IMDb RATING
6.9/10
976
YOUR RATING
A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Photos
Orson Welles
- Self
- (archive footage)
Christopher Welles
- Self
- (as Christopher Welles Feder)
Micheál MacLiammóir
- Self
- (archive footage)
Norman Corwin
- Self
- (archive footage)
William Alland
- Self
- (archive footage)
Reggie Armour
- Self
- (archive footage)
William Randolph Hearst
- Self
- (archive footage)
John Houseman
- Self
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen the paternity of Welles's alleged son is mentioned, one of the photographs which is shown and purported to be of Welles is actually a photograph of Vincent D'Onofrio, who played Welles in Ed Wood (1994).
- ConnectionsFeatures The Hearts of Age (1934)
Featured review
Good but very, very superficial.
If you want a film that explores the work of Orson Welles, this film is well worth seeing. However, if you want to see a film about Welles himself and explores his psyche, then you should look further. I knew about most of his film projects but wanted to know what made him tick...what made him so successful but so self- sabotaging (both in films and in his relationships). Sadly, the documentary has very, very little to say about this and instead talks about his genius in a way that almost seems like supplication- --as if to even talk about his faults or psychological make-up was somehow sacrilege. I wanted deconstruction--the film just gives us adoration.
So what question did I want to have answered? Well, most importantly why he never completed so many of his films and how this might be related to his personal life. A genius in some ways but also an incredibly flawed man who made a mess of so much promise.
If you ever find a film that DOES explore Welles' psychological make-up, drop me a line. But a film that ONLY talks about his work but doesn't criticize or analyze it is interesting...mildly...but nothing more. To me, NOT to talk about his psychological state is like doing a film all about George Washington and never mentioning the Revolutionary War!
So what question did I want to have answered? Well, most importantly why he never completed so many of his films and how this might be related to his personal life. A genius in some ways but also an incredibly flawed man who made a mess of so much promise.
If you ever find a film that DOES explore Welles' psychological make-up, drop me a line. But a film that ONLY talks about his work but doesn't criticize or analyze it is interesting...mildly...but nothing more. To me, NOT to talk about his psychological state is like doing a film all about George Washington and never mentioning the Revolutionary War!
helpful•20
- planktonrules
- Jul 27, 2016
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Mago: La impresionante vida y obra de Orson Welles
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $813,505 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,400
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,130
- Dec 14, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $16,400
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
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Top Gap
By what name was Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer