KentAllard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I didn't do anything special, just clicked 'upload'. This is freely available elsewhere.

TemptinTina1 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you KentAllard, more than you know. You have brought me to tears. My late Grandmother, Ethel Drayton was in this production as one of the 3 witches. I have a photograph of the entire cast. How wonderful is YouTube and you for bringing this production "live" to me after so many decades. If you would like a still photo of the cast send me your email address in a private message. Thank you again, I will share this with my kids and family. TT1

KentAllard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I cannot abide critical assessment of anyone when it concerns events beyond their control. 1)war restrictions prevented Wise being sent down to Brazil to work on editing of Ambersons2)RKO renegged on the rest of that agreement anyway3)In the middle of a difficult shoot & with those restrictions pleas explain how Welles could have come back to check on Ambersons4)RKO rejected the favourable second screening of Ambersons & instead continued to focus on the disasterous first screening

digitalshark (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Sorry. I like Welles too much to engage in some youtube pissing match. I commented because I thought I'd share my appreciation of the book with another Welles fan, but no good deed goes unpunished on youtube. If you think you're the first Welles fan to take exception to the overwhelming and often bitter criticism of him over the years, you're mistaken. But you've now given me the feeling that you can abide no critical assessment at all, which negates any need for me to discuss this with you.

KentAllard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

And I suppose John Huston could have taken some off from filming the Battle of San Pietro too?

digitalshark (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Well, seems like you already have your mind made up on this issue. My opinion, as I'm sure yours is, is based on having studied and read everything I could about Welles over the last 20 years. If you're expecting me to now debate you over the validity of this observation, I'm afraid I'd rather retract my recommendation and leave you to wallow through Callow. Later.

KentAllard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

That is absurd, between busy filming Its All True and the war time restructions (prevented Robert Wise from joing Welles in Brazil) how on earth was he supposed to go to hollywood to check on the film!?

digitalshark (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think that would be an unfair simplification. For example, he makes the point that with "The Magnificent Ambersons," Welles allowed his film to be destroyed in a way, by not remaining to supervise the editing or returning at any point from his "It's All True" shooting to address the crisis as it unfolded. I think it's fairly clear that the "he couldn't finish" aspect had more to do with his ever dwindling limited funds and resources and his contempt for the "money men." He needed a Houseman.

KentAllard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

doesn't Thomson take the "Welles couldn't finish work" view?

digitalshark (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Yes. I highly recommend it. The most absorbing, and in my opinion, the most illuminating book ever written about Welles. Callow's books are admirable for the amount of researched detail, but that is negated by his need to, as you said, color things with his own (in my opinion, wrong) interpretations.