by Simon Callow
13 ‘WHAT AMOUNT WE COVERED IN STATES …’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 19 May 1942.
14 ‘working like a dog …’ Letter from Phil Reismann to George Schaefer, 25 May 1942.
15 ‘he still stays awake nights …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 25 June 1942.
16 ‘but it all gets back to the main difficulty …’ Letter from Phil Reismann to George Schaefer, op. cit.
17 ‘Best wishes for a merry Xmas …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 5 June 1942.
18 ‘You have got to come home the right way …’ Letter from Herb Drake to Orson Welles, 1 June 1942.
19 ‘FACT IS THAT ORSON IS DOING …’ Telegram from Berent Friele to Phil Reismann, 21 April 1942.
20 ‘as can be seen, it is already …’ Report from Brazil division of OI-AA, 27 May 1942.
21 ‘About a year ago …’ Letter from Herb Drake to George Schaefer, 2 June 1942.
22 ‘we will eliminate …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner to George Schaefer, 1 June 1942.
23 ‘in a form not approved …’ Memorandum from Reg Armour to Ross Hastings, 1 June 1942.
24 ‘No notice is necessary …’ ibid.
25 ‘I AM ENTITLED TO BETTER …’ Telegram from Jack Moss to George Schaefer, 3 June 1942.
26 ‘PLEASE TRY TO FIND IT IN SCHAEFER’S …’ Telegram from Gordon Youngman to Ned Depinet, 17 June 1942.
27 ‘Wise tells me that this will in no way …’ Letter from Charles Koerner to George Schaefer, 3 June 1942.
28 ‘I think it is important …’ Memorandum from George Schaefer to Reg Armour, 16 June 1942.
29 ‘The natural conclusion can only be …’ Letter from Jack Moss to Charles Koerner, 15 June 1942.
30 ‘Dear Jack, Believe me …’ Letter from Charles Koerner to Jack Moss, 16 June 1942.
31 ‘The editing and the cutting of the picture …’ Letter from Joseph Cotten to Charles Koerner, 19 June 1942.
32 ‘the moment Schaefer’s resignation was received it was accepted …’ Louella Parsons, 2 July 1942, quoted in Betty Lasky, RKO: The Biggest Little Major of Them All.
33 ‘what is necessary to terminate further operations by Mercury Productions …’ Memorandum from Ross Hastings to Charles Koerner, 27 June 1942.
34 ‘the Mercury files, a mimeograph machine …’ New York Times, 12 July 1942.
35 ‘I agree with Phil …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner, 1 July 1942.
36 ‘GRANDE OTELO: He is a natural …’ Memorandum from Robert Meltzer, 1 June 1942.
CHAPTER NINE
Look Who’s Laughing
1 ‘WELLES GROUP LEFT NORTH OKAY …’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Phil Reismann, 16 June 1942.
2 ‘ORSON WELLES ANGRY …’ A Noite, 16 June 1942.
3 ‘And he threw a small coffee table …’ Peter Bogdanovich, This is Orson Welles.
4 ‘SHORES AGAIN SERIOUSLY SABOTAGING …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 25 June 1942.
5 ‘ABSOLUTELY NO MORE MONEY …’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to Orson Welles, 26 June 1942.
6 ‘SHORES NOW SUCCEEDED GETTING PROCESS …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 26 June 1942.
7 ‘The office is haunted daily …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Reg Armour, 26 June 1942.
8 ‘70% of them were very happy …’ ibid.
9 ‘Orson is making this picture …’ Frank Daugherty, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 1942.
10 ‘I’m a total chameleon …’ Unpublished interview with Kathleen Tynan, 12 February 1983.
11 ‘he spoke to Fanto …’ Interview by the author with George Fanto, July 1988.
12 ‘he taught me everything I know about framing.’ Interview by the author with Chico Albuquerque, February 2002.
13 ‘the Co-ordinator’s office told me …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 11 July 1942.
14 ‘PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY …’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Phil Reismann, 14 July 1942.
15 ‘any act done by Mr Welles …’ Aviso, 20 July 1942.
16 ‘Shores and gang …’ Letter from George Fanto to Richard Wilson, 29 July 1942.
17 The project was ‘hazed …’ Letter from Ray Joseph to unknown correspondent, 5 August 1942.
18 ‘the movie that Welles, the incredible …’ Daily News, 2 July 1942.
19 ‘a marvellous three-week trip …’ Peter Bogdanovich, op. cit.
20 ‘A spanking is an inspiriting thing …’ Time, 20 July 1942.
21 ‘Welles has a picture that’s distinctly not attuned …’ Bosley Crowther, New York Times, 1 July 1942.
