The story of a whirlwind week in 1937 nyc when a young aspiring actor zac efron is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the opening of welles historic staging of shakespeares julius caesar. I think too much is made of orson welles jumping out from behind a bush and yelling boo. And the first thing to learn is never upstage mercury theatres genius director, 22yearold orson welles. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama that overcomes its. If richard linklaters films can be divided between those that come from mainstream hollywood and those that live a little over in the margins, im not sure where me and orson welles fits. He was a master of makeup and disguise, and even when appearing in the first person, liked to use a little putty to build up a nose he considered a tad too snubbed. The strength of me and orson welles is that it sticks to welless actual production and to the life of a new theatre company. Me and orson welles a teenager is cast in a production of julius caesar directed by a young orson welles. Me and orson welles has plenty to offer fans, be they of theatre, old movies, or high school musical.
It is based on a novel regarding the circumstances surrounding welles s 1937 production of william shakespeares julius caesar for the mercury theatre, and stars christian mckay, claire danes, and zac efron. He was orphaned at 15 after his fathers death and became the ward of dr. The downloads i examined were nothing more than scams or attempts to spread malware and viruses. Orson welles was gifted in many arts magic, piano, painting as a child. Recordings of almost 4 hours of a series of interviews conducted by directorauthor bogdanovich with welles between the years 1969 and 1972. This is a movie of great spirit and considerable charm.
Best known for his airing of war of the worlds, orson welles made numerous appearances on a variety of different shows during his magnificent radio career. Richard is a student who blusters into the production on the eve of the. Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to perform in orson welles s groundbreaking stage adaptation of william shakespeares julius caesar. Dec 18, 2009 tweetemail tweetemail orson welles will probably forever be considered one, if not the best directors to ever live. More interesting facts on me and orson welles include this on your siteblog. Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to perform in orson welless groundbreaking stage adaptation of william shakespeares julius caesar. If you can tick at least one of these boxes then youre in for a good time. Claire danes costars as sonja jones, the unapologetically ambitious assistant to welles whom richard tries to woo. Not only was he an amazing director, but also an accomplished actor and in theater, film and radio. Dec 17, 2009 christian mckay stars as a young orson welles as he directs his 1937 mercury theatre production of julius caesar.
Me and orson welles is a 2009 american film directed by richard linklater about the life of a high school student, richard, who gets a part in orson welles production of julius caesar at the mercury theatre. Based in real theatrical history, me and orson welles is a comedic comingofage story about a teenage actor who lucks into a role in julius caesar as its being reimagined by a brilliant, impetuous young director named orson welles at his newlyfounded mercury theater in nyc, 1937. Student richard samuels wins a minor role in the 1937 mercury theatre production of julius caesar, directed by a youthful orson welles. Richard is a student who blusters into the production on the eve of the opening night, changing his life dramatically in one whirlwind week. In the late 60s and early 70s, filmmaker peter bogdanovich had conducted extensive interviews with welles, but a number of circumstancesincluding the directors decision to compose an autobiography that he never got. Me and orson welles is a perioddrama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay and claire danes. Starring zac efron, claire danes, and christian mckay. Toronto at the heart of me and orson welles is an uncanny impersonation of the young orson welles by english actor christian mckay. Orson welles records two songs with the 1980s heavymetal. A teenager hired to star in orson welles production of julius caesar becomes attracted to a careerdriven production assistant. Zac efron wins hearts and applause as richard, the me of this celebratory curtain call for when dreams and the theater. Discover the lost films of orson welles open culture. Efron plays a teenage student who lucks his way into a minor role in the 1937 mercury theatre production of julius caesar, directed by 22yearold genius orson welles. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama that overcomes its sometimes fluffy tone.
Set in 1937 new york, the story centers on a high school student efron who happens upon the yettoopen mercury theatre and is noticed by its mercurial founder, orson welles. It ended up sitting on the shelf for more than a year before it was finally given a pisspoor release in november 2009. When his mother died he was six he traveled the world with his father. Tweetemail tweetemail orson welles will probably forever be considered one, if not the best directors to ever live. Zac ephron, claire danes and newcomer christian mckay star in a ribald tale of a single week that changed theatre, film and american culture forever. Coming in 2009, the major motion picture from the director of slacker the irresistible story of a stagestruck boy coming of age in the golden era of broadwaywith some very famous supporting characters me and orson welles is a romantic farce that reads like a whos who of the classic. Based on a historical novel by richard kaplow, it has the period details down pat, but it feels selfconsciously meticulous, unable to really enjoy. War of the worlds 1938 radio broadcast with orson welles. Me and orson welles star to codirect with ben hecking.
Me and orson welles ultimately fails because it centers on its two least appealing characters. My main issue was the thrownin quotes from various plays that seemed to create a disjointedness when reading. Much of the troupe would later appear in welles films at rko, particularly citizen kane and the magnificent ambersons. Below is a list of orson welles films in total broken into films where orson welles served as director and as actor.
