Orson Welles To Narrate
Children's Movie Long After Death
Orson Welles To Narrate Children's Movie Long After Death
I read in the newspaper last week that the inimitable Orson Welles may soon be returning to the big screen some 25 years after his death. As all fans of Old-Time-Radio know Welles was an American film director, actor, writer, and producer who worked extensively in film, radio, theatre, and television. Welles has been recognized for his excellent work in motion pictures, radio, and recording. Among Welles’ achievements are a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute (AFI), induction into the Radio Hall of Fame, and being voted the best film director of all time in 2002 by the British Film Institute. One of Welles’ most popular productions was the 1941 film Citizen Kane which is ranked #1 on both of the AFI’s top 100 movie lists.
Welles, who passed away on October 10, 1985, could make his return to the big screen as the narrator of a children’s movie hoped to be release at Christmas 2011. Welles was asked by his friend Richard Leeds, author of the self-published book Christmas Tails, to narrate the story in 1985 resulting in five reels of audio recordings. Welles passed away a few months after narrating the story for Leeds and the reels containing the recordings were thought to have been lost. However, the reels remained in a cupboard in Leeds’ Las Vegas home for years following Welles’ death.
Apparently rumors about the existence of the recordings last year prompted Harvey Lowry to contact Leeds about using the recordings to produce Leeds’ story as a children’s movie. Lowry is the President of Drac Studios, which produced the 2008 movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Lowry told The Independent “this is a substantial find, something that filmmakers dream of”.
Leeds’ story follows the panic of Father Christmas after all his reindeer fall ill. The loss of his reindeer causes him to consider cancelling his annual rounds until his dog saves the day. The film would combine 3D live-action and computer generated graphics and according to Lowry, several actors have already approached him expressing interesting in being involved in the movie.
The tapes of Welles’ narration of the story were so old that they needed to be placed in a chemical bath and remastered digitally in order to use them. Welles’ most famous narration came in 1938 when he caused mass panic across America as he directed and narrated a radio adaptation H.G. Wells’ novel, The War of the Worlds. Welles’ voice was broadcast on radios across the country as he read the novel in the style of a news broadcast that caused mass panic among listeners who believed there was actually an extra terrestrial invasion occurring.
We'll have to wait until next year to hear Orson's final recording but meantime you can listen to his earliest works on RUSC.
Happy listening my friends,
