Did anyone noticed the joke at the end? Entire production conceived, produced, directed, written, staged, choreographed, built, designed, lit, managed, rehearsed, contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles? LOL
Life-long Welles fan, I've never seen him like this. It's wonderful. Cavett is, as always, a master of understatement. He draws Welles out by making the Big Man come to him. He's seductive, and Welles loves playing to it. Welles' comments are adroit; he handles sub-referances w/a quickie story, then moves back to the topic. This is not the besotted wine huckster. This is the man still in his prime. Fantastic.
You've just said, very eloquently, everything I wanted to say! I never tire of hearing Orson's voice and anecdotes. And there was never a finer interviewer. Thank you for sharing it with us.
What a conversationalist Mr. Welles was. He always elevated the caliber of discourse when he appeared on television. And Dick Cavett was a terrific host. I miss that feeling of being included in the conversation, instead of nowadays, when I feel like I'm watching a bunch of morons. Where can we find an Orson Welles today? Or a Dick Cavett, or a Peter Ustinov, a Richard Burton, or a Gore Vidal, an Oscar Levant, a Jack Paar, etc., etc.....? They (these last few generations) cannot tell me the overall I.Q. of this nation isn't plummeting. It most certainly is. We are a society/culture/country in decline.
William L. you are right sir, these were fine men of class who have been disappearing rapidly as culture and literacy declined. This is nothing but the society of visual literacy that we live in that graphic revolution created.
La Grande Illusion is one of my favourites too and Orson inspired me to be a Director. "Something Else" is a witty joke by Orson, listen to the end when he muses, "They'll look it up!" and the host mentions a hoax - as we all know Orson was good with those too.
At the credits Welles says "They'll look it up now", then Cavett says "You've pulled a hoax on the public." Welles - "Yes". Reportedly, when Welles made another appearance on the show the deception was revealed. Admittedly, I tried looking it up, and couldn't find any except people coming to a dead end.
It might be The General (1926), which he once touted as perhaps the greatest film of all time, or Stagecoach (1939), which he reportedly watched 40 times in preparation for Citizen Kane.
@@wanlitan7406 I don't know that he watched Stage Coach so much because he thought it was an all-time masterpiece, but as a means to learn the craft of film making.
It’s interesting that he mentions Grand Illusion as one of the two films he’d preserve. About 20 years prior to this interview he compiled a list of his 10 favorite films and he had seven films ranked above Grand Illusion but didn’t mention any of them here. Either his estimation of Grand Illusion grew over the years or his estimation of the other films lessened. Obviously any such list will change over the years anyway.
The grand illusion is Cavett trying to look smart with his precious manners while being unable to grasp a word of what Orson Welles was trying to tell him.
Unfortunately, excerpts from an era no longer with us. Maybe Charlie Rose still does it...but this was more the norm than an exception during this time.
I think that Dick Cavett was well- liked by his interviewees because of both his own tact in conducting an interview and also the format of the interview wherein the subjects could naturally explore a conversation instead of the present- day pressure to produce a sound bite.
The only person I can think of who speaks with such modern eloquence is maybe Stephen Fry, but I’m sure he too would agree that he can barely even hold a candle to Welles
bch: Such as shame too. My favorite director is Hitchcock and I think I could say I really like Welles too. Both of them seemed to have great personalities. They were friendly and had a sense of humor. And I actually found out about that 'Something Else' gag after going through these comments.
I can't for the life of my cinephilia figure what Orson's "SOMETHING ELSE" is: Director: James Cruze; Stars: Corinne Griffith & Rod La Rocque ... I have no idea what that movie could be. Anyone?
Really great story..i would have done the same sir but sadly i hadnt been born yet..Orsons spirit will live forever in the cinema history..no orson welles will exist again ever..ok enough said
Orson was a monumental talent. A storyteller of the highest order. I strongly doubt everything he told us was true (meeting Hitler???) but thats besides the point.. his personality is magnetic and his wit razor sharp, i guess this is the reason his work in Movies and Theatre were so great and original, he really understood how to make any audience (even an indifferent one) pay attention. You could say this is ' Welles unplugged'??!!
What a racanteur. It's a wonder he never had a talk show of his own, since he's one of the few great people who seems as interested in others as they are in him. I wish Dick had allowed Welles to go more into Welles' love of solitude; instead he quickly moved to another topic.
@FungusMossGnosis It's amazing to think that after all these years, Orson still manages to pull off a hoax by misleading people into thinking something (no pun intended) is true.
Alright, I see your point. I suppose I was a little harsh when I called you mindlessly hopeless; I retract what I said. Yeah there are definately good directors out there now, but I guess I do a lot of catching up on the older ones (I'm 24). Godard is actually one of my favourite of the older ones. It's good to have video databases like this so we can retain the memories of such great cultural figures such as Welles, eh?