22 ‘packed with cinematic power …’ Herald Tribune, 14 August 1942.
23 ‘In a world brimful of …’ Thomas M. Pryor, New York Times, 14 August 1942.
24 ‘TIME THE MAGNIFICENT …’ Telegram from Jack Moss to Orson Welles, 18 July 1942.
25 ‘The Magnificent Ambersons is a magnificent movie …’ Time, 20 July 1942.
26 ‘WELLES VERSUS HOLLYWOOD AGAIN.’ New York Times, 12 July 1942.
27 ‘ROLLING UP FROM RIO.’ Theodore Strauss, New York Times, 30 August 1942.
28 ‘That was the end of the film …’ Peter Bogdanovich, op. cit.
29 ‘If RKO does not wish to continue …’ Statement from Office of Inter-American Affairs, 1 September 1942.
30 ‘It is my studied opinion …’ Memorandum from William Gordon, 2 July 1942.
31 ‘it is my definite feeling …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Nelson Rockefeller, 20 October 1942.
32 ‘I naturally hesitate …’ Letter from Nelson Rockefeller to Orson Welles, 10 November 1942.
33 ‘Nelson Rockefeller’s definition …’ Henry Wallace, quoted in Culver and Hyde, American Dreamer.
34 ‘If on your own responsibility …’ Letter from Peter Rathvon to Orson Welles, 12 November 1942.
35 ‘Homeric proportions.’ Letter from Orson Welles to Ferdinand Pinto, 26 March 1943.
36 ‘He’s ready to leave elaborate …’ From treatment for It’s All True material, 2 September 1943.
37 ‘Possibly this outline can …’ Memorandum from William Gordon to Charles Koerner, 10 September 1943.
38 ‘I have a degree of faith in it …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Ferdinand Pinto, op. cit.
39 ‘now agrees …’ Anonymous memorandum to Charles Koerner, 10 December 1942.
40 ‘I believe that probably the greatest attribute …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner to Peter Rathvon, 30 June 1942.
41 ‘This new set-up …’ Hollywood Reporter, 4 June 1942.
42 ‘Welles was offering Americans …’ Betty Lasky, RKO: The Biggest Little Major of Them All.
43 ‘Although The Magnificent Ambersons …’ Theodore Strauss, ‘The Return of the Hero’, New York Times, 16 August 1942.
44 ‘before it was common to be so …’ David Kamp, ‘Magnificent Obsession’, Vanity Fair, 1 February 19?.
CHAPTER TEN
Ceiling Unlimited
1 ‘You probably heard from my secretary …’ Letter from William S. Paley to Orson Welles, 15 October 1942.
2 ‘The radio is realising its potency as an educator …’ Speech given by Orson Welles, 6 March 1943.
3 ‘I didn’t know until Jack told me …’ Letter from Arthur Miller to Orson Welles, 18 October 1942.
4 ‘then genius won.’ Newsweek, 9 November 1942.
5 ‘all Welles and a yard wide.’ ibid.
6 ‘The best good-will propaganda …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Nelson Rockefeller, 20 October 1942.
7 ‘Orson is working harder …’ Letter from Jack Moss to J. Hillpot, 15 December 1942.
8 ‘I would like to say …’ Letter from Jackson Leighter to Orson Welles, 11 January 1943.
9 ‘One first hears the rhythmic beat of jungle drums …’ Bret Wood, Orson Welles: A Bio-Bibliography.
10 ‘NATURALLY WE ARE UPSET …’ Telegram from J. Hillpot to Orson Welles, 11 March 1943.
12 ‘WE BELIEVE YOUR REVISED…’ Telegram from Al Galston to Orson Welles, 3 September 1942.
13 ‘if we do in motion pictures …’ Memorandum from David O. Selznick to Alfred Hitchcock, 12 December 1938.
14 ‘he must not deviate …’ Letter from Loyd Wright to Jack Moss, 24 December 1942.
15 ‘I should like also to urge you …’ Memorandum from David O. Selznick to William E. Goetz, 10 December 1942.
16 ‘general disbelief …’ Letter from David O. Selznick to Joe Schenk, 15 July 1943.
17 ‘the worst accorded to an American actor since …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Robert Stevenson, 10 May 1944.
18 ‘certain over-emphases …’ Hollywood Reporter, 2 February 1944.
19 ‘declamatory delivery’. Variety, 2 February 1944.
20 ‘road-operatic sculpturings …’ James Agee, Nation, February 1944.
21 ‘There are about eight or nine …’ Los Angeles Daily News, 15 February 1943.
