The Orson Welles Centenary

May 6, 2015 is Orson Welles' 100th birthday. Let us revisit the life of this enormously talented director, actor and producer with bits of trivia.

via sightandsound.org

• February 8, 1940 - The Milwaukee Journal reports that the citizens of Kenosha, WI dislike a magazine portrayal of their native son, Orson Welles. The piece shows him as extravagant and spoiled, but  Kenoshians set the record straight.

• January 1941 - The director sends out a press release explaining Citizen Kane.

• September 1943 - The star puts on a magic act for the troops. Rita Hayworth and Joseph Cotton are on hand.

• October 1, 1963 - Welles fights bulls in Spain for charity.

• November 1972 - Orson Welles stars in The Man Who Came to Dinner for a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. Also stars Joan Collins, Lee Remick  and Don Knots as the doctor.

• May 1985 - Bob Thomas catches up with the filmmaker for his birthday. The star isn't talking to press but his companion does. The article describes Welles' projects, including the status of The Other Side of the Wind, and Welles' method of dieting, which includes having someone taste fatty foods and describe them to him.

• October 10, 1985 - Orson Welles dies. It's a huge front page news event.

• October 15, 1985 - The last appearance of Welles on film airs. The star introduces a noir episode of the TV show, "Moonlighting," starring Bruce Willis.

• On his birthday in 1987, the American director's daughter, Beatrice, buries his ashes in a dry well on the private property of his friend, retired toreador, Antonio Ordoñez.

• Orson Welles' last, unfinished film, The Other Side of the Wind,  which was slated to be released on  the director's centenary (May 6, 2015), is still in production, according to Wellesnet. There is a funding issue which still needs sorting. The film, shot in the 1970s and starring any number of celebrities, including Natalie Wood, follows the decay of Hollywood.

• Wellesnet shares an extensive list of  Centennial events for the director. This includes the celebration by TCM. Turner Classic Movies airs Welles' movies every Friday during the month of May. 

Quote

"I passionately hate the idea of being with it; I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time."

Further Resources:

• Review of the sensitive war film Tomorrow is Forever, starring Welles and Claudette Colbert
• Review of The Long, Hot Summer, starring Welles and Paul Newman
• Would Welles have been an internet star today?