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Citizen Pauper - Orson Welles |
Child prodigy, founder of the famous Mercury Theatre,
director of such legendary films as Citizen Kane, The
Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil, among others,
accomplished character actor in a number of acclaimed films,
cultural icon, and finally, the pitchman for Ernest & Julio
Gallo wines.
"I started at the top and worked my way down." So said the
man, who many consider to be the greatest filmmaker of the
20th century, summing up the state of affairs he found himself
in toward the end of his life. Quite a lot has been written
about the one-time directorial prodigy and his subsequent fall
from grace. Some blame Hollywood for not treating one of its
greatest craftsmen with more respect. Others blame Welles
himself for not playing the game in the industry for which he
chose to associate.
Regardless of the reasons, Welles was plagued with ongoing
financial and professional difficulties throughout his life.
In fact, Rita Hayworth, his second wife, wisely kept her money
separate from Welles. He was known to spend recklessly and at
one time had no money at all in his account. Monthly expenses
and debts often drained Welles' finances. Toward the end of
his life, Welles continued to flounder financially, forced to
accept the charity of friends even for a place to stay. (Welles,
in fact, stayed with director Peter Bogdanovich for two years
in a spare bedroom whilst down on his luck. Ironically,
Bogdanovich recently found himself in a similar position,
accepting an offer to stay with Quentin Tarantino while
sorting out his own financial problems.)
Getting by with a little help from your friends aside, which
is nothing to belittle in times of need, squandering what you
do have in an irresponsible manner, or to the point of having
no alternative, is neither romantic nor admirable. And though
Orson probably enjoyed the company of his young protégé
immensely, we doubt this was his preferred method of spending
the rest of his life.
For more information on the life and times of Orson Welles,
check out these biographies:
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