The Film History of Orson Welles Quiz

Answer: Yes

One can hardly say enough in praise of the 26-year old Orson Welles who, following the success of his popular radio program and stage plays, was able to parlay his cumulative critical accolades into a big studio contract. Given carte blanche by RKO Radio Pictures to produce this film, Welles (and all those involved) proceeded to create in 1941 what many call the greatest American film. Despite the excellence of the film, it caused a firestorm of controversy, especially as a result of the fact that it obviously put William Randolph Hearst's life in a negative light. Hearst would cause Welles great trouble as a result of this picture, so much so that Welles' Hollywood directing career would sputter out after a few short years.

For more on 'Citizen Kane', why not try my series of quizzes on the film? Proceed to this link immediately if you want to see more:

http://www.funtrivia.com/quizlistgold.cfm?cat=4424

Answer: The Magnificent Ambersons

Orson Welles' 'The Magnificent Ambersons' was released in 1942. The version of this film currently extant is missing approximately 50 minutes from Welles' original cut (and contains a happy ending not approved of by Welles), as RKO decided to remove his total creative license following the controversy caused by 'Citizen Kane'.

Another interesting tidbit...there is a rumor that Booth Tarkington based the character George from the book on Welles himself, being the recalcitrant child that he was. Apparently, Tarkington was a Welles family friend.

Answer: False

Oddly enough, this is not true. Rather, the Welles film was based on a story by Victor Trivas about a Nazi war criminal who has hidden himself away in the United States. This was the first Welles-directed film to feature studio actors (Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young, among others). It was also the first post-World War II film to include Nazi Holocaust footage.

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Now working for Columbia Pictures, Orson Welles was able to create this marvelous film using many of his personal favorite actors, and Rita Hayworth to boot! As with 'Ambersons', this film was manipulated quite a lot by the producers, who made several film edits, and forced Welles to include more close-up shots of Hayworth. Regardless, the final product is still enjoyable to behold.

Answer: Orson Welles

Roddy McDowall also appeared in the film as Malcolm, while Erskine Sanford, a regular player in Welles' films, played Duncan (Another Welles regular, Cotten did not appear). Welles' himself took the challenge of playing the Scottish nobleman Macbeth and did so triumphantly. People forget that Welles was an excellent actor along with being an almost unparalleled auteur.

Answer: Othello

The full English language title for Welles' Othello was 'The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice'. No longer connected to any Hollywood studio, the film was produced with great difficulty by Welles himself. He received funding from various sources, many European, and finally finished the film by using the salary he received from films like 'The Third Man'. The daring Welles once again played the lead role and succeeded brilliantly.

Answer: Mr. Arkadin

Filmed entirely in Europe, where Welles worked for most of the 1950s, Mr. Arkadin was funded by French and Spanish donors. Based on a novel written by Welles, it tells the story of an American ex-pat in Europe who is hired to investigate the life of a mysterious and very wealthy man named Arkadin.

In some ways, the story has parellels with 'Kane'. Again, Welles appears in the title role, this time as the eccentric Arkadin.

Answer: Charlton Heston

Not only did Charlton Heston co-star with Welles, he was also responsible for getting Welles hired as the director. Welles was merely set to star in this picture, produced by Universal Pictures, but Heston had signed on to the film under the impression that Welles was to be the director, and insisted that the latter be allowed to perform directing duties.

Unfortunately, despite this good-natured gesture by Heston, Welles again found himself frequently annoyed by pestering studio executives. He typically filmed at night in order to avoid interference by envoys from the studio, but alas this film was not able to escape the meddlesome editing that seems inevitable with Hollywood productions. Interestingly enough, Welles wrote an angry letter to the studio insisting that his original cut be restored. It turns out that Heston ultimately came into possession of this letter, and when the film came out in re-release in 1998, a version more faithful to Welles' original was offered to the public. This and 'Ben Hur' were the two greatest things Mr. Heston has done...thank you sir!

Answer: Franz Kafka

If you haven't seen 'The Trial', a film based on the hauntingly brilliant work by Kafka, you must. Starring Anthony Hopkins as Josef K. and Orson Welles as Hastler, it tells the tale of a man accused of and put on trial for a crime he has not committed...in fact, he is never even told what the crime is!

This film is a work of cinematic surrealism that must be seen to be believed. Welles himself considered 'The Trial' to be his masterpiece.

Answer: It's All True

In 1942, Welles was sent by RKO pictures, at the behest of Nelson Rockefeller, to shoot a documentary film in South America. The producers expected that Orson Welles would film something like a travel picture, jaunting from one large city to another. Instead, Welles spent his time documenting the life of the average citizens in Brazil. When RKO discovered what Welles was up to (and after hearing strange rumors of Welles' behavior) they stopped his funding and forced the director's return to the United States.

A great deal of the footage he shot during his foray into Latin America was worked into the 1993 release 'It's All True', a documentary that attempts to investigate Welles' South American efforts.

Thank you for trying this quiz, I hope you enjoyed it and learned as much as I did. If you did appreciate it, I would suggest trying some of my other quizzes.