22 ‘This may be the last time I write a column …’ New York Post, 10 February 1943.
23 ‘Quiet on the set!’ Jack Benny Show, 14 March 1943.
24 ‘NOW THAT YOU HAVE QUALIFIED …’ Telegram from William S. Paley to Orson Welles, 16 March 1943.
25 ‘I know that you agree …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Davidson Taylor, 21 September 1943.
26 ‘You may not know the difficulties it caused.’ Letter from Davidson Taylor to Orson Welles, 24 September 1943.
27 ‘Mr Bryson and I are not strangers …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Davidson Taylor, 28 September 1943.
28 ‘We cannot with much hope …’ Letter from Lyman Bryson to Orson Welles, 5 October 1943.
29 ‘I am sorry to have been advertised as a speaker …’ Speech by Orson Welles, 16 October 1942.
30 ‘All educators, whether they like it or not …’ Speech by Orson Welles to Adult Education Conference, Los Angeles, 5 February 1943.
31 ‘We admired tremendously your broad views …’ Letter from Yvonne Ramus, 7 March 1943.
32 ‘stage and screen performers …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Helen Bryan, 25 September 1943.
33 ‘My part in this free meeting …’ Speech by Orson Welles, 11 September 1943.
34 ‘that it was one …’ Letter from Muriel Miller to Orson Welles, 11 September 1943.
35 ‘You were confronted …’ Letter from Charles W. Ward to Orson Welles, 13 September 1943.
36 ‘you’re a red-hot potato …’ ibid.
37 ‘liberal and courageous remarks …’ Letter from an officer of the Packinghouse Workers to Orson Welles, 12 September 1943.
38 ‘I’d give anything to know …’ Letter from Polly of the United Automobile Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers to Orson Welles, 15 September 1943.
39 ‘PLAIN TALK BY THE MAN FROM MARS …’ Trade Union Press, n.d.
40 ‘The armies of our united …’ Speech by Orson Welles at Overseas Press Club, 2 November 1943.
41 ‘the debt our theatre …’ Memorandum by Orson Welles, 3 November 1943, outlining his forthcoming speech at Soviet-American Congress.
42 ‘he speaks for his nation to all the nations …’ Speech by Orson Welles to Soviet-American Congress, 8 November 1943.
43 ‘“Elsa,” Welles told …’ ‘Lesson in Morals’, Elsa Maxwell Column, New York Post, 7 November 1943.
44 ‘I thought I was going to be …’ Unpublished interview with Kathleen Tynan, 12 February 1983.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It All Comes Out of the Tent of Wonder
1 ‘America must undertake now …’ Henry Luce, Time, 17 February 1941.
2 ‘This is a fight between a slave world …’ Speech by Henry Wallace, 8 May 1942.
3 ‘Despite being a political dictatorship …’ Louis Dolivet, ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s World’, Free World, 1946.
4 ‘The Good Neighbor policy …’ Orson Welles editorial, ‘Good Neighbor Policy reconsidered’, Free World, March 1944.
5 ‘Very probably …’ Orson Welles, ‘The Unknown Soldier’, Free World, October 1944.
6 ‘"I got a tip," he said …’ Los Angeles Times, 7 May 1943.
7 ‘the fool who makes a deliberate choice …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Robert Stevenson, 10 May 1944.
8 ‘WOULD LIKE START WORK …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Alexander Korda, 26 June 1943.
9 ‘personally, I am up to my neck …’ Letter from Sergei Mihailovich Eisenstein to Alexander Korda, 3 October 1943.
10 ‘the slightest noise …’ Orson Welles introduction to Magic by Bruce Elliot.
11 ‘with my lousy presentation …’ Letter from Richard Himber to Orson Welles, 14 January 1942.
12 ‘It’s taken me a lot longer …’ Orson Welles publicity blurb, August 1943.
13 ‘The tent …’ Collier’s Magazine, August 1943.
14 ‘a bewildered, slightly bitter expression …’ Vogue, October 1943.
15 ‘Miss Hayworth also works …’ Hollywood Reporter 5 August 1943.
16 ‘The case of Orson Welles …’ ibid.
17 ‘and the harrowing and beautiful experience in Brazil …’ Collier’s Magazine, op. cit.
18 ‘AS YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Alexander Korda, 10 March 1944.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Unrehearsed Realities
1 ‘February 2nd is Ground Hog day …’ Letter from Orson Welles to the show’s writers, 28 January 1944.
2 ‘You say that people …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Bob Presnell, 18 February 1944.
3 ‘YOU ALSO HAVE TENDENCY …’ Telegram from John McMillan to Bob Presnell, 4 March 1944.
