Orson Welles: A Biography Summary and Reviews

Orson Welles: A Biography
by Barbara Leaming

Orson Welles: A Biography
List Price: $20.00
Our Price: $11.49
You Save: $8.51 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.40 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Barbara Leaming
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-07-01
ISBN: 0879101997
Number of pages: 578
Publisher: Limelight Editions

Book Reviews of Orson Welles: A Biography

Book Review: Boy Wonder, Cinematic Genius, Exile, Spendthrift, Failure, All of the Above
Summary: 4 Stars

I have read several books about Orson Welles, including biographies, critical reviews and essays. What sets this volume apart is the biographer had complete access to Welles and the cooperation of his many associates.

While the biography is thorough, some readers may complain that it is not entirely free of meandering. Of course, others may argue that the digressions on the part of Welles may be the best parts. Too many people recall Welles as the overweight commerial pitchman for Paul Masson wines and as a late night television guest. I was surprised to learn, therefore, that the first book that Welles (as a high school student) authored was a popular instructional manual for coaches on successful basketball techniques! Leaming reminds us that in his prime, Welles was a handsome and much sought after celebrity who managed to conduct romances with many of Hollywood's top female stars. Thrice married, Welles' most notable bride was Rita Hayworth. He also struggled against considerable odds to produce a dozen motion pictures inside and outside of the studio system while begging for the funds to complete his projects.

Welles was a prolific writer who continually revised his scripts (much to his producers' dismay), punched out a syndicated newspaper column and produced a novel. Contrary to critic Pauline Kael's influential essay, Welles did have a hand in writing the screenplay of "Citizen Kane."

Great fun.

Theater Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Theater Books
Looking Out: Perspectives on Dance and Criticism in a Multicultural World ImageLooking Out: Perspectives on Dance and Criticism in a Multicultural World
Macmillan Pub Co; Published: 1995-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $110.64
Directors on Directing: A Source Book of the Modern Theatre ImageDirectors on Directing: A Source Book of the Modern Theatre
by Toby Cole, Helen Krich Chinoy
Allyn & Bacon; Published: 1963-01-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $92.40
Price in other shops: $142.80
Voice and the Actor ImageVoice and the Actor
by Cicely Berry
Wiley; Published: 1991-07-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $12.95
A Trip to the Light Fantastic: Travels With a Mexican Circus ImageA Trip to the Light Fantastic: Travels With a Mexican Circus
by Katie Hickman
Harpercollins; Published: 1995-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.00
Who On Earth Is Tom Baker? An Autobiography ImageWho On Earth Is Tom Baker? An Autobiography
by Tom Baker
Harper Collins, 1997; Published: 1997; Hardcover; Book
Who on Earth Is Tom Baker? ImageWho on Earth Is Tom Baker?
by Tom Baker
Harpercollins Audio; Published: 1997-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $133.82
Streisand: A Biography ImageStreisand: A Biography
by Anne Edwards
Little Brown & Co (T); Published: 1997-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops: $24.95
The Orton Diaries ImageThe Orton Diaries
by Joe Orton
Da Capo Press; Published: 1996-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.48
Price in other shops: $18.00
Understanding Movies (12th Edition) ImageUnderstanding Movies (12th Edition)
by Louis Giannetti
Allyn & Bacon; Published: 2010-01-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $74.98
Price in other shops: $105.40
The Theater Experience Tenth Edition ImageThe Theater Experience Tenth Edition
by Edwin Wilson
McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; Published: 2005-12-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $50.00
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
It's All True ImageIt's All True
Paramount; Release date: 2004-11-30; DVD
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops: $14.98
Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition) ImageCitizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Citizen; Release date: 2001-09-25; DVD
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops: $26.98
America in the Seventies (Culture America) ImageAmerica in the Seventies (Culture America)
University Press of Kansas; Published: 2004-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.97
Price in other shops: $16.95
F for Fake (The Criterion Collection) ImageF for Fake (The Criterion Collection)
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2005-04-26; DVD
Best price: $23.51
Price in other shops: $39.95
Citizen Welles: A Biography of Orson Welles ImageCitizen Welles: A Biography of Orson Welles
by Frank Brady
Anchor; Published: 1990-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.44
Orson Welles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers) ImageOrson Welles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers)
University Press of Mississippi; Published: 2002-02-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.33
Price in other shops: $25.00
In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles ImageIn My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles
by Chris Welles Feder
Algonquin Books; Published: 2009-10-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops: $24.95
Orson Welles: Volume 2: Hello Americans ImageOrson Welles: Volume 2: Hello Americans
by Simon Callow
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2007-11-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $18.00
This Is Orson Welles ImageThis Is Orson Welles
by Orson Welles, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Rosenbaum
Da Capo Press; Published: 1998-03-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.63
Price in other shops: $24.00
Orson Welles: Volume 1: The Road to Xanadu ImageOrson Welles: Volume 1: The Road to Xanadu
by Simon Callow
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1997-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.22
Price in other shops: $18.00