Somebody else pointed this out on here, but Orson made it up. There is no movie called Something Else with Corinne Griffith. Cavett references this hoax in his Woody Allen interview, since Woody mentions Le Grande Illusion.
@@charlescovell8054 "Grand Illusion" works a lot better for me than "Rules of the Game". And "Magnificent Ambersons" . . . doesn't work at all. I've watched each of these 2-3 times over past 50 years . . .
Much more of a entertaining interview than interviewing the likes of one Alfred (snooze) Hitchcock. At least Orson doesn't talk like he is in a straight jacket.
Thx. In this case definitely a speed typing error,since "contes" (as in Les Contes des Hoffman) means story. Some words, esp. names I admit having problems with! For the life of me I always have to check whether Dustin Hoffmann has one or two terminal n's (I think 1). BTW, I wish Cavett had asked if Welles thought Lewis a good filmmaker, instead he passed over that.
Of course i dont know it.There are already some great directors out there nowdays.What i tried to say is that no one can direct a movie with this unique way orson welles could.or hitchcock or kubrik.you see my point?some people in the movie industry managed to set some standards which exist till today.Remeber that even the french jean luc godart said for orson everyone owes him everything.he is a cult icon in the history of cinema.one of a kind.like some others are and will be in other ways
No dont regret it.I made a comment full of passion the first time so its logical it would be misunderstood.I also admit that im indeed mindlessly hopeless sometimes..you see the times of The Great Depression are coming back..ok im joking..Anyway i agree with your statement about the database..
3:13 Welles is rite about "you cant make a pornographic masterpiece", and to many filmmakers today keep trying to break that bar and eventually they fail and make a bad pornographic film like blue velvet.
@betterthansex123 his interviews were always relaxed, respectful, educated and very interesting. unfortunately most talk-shows today don't have those features.
@iFedericoFellini I hope you're not suggesting, e.g., that the alien invasion of 1938 was a hoax? Because I can assure you that my grandparents looked out there kitchen window in West Windsor Township as it was happening, and it was all real.
Did anyone noticed the joke at the end? Entire production conceived, produced, directed, written, staged, choreographed, built, designed, lit, managed, rehearsed, contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles? LOL
Oh my God, an actual literate, intelligent conversation taking place on network TV. How quaint. Thanks very much for the post. RIP, Orson.
Life-long Welles fan, I've never seen him like this. It's wonderful. Cavett is, as always, a master of understatement. He draws Welles out by making the Big Man come to him. He's seductive, and Welles loves playing to it. Welles' comments are adroit; he handles sub-referances w/a quickie story, then moves back to the topic. This is not the besotted wine huckster. This is the man still in his prime. Fantastic.
You've just said, very eloquently, everything I wanted to say! I never tire of hearing Orson's voice and anecdotes. And there was never a finer interviewer. Thank you for sharing it with us.
What a conversationalist Mr. Welles was. He always elevated the caliber of discourse when he appeared on television. And Dick Cavett was a terrific host. I miss that feeling of being included in the conversation, instead of nowadays, when I feel like I'm watching a bunch of morons. Where can we find an Orson Welles today? Or a Dick Cavett, or a Peter Ustinov, a Richard Burton, or a Gore Vidal, an Oscar Levant, a Jack Paar, etc., etc.....? They (these last few generations) cannot tell me the overall I.Q. of this nation isn't plummeting. It most certainly is. We are a society/culture/country in decline.
William L. you are right sir, these were fine men of class who have been disappearing rapidly as culture and literacy declined. This is nothing but the society of visual literacy that we live in that graphic revolution created.
La Grande Illusion is one of my favourites too and Orson inspired me to be a Director.
"Something Else" is a witty joke by Orson, listen to the end when he muses, "They'll look it up!" and the host mentions a hoax - as we all know Orson was good with those too.
At the credits Welles says "They'll look it up now", then Cavett says "You've pulled a hoax on the public." Welles - "Yes". Reportedly, when Welles made another appearance on the show the deception was revealed.
Admittedly, I tried looking it up, and couldn't find any except people coming to a dead end.
Agree with him on "Grand Illusion". The "something else" should be his own "Citizen Kane".
It might be The General (1926), which he once touted as perhaps the greatest film of all time, or Stagecoach (1939), which he reportedly watched 40 times in preparation for Citizen Kane.
@@wanlitan7406 I don't know that he watched Stage Coach so much because he thought it was an all-time masterpiece, but as a means to learn the craft of film making.
