☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Filming
Othello (1978) – O. Welles
Orson Welles’ final film to be released to
the public (at least until the soon-to-be-completed The Other Side of the Wind)
was a “conversation” about the making of his version of Shakespeare’s Othello,
which he shot nearly 30 years earlier. An
essay film in the mould of his excellent F for Fake (1973), it mixes found
footage with new material and a great deal of Welles speaking directly to the
camera in front of his old moviola (presaging a heartfelt ode to the role of
editing in the cinema). Welles is a
charismatic raconteur and a bit of a charlatan and his stories and anecdotes
about the past production, itself a miracle of shoe-string budget magic and
amazing visual design, held this viewer’s attention rapt. (Indeed, I actually saw this on the big
screen about 15 years ago and despite its central focus on talking heads, it
was worth it). The film breaks neatly
into three parts: 1) Welles’ introduction
to Othello and his stories about it (shot originally as a preface for a German
TV showing of the film); 2) a recording of a luncheon with Michael MacLiammoir
and Hilton Edwards, two stars of the film and Welles’ mentors at Dublin’s Gate
Theatre, where they talk about the production; and 3) Welles’ vigorous readings
of several of the key speeches from the play.
Sounds straightforward but Welles could not help but engage in a little
of the trickery that enabled him to make Othello such a success despite being
filmed across several years in disparate locations with and without actors and
their costumes: apparently, he filmed his contributions to the luncheon with
his friends a number of months later and inserted himself into the footage.
Best shot: when he breaks out the wine
and they all drink a toast!
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