4 ‘rashly put into my hands …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to John McMillan, 5 March 1944.
5 ‘the main intention was comic …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Leonard Lyons, 1 March 1944.
6 ‘That’ll be all …’ Orson Welles Almanac, 8 March 1944.
7 ‘many of you listening …’ Orson Welles Almanac, 15 March 1944.
8 ‘relax and leave us be …’ Letter from John McMillan to Orson Welles, 22 March 1944.
9 ‘To renew or not renew?’ Letter from Dick Compton to William Collier, 16 May 1944.
10 ‘I am sure you will be very helpful …’ Letter from Henry Morgenthau to Orson Welles, 16 May 1944.
11 ‘WON’T YOU PLEASE WRITE AS A PRAYER OR A DEDICATION …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Carl Sandburg, 15 May 1944.
12 ‘I WOULD LIKE MUSIC FOR THIS …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Bernard Herrmann, 20 May 1944.
13 ‘DELIGHTED …’ Telegram from Bernard Herrmann to Orson Welles, 20 May 1944.
14 ‘BE SURE TO KEEP TEXARKANA …’ Telegram from Fred Smith to Orson Welles, 19 May 1944.
15 ‘NOW HERE’s A JOB FOR YOU …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Fred Smith, 22 May 1944.
16 ‘Today we talk of the sacrifices …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Fred Smith, 22 May 1944.
17 ‘I want you to know …’ Letter from Henry Morgenthau to Orson Welles, 27 June 1944.
18 ‘It was a business decision …’ Letter from Dick Compton to Orson Welles, 12 June 1944.
19 ‘repainting dressing room defaced by you’. NBC, 14 June 1944.
20 ‘To the fighting armies …’ Speech by Orson Welles to the Hollywood Free World Association, 6 July 1944.
21 ‘WE FILMMAKERS REALISE …’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Time, 12 February 1944.
22 ‘I send you herewith …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Hedda Hopper, 28 January 1944.
23 ‘GENUS GENIUS …’ Hedda Hopper, Photoplay, May 1944.
24 ‘“Henry Wallace,” Welles said …’ Speech by Orson Welles to Independent Voters’ Committee for Arts and Sciences for Roosevelt, 21 September 1944.
25 ‘There is something to thank God for …’ Article by Orson Welles, ‘American Leadership
in ’44’, Free World, 30 July 1944.
26 ‘“they” would try to get …’ Speech by Orson Welles to the Hollywood Democratic Association, 1 September 1944.
27 ‘What happened to the men …’ Speech by Orson Welles at Registration Week Luncheon, 10 October 1944.
28 ‘This is Orson Welles speaking …’ Broadcast speech for American Labor Party, WABC, 11 October 1944.
29 ‘I cannot believe …’ Speech by Orson Welles, Herald Tribune Forum: False Issues and the American Presidency, 18 October 1944.
30 ‘They are both suffering from …’ Letter from Maurice Bernstein to Food Rationing Board, 28 October 1944.
31 ‘I HAVE JUST LEARNED …’ Telegram from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Orson Welles, 23 October 1944.
32 ‘Dear Mr President …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Franklin D. Roosevelt, 25 October 1944.
33 ‘At such a time as this …’ Unused campaign speech by Orson Welles, 6 November 1944.
34 ‘You can sell that …’ PM Magazine, 22 October 1944.
35 ‘I AM AFRAID I DON’T …’ Telegram from Donald Ogden Stewart to Orson Welles, 18 May 1944.
36 ‘It is precisely for this reason …’ Speech by Orson Welles, Herald Tribune Forum, op. cit.
37 ‘The racist and all the other liars …’ Article by Orson Welles, ‘Significance of the Election’, Free World, November 1944.
38 ‘Dear Mr Welles …’ Letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Orson Welles, 25 November 1944.
39 ‘Dear Mr President …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Franklin D. Roosevelt, 23 December 1944.
40 ‘I know she can’t help …’ Telegram from Harry S. Truman to Orson Welles, 24 February 1945.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Actor Turns Columnist
1 ‘a kind of licensed jester’. Unpublished interview with Kathleen Tynan, 12 February 1983.
2 ‘as excited as hell’. Letter from Ted Thackrey to Jackson Leighter, 15 November 1944.
3 ‘What is it that makes a man …’ Leonard Lyons Column Guest, New York Post, 1 December 1944.
4 ‘to fuss’. Letter from Orson Welles to Ted Thackrey, 7 December 1944.
5 ‘ALMANAC VERY LUSTY …’ Telegram from Ted Thackrey to Orson Welles, 13 December 1944.