Probably one of the best interviews to have ever taken place. RIP Orson Welles
It’s interesting that he mentions Grand Illusion as one of the two films he’d preserve. About 20 years prior to this interview he compiled a list of his 10 favorite films and he had seven films ranked above Grand Illusion but didn’t mention any of them here. Either his estimation of Grand Illusion grew over the years or his estimation of the other films lessened. Obviously any such list will change over the years anyway.
Brilliant answer on the subject of pornography.
too bad that today everything is called art even pornography
Love this man’s brilliance.
Definitely, one of Cavett's best and most interesting interviews. Thank you for posting!
The grand illusion is Cavett trying to look smart with his precious manners while being unable to grasp a word of what Orson Welles was trying to tell him.
This was a truly wonderful & engaging interview. both Dick and Orson are just about at their best. thanks for uploading this little masterpiece.
Unfortunately, excerpts from an era no longer with us. Maybe Charlie Rose still does it...but this was more the norm than an exception during this time.
I think that Dick Cavett was well- liked by his interviewees because of both his own tact in conducting an interview and also the format of the interview wherein the subjects could naturally explore a conversation instead of the present- day pressure to produce a sound bite.
😢😢😢😢😢boy do i miss him especially this show he was a GENIUS AND HUMBLED RIP MR WELKES AND YES HURST BASTARD
I am in awe of this great legend.. Orson Welles was a genius who knew his craft and a great interview.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing these clips of it!
the best tv interview ive ever seen
He looks so happy and healthy here... loved him so.
Ironically, I got an advert for the Clooney Catch 22 series before this clip
What a Legend
Orson Welles is the King of Movies.
Orson Welles, what a character. And incredibly down-to-earth and modest.
great clip, thanks for posting!
Brigadier General
OMG! That's such an awesome story I don't even care if it's true!
wow - energetic orson clips seem kinda rare - thnx!
i love this guy, the world needs more people like him.
god this awesome. try getting a 'star' of these days to talk like orson. they wouldn't get passed "duhhhh"
The only person I can think of who speaks with such modern eloquence is maybe Stephen Fry, but I’m sure he too would agree that he can barely even hold a candle to Welles
wow such a great articulate ,well read well rounded man.
Those end titles lol...
One thing I notice about him during these interviews is that he doesn't go out of his way to trash others as he could have easily done.
thanks for this. great stuff.
Man for all ages.
Thanks for posting this, as a big fan of Welles -- and Cavett. I hadn't seen it before and really enjoyed watching.
God, I love Orson Welles. :D
3.15 mark...wow...talk about thinking on your feet...orson is a legit legend
Thank you for your service
What he says about pornography is really relevant especially for today
Orson had more great stories that anyone, ever. Amazing life.
Although the reference to the "Something Else" movie was a hoax/joke, this has appeared on IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt3739494/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1
God bless you mr welleses
Extraordinary man.
The most interesting gent ever....
bch: Such as shame too. My favorite director is Hitchcock and I think I could say I really like Welles too. Both of them seemed to have great personalities. They were friendly and had a sense of humor.
And I actually found out about that 'Something Else' gag after going through these comments.
I wonder if there are any tapes of any other Cavett interviews with Orson Welles. Just a thought. ... if so: I hope someone can upload them. ... :^)
Peter Greenaway has the theatre in him like orson...
I like Orson's joke credits at the end. Bet the unions wouldn't let you get away with that now.
bchfront: Very true.
I only wish there were personalities like Hitchcock or Welles in Hollywood today.
That theme music from Dick Cavett's show was from Leonard Bernstein's opera/musical Candide
...funny credit at the end too...
Orson Welles is the coolest guy, I've yet to see an interview with him where he's not superb.
I can't for the life of my cinephilia figure what Orson's "SOMETHING ELSE" is:
Director: James Cruze; Stars: Corinne Griffith & Rod La Rocque ... I have no idea what that movie could be.
Anyone?
After searching to no avail, I am left to believe that there is no such film, and that was the joke
I'm having a lot of difficulty identifying the other film he mentioned. Does know where there exists a listing for "Something Else"?
Really great story..i would have done the same sir but sadly i hadnt been born yet..Orsons spirit will live forever in the cinema history..no orson welles will exist again ever..ok enough said
Haha the end credits "Contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles".
Wow. Just plain wow. Hard to imagine this on American Television, or anywhere else. We get trailer trash in soundbites now.
Orson was a monumental talent. A storyteller of the highest order. I strongly doubt everything he told us was true (meeting Hitler???) but thats besides the point.. his personality is magnetic and his wit razor sharp, i guess this is the reason his work in Movies and Theatre were so great and original, he really understood how to make any audience (even an indifferent one) pay attention. You could say this is ' Welles unplugged'??!!
He obviously hadn't seen Oshima's "In the Realm of the Senses", if it had come out by the time of this interview.
That was Cavett's original theme song, the one I liked so much but was replaced!
