| | As Marlene Dietrich said in the last shot of his Hollywood career: "He was some kind of man... what does it matter what you say about people?" He's a reasonable pick as most gifted man of the 20th century yet he accomplished so little. He was an art martyr who caused almost all of his own problems. Welles' career covers the same years as borderline kook cult director Sam Fuller. Because Fuller was focused and confident he managed to make many 1945-1960 movies in Hollywood with great artistic control. Welles, twice as smart and three times as talented, somehow couldn't figure out how to gain control over a single Hollywood movie during that span! But CITIZEN KANE, THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI and TOUCH OF EVIL are unparalleled. Welles was the Babe Ruth of cinema. Like Ruth, his accomplishments were quickly rivaled, but only after he demonstrated what was even possible. A gifted actor, Welles was profligate as a professional celebrity but unfocused as an artist, appearing in 100+ movies, but directing only about 3 or 4 great films. Welles was a brilliant radio impresario before going Hollywood, and he revolutionized the use of sound in film. (International film critics deserve much credit for recognizing Welles' greatness because you have to keep your ears open during a Welles film. He used overlapping dialogue like music and it's hard to imagine getting the full effect without native fluency in English.) View: Career Overview and Opinionated Commentary |