He does resemble the boy genius a bit but more crucially. His citizen kane and the magnificent ambersons are considered to be two of the greatest films ever made. Watch below the first official movie trailer of me and orson welles. Me and orson welles casts off the musty air of a handsomely mounted, tastefully dull hbo tv movie only when mckay takes center stage, as when he shocks and delights his fellow cast members in a mediocre radio show by incongruously inserting a lyrical passage. American writerdirector richard linklater talks about me and orson welles, his new comedydrama based on the early career of legendary director. When a highschooler lucks into a role in a broadway production of julius caesar, hes got a lot to. Dec 07, 2015 orson welles showed glimmerings of genius from an early age, but at first his talent seemed to be for music. Recordings of almost 4 hours of a series of interviews conducted by director author bogdanovich with welles between the years 1969 and. A schoolboy stumbles upon a major role in welless production of julius caesar in this sublime adaptation of robert kaplows book, says philip. Full list of orson welles films classic movie favorites. A teenager is cast in the mercury theatre production of julius caesar directed by a young orson welles in 1937. Over the course of a magical week, richard makes his broadway debut, finds romance, and experiences the dark side of genius after daring to cross the brilliant welles. Me and orson welles is a 2008 britishamerican period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay, and claire danes. Though some describe the life of the man who made citizen kane as having by then fallen into a final period of great decadence, he still managed to leave his mark on a number of.
The impersonation of welles by christian mckay in me and orson welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. Richard linklaters 2008 film me and orson welles is a romantic comedy set during the days before the opening of caesar at the mercury theatre. Me and orson welles casts off the musty air of a handsomely mounted, tastefully dull hbo tv movie only when mckay takes center stage, as when he shocks and delights his fellow cast members in a mediocre radio show by incongruously inserting a lyrical passage from the magnificent ambersons into their hacky little drama. In 1937, a teenager is cast in the mercury theatre production of julius. Remember that orson welles himself didnt always look like orson welles.
While working on the production, he falls in love with sonja jones, the production assistant. Listen to eight interviews of orson welles by filmmaker peter bogdanovich 19691972 watch the trial 1962, orson welles worst or best film, adapted from kafkas classic work. C entred around welles s 1937 production of julius caesar at new yorks mercury theatre, which pared down shakespeares play to 94 minutes and disposed of. Orson welles showed glimmerings of genius from an early age, but at first his talent seemed to be for music. Trailer for me and orson welles me and orson welles is a comingofage story set in the heady world of new york theatre. Finally completed after 40 years, welless hollywood satire won a 2018. With zac efron, claire danes, christian mckay, zoe kazan. Zac efron claire danes christian mckay 2009 after a chance meeting with the famed director, a highschool student. You can watch recordings anytime, anywhere with your cloud dvr. Download me and orson welles 2009 gratis streaming av filmer. His dreams are realised when he meets a youthful orson welles christian mckay and lucks a place in his legendary production of julius caesar.
Me and orson welles is one of those books that starts off a bit strange but by the end i was really enjoying it. Dec 09, 2009 remember that orson welles himself didnt always look like orson welles. Coming in 2009, the major motion picture from the director of slacker the irresistible story of a stagestruck boy coming of age in the golden era of broadwaywith some very famous supporting characters me and orson welles is a romantic farce that reads like a whos who of the. It has the generous performances we expect from linklaters films, but formally it is a conservative film, telling its story in a straightforward way. Zac efron and claire danes claim they saw a ghostlike figure while filming me and orson welles at gaiety theatre on the isle of man. I expected this film to be a slight disappointment, but i was quite wrong about that the reason i was worried was zac efron. Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to star in orson welles production of julius. An incomplete education here is a man, a great director and a great man, whose obituary has yet to be written, for once and for all. October 10, 1985, hollywood, california, usa filmography bibliography articles in senses web resources orson welles.
No where else will you find so many people who made the transition from radio to film. Im a huge fan of orson welles and got very excited when i heard a film about the caesar production was being made, but i thought this was too big a step for efron. Highschooler richard samuels lucks into a role in a daring broadway production of julius caesar. Heavy metal music enjoyed the pleasures of excess in the 1980s, an era when, if you believe certain biographers, writeractorauteur orson welles did the very same.
British actor christian mckay, perhaps best known for his eponymous role in me and orson welles, is to codirect intense relationship drama provenance with cinematographer ben hecking. If your cloud dvr fills up, well make space by deleting your oldest recordings marked save until space. Italian ciro giorgini and fuori orario documentary on welles and rome. An incomplete education here is a man, a great director and a great. But this is the genius of orson welles, and he knows damn well that love can only come after success. Watch orson welles the stranger free online, where 1940s film noir meets real horrors of wwii. His father was a welltodo inventor, his mother a beautiful concert pianist.
It is based on a novel regarding the circumstances surrounding welless 1937 production of william shakespeares julius caesar for the mercury theatre, and stars christian mckay, claire danes, and zac efron. Trailer for the richard linklater film, me and orson welles. C entred around welless 1937 production of julius caesar at new yorks mercury theatre, which pared down shakespeares play to. Orson welles great director profile senses of cinema.
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