Favourite Orson Welles Film
06-26-04, 06:04 PM
#26
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I want to very strongly disagree with the posters in this thread who have suggested that Welles had a hand in directing The Third Man or who think they see his style all over it. It's just not true.
These rumors have been refuted for some time now. Welles did not direct anything in the Third Man and he only wrote the little speech about cucko clocks. Carol Reed was a masterful director and The Third Man is all his.
Frankly there's nothing in The Third Man that is indicative of Welles style. It doesn't look anything like a Welles film. No long takes, no intertextuality, no self reflexiveness. I like the Third Man, but if Welles did direct it, I'd put it near the bottom of my list of his films. It's certainly would be the least indicative of his personal style.
These rumors have been refuted for some time now. Welles did not direct anything in the Third Man and he only wrote the little speech about cucko clocks. Carol Reed was a masterful director and The Third Man is all his.
Frankly there's nothing in The Third Man that is indicative of Welles style. It doesn't look anything like a Welles film. No long takes, no intertextuality, no self reflexiveness. I like the Third Man, but if Welles did direct it, I'd put it near the bottom of my list of his films. It's certainly would be the least indicative of his personal style.
06-26-04, 06:11 PM
#27
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1 Citizen Kane
2 Touch of Evil
3 Chimes at Midnight
4 The Third Man
Touch of Evil is a lot more impressive on the big screen. The Third Man on film has a lot of detail that I can't see on my 27" TV. I wish I could see the others in a theater.
2 Touch of Evil
3 Chimes at Midnight
4 The Third Man
Touch of Evil is a lot more impressive on the big screen. The Third Man on film has a lot of detail that I can't see on my 27" TV. I wish I could see the others in a theater.
06-26-04, 06:22 PM
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Originally posted by Pants
Frankly there's nothing in The Third Man that is indicative of Welles style. It doesn't look anything like a Welles film. No long takes, no intertextuality, no self reflexiveness. I like the Third Man, but if Welles did direct it, I'd put it near the bottom of my list of his films. It's certainly would be the least indicative of his personal style.
Frankly there's nothing in The Third Man that is indicative of Welles style. It doesn't look anything like a Welles film. No long takes, no intertextuality, no self reflexiveness. I like the Third Man, but if Welles did direct it, I'd put it near the bottom of my list of his films. It's certainly would be the least indicative of his personal style.
I think the similarity is due to the contrast and lighting. Joseph Cotton also makes it seem like a Welles film.
06-26-04, 08:11 PM
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If the style of the Third Man resembles any other director it's Fritz Lange more than anyone. Noir lighting and dutched angles are not unique to Welles films, nor are they an inovation started by him. Like I said, if there was a Welles "signature", then it was long takes, self reflexive techniques (ie. conscious forgrounding of film technique and technology), and a heavily experimental sound mix. The Third Man doesn't really have any of these "signatures". It just has Welles playing a roll in someone elses film, something he did frequently.
No one ever suggests that Welles was the actual director of Passolini's La Ricota, even though he actually plays a film director in that movie.
No one ever suggests that Welles was the actual director of Passolini's La Ricota, even though he actually plays a film director in that movie.
06-26-04, 10:41 PM
#30
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I don't think anyone has ever stated that Welles actually directed The Third Man or any of the others in question, just that he heavily influenced the direction and had more to do behind the scenes than a simple acting credit would have you believe. Big difference.
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
06-27-04, 01:36 PM
#31
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Originally posted by Numanoid
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
06-28-04, 10:56 AM
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Originally posted by Numanoid
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
I challenge you to watch The Third Man and Welles' Othello back to back and then tell me Carol Reed was flying solo on TTM.
I'm sorry but I don't see any of the distinctive fingerprints that would indicate that Welles directed or co-directed the film.
