Orson Welles, Volume 2: Hello Americans

I enjoyed this volume more than the first one. Perhaps because it dealt with aspects of Welles' life that single-book biographies gloss over for lack of space. In depth explorations are offered for It's All True, Welles' extensive radio work, the failed Around the World in Eighty Days stage production, The Stranger, and his Macbeth, on both stage and screen. I also feel Callow's ambiguous attitude toward Welles is more apparent in this volume than in the first, but nowhere does he deny the man's essential genius. (Perhaps ambiguity is the right viewpoint for any biographer.) Callow's prose style is graceful and informative using his extensive experience in the theater and in film. When this biography is completed (I understand it's going to contain four volumes) we can take all our other books on Welles to the basement.

Well, I just finished reading HELLO AMERICANS, Callow's second volume in his Orson Welles bio series, and I have to say, it's a good read.Thanks to a vast amount of research, Callow really details what happened to Welles after CITIZEN KANE. Particularly good is the section on THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS and IT'S ALL TRUE. Up until now, I've read a lot about this time period in Welles' life, but never has it ever quite made sense; Callow finally manages to do that. He also has cogent things to say about THE STRANGER, THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, MACBETH, Welles' political aspirations (which were all-consuming from about 1942 to 1947), and the various theatrical presentations Welles attempted (including AROUND THE WORLD).Callow doesn't flinch from describing Welles the man, either, a figure capable of inspiring both devotion (Korda, Wilson, Wallace) and hatred (McDowell, Koerner, Fier). And Callow is the most insightful biographer in that he sees both the Wellescentric point of view and that of the studios (paticularly good passages can be found on p. 364 of the 1st edition).My only complaint is that some of the quotes Callow uses from Welles' films are inaccurate (is he writing from memory?), and, once or twice, he describes things in the films that I don't remember ever happening (but maybe that's me). However, in summarizing Welles ("Confinement, whether personal or professional, was unbearable to Orson Welles"), I feel he has hit the nail on the head, and such insights more than make up for any small errors that may be present.In short, this is worth reading, and I look forward to Volume III.

I am enjoying this series a great deal. Callow has done a tremendous amount of research on these books.My only hope is that I am alive to see the last volume of this weighty set in print. But for fans and admirers of Welles, the volumes in Callow's series are must-reads.

Callow makes much of little but if you want tons of detail and lots of authorial speculation and interpretation, this is the book to read

Thank you

Orson Welles volume II "Hello Americans" (title taken from an Orson Welles radio program of the 1940s) is a fine sequel to his first volume on the behemoth Welles called "Orson Welles: The Road to Xandau". This volume covers the years from 1941 to 1947. Callow has promised a third and final volume to the series covering the years from 1947 to the death of Welles in 1985. The book begins with triumph for the boy genius! Welles saw his first and best film "Citizen Kane" given the royal treatment at a fabulous premier as he escorted the lovely Mexican actress Dolores del Rio on his fleshy arm. Welles would lose the support of top brass at Columbia Pictures never repeating the acclaim garned by Kane. Orson Welles went to Brazil for the filming of "It's All True" which was supposed to be a film promoting good will with our American neighbors as the war clouds in Europe were about to break unleashing the horror of World War II, Welles arrived in South America where he played, cavorted, drank, ate and danced at carnival time. The film withered on the vine to the disgust of his creative associates and Hollywood executives. After over 100 pages of dense writing by biographer Callow we learn that nothing came of this project. The failure of his South American film was a signal that Welles was losing his popularity. As a cinematic genius he would continue to experiment with film the rest of his life producing a good deal of failures tempered by some successes. The last quarter century of his life would be spent in Europe. Welles failed to win plaudits for the chopped up "The Magnificent Ambersons" which is still a fine filming of the Booth Tarkington chronicle of the rise and fall of a wealthy Indiana family in the early years of the twentieth century. His film "Journey Into Darkness" was a so-so film while the artistic "The Lady from Shangai" with ex-wife Rita Hayworth in the lead is considered an imperfect classic. Welles dyed Miss Hayworth's hair blonde for her starring role as a mysterious murderess. The scene in the Fun House with the mirror imagery is classic film. During World War II Welles became a spokesperson for the administration of FDR. Welles was a liberal Democrat who spoke out against racial discrimination. Welles, to his great credit, was free of racial prejudice,Welles toyed with politics writing a current events column for a newspaper syndicate and going on good will tours for Uncle Sam. He was not drafted but did consider himself a patriotic American. He was never a Communist.The McCarthy era gave him the willies leading to his leaving the states in 1947. Welles filmed the Shakespearean play "Macbeth" which was compared unfavorably to the Laurence Olivier hit"Hamlet". Orson Welles had less than an admirable character. He was a serial cheater during marriage to his second wife the stunningly beautiful sex goddess Rita Hayworth. The couple had a child named Rebecca but Welles was not interested in playing daddy. He had affairs with Lena Horne, Judy Garland and a legion of other ladies. He was a braggart with a Texas size ego who could be explosive and crude. Welles wanted you to do it his way or hit the highway. On the other hand, he could be witty, charming, kind and supportive of good causes. The man was as are repeatedly told a "genius" whatever that word is supposed to mean. One wishes that Simon Callow would be able to finish volume three of his magnus opus on Orson Welles. Welles is essential for anyone wanting to explore cinema in the twentieth century. Simon Callow is his excellent biographer. Well done work of biography.

Well-written, well-researched, fascinating subject!

Mr. Callow is a great writer and biographer. Both his first colume and this are a true history of of the threater during Mr. Wells life and his effect on it. Mr. Callow does not hide any facet of Wells, so you get a true perspective on his character. I look forward to Volume Three.I would warn potential readers that they should read this knowing that Mr. Wells was very radical politically. In some areas this was commendable and in some not so. Like many genius' Mr. Wells was very self centered. One thing is that he most definitely led and interesting life.

I found this fascinating. If you are at all interested in Welles, then this is a must. It chronicles in detail the years from 'Citizen Kane' to 'Macbeth' in which Welles's Hollywood film career came apart. It also charts his growing political activities and the crazy atmosphere during the making of the subsequently abandoned Brazilian epic 'It's All True'. After reading this, I just had to get Vol 3: One Man Band, which is also great.

Given as a present Receiver appears to be very happy with it.

Excellent

quick, easy deal. No problems. Many thanks.

This is well written. One is gently nudged and prodded into the Wellesian world. It is all against one's proclivity, of course, but what the check: you bought Volume I and had to keep going. Now, at the precipice, one awaits Volume III.