant, he is only numerous.