Ofcourse there isn't "something else". You can twinkle in his eye as he says it.
I couldn't have put it any better myself, friend!
What a racanteur. It's a wonder he never had a talk show of his own, since he's one of the few great people who seems as interested in others as they are in him. I wish Dick had allowed Welles to go more into Welles' love of solitude; instead he quickly moved to another topic.
@FungusMossGnosis
It's amazing to think that after all these years, Orson still manages to pull off a hoax by misleading people into thinking something (no pun intended) is true.
Alright, I see your point. I suppose I was a little harsh when I called you mindlessly hopeless; I retract what I said. Yeah there are definately good directors out there now, but I guess I do a lot of catching up on the older ones (I'm 24). Godard is actually one of my favourite of the older ones. It's good to have video databases like this so we can retain the memories of such great cultural figures such as Welles, eh?
Dick Cavett knew how to interview.
How is it that Larry King has a show in 2010 and Dick Cavett doesn't?
TopDog: Also 'Conceived, Produced, Directed, Written, Staged, Choreographed, Built, Designed, Lit, Managed, Rehearsed, . . . '
;)
Somebody else pointed this out on here, but Orson made it up. There is no movie called Something Else with Corinne Griffith. Cavett references this hoax in his Woody Allen interview, since Woody mentions Le Grande Illusion.
"Grand Illusion" is a defensible choice. Not a lot of contenders with equal gravitas: maybe "Children of Paradise" and "Citizen Kane".
Casablanca?
Renoir’s Rules of the Game and Welles’s Magnificent Ambersons must surely come into the reckoning.
@@charlescovell8054 "Grand Illusion" works a lot better for me than "Rules of the Game". And "Magnificent Ambersons" . . . doesn't work at all. I've watched each of these 2-3 times over past 50 years . . .
that same back problem made it impossible for him to see films over 2 hours in length
Dang, so he does.
aaahhhhh the french...
something else...obviously he's trolling film nerds.
I have to agree.
Does anyone know where I can find the film Something Else?
"Has anyone ever made a pornographic masterpiece?"
Caligula...
MrHEC381991 Almost Jailbait 1
that was a film that was written to be serious but had pornographic interpolations filmed and inserted
That's your idea of a masterpiece? Stay away from movies before you hurt yourself.
He's drunk as a skunk and completely unhealthy but he's engaged in the conversation like a genius.
@bchfront - So tell us, who was your late father? Have you seen "Orson Welles and Me?"
yes, the internet
Much more of a entertaining interview than interviewing the likes of one Alfred (snooze) Hitchcock. At least Orson doesn't talk like he is in a straight jacket.
Hitchcock had a pretty dry and very sharp wit.
Thx. In this case definitely a speed typing error,since "contes" (as in Les Contes des Hoffman) means story. Some words, esp. names I admit having problems with! For the life of me I always have to check whether Dustin Hoffmann has one or two terminal n's (I think 1). BTW, I wish Cavett had asked if Welles thought Lewis a good filmmaker, instead he passed over that.
I looked it up.
can someone give me information about ''something else''?
I can't find anything about a movie called "Something Else" directed by a Jame Cruz. Pretty sure Orson just trolled this entire audience
Of course i dont know it.There are already some great directors out there nowdays.What i tried to say is that no one can direct a movie with this unique way orson welles could.or hitchcock or kubrik.you see my point?some people in the movie industry managed to set some standards which exist till today.Remeber that even the french jean luc godart said for orson everyone owes him everything.he is a cult icon in the history of cinema.one of a kind.like some others are and will be in other ways
@ptboat67 hes charismatic.. but i dunno if i cant trust him... oh well.
Was Orson Welles just wonderful or not?
"What a racanteur"
"raconteur", french word for "storyteller".
"sadly no longer exists: A genuine "raconteur". could you elaborate what you mean by this for me?
No dont regret it.I made a comment full of passion the first time so its logical it would be misunderstood.I also admit that im indeed mindlessly hopeless sometimes..you see the times of The Great Depression are coming back..ok im joking..Anyway i agree with your statement about the database..
3:13 Welles is rite about "you cant make a pornographic masterpiece", and to many filmmakers today keep trying to break that bar and eventually they fail and make a bad pornographic film like blue velvet.
@betterthansex123 his interviews were always relaxed, respectful, educated and very interesting. unfortunately most talk-shows today don't have those features.
Now ten years later.. it’s wayyy worse lol
LULZ 5:34
Orson Welles was correct!
Seriously.
Can’t find “Something Else” anywhere?
what do you mean?
@iFedericoFellini
I hope you're not suggesting, e.g., that the alien invasion of 1938 was a hoax? Because I can assure you that my grandparents looked out there kitchen window in West Windsor Township as it was happening, and it was all real.