Orson Welles: Hello Americans (83 page)

1
‘GET IN NORMAN JO DOLORES
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Jack Moss, 28 February 1942.

2
‘RESULTANT INTERNATIONAL PUBLICITY
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to George Schaefer 2 March 1942.

3
‘With respect to Orson Welles …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner, 12 March 1942.

4
‘EVERYTHING HERE PROCEEDING BEAUTIFULLY
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to George Schaefer,
op. cit.

5
‘AS FAVOR TO ME
…’ ibid.

6
‘I have a lot of things on my mind …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 9 March 1942.

7
‘everyone … will forget about us …’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, 3 March 1942.

8
‘The glimpse into the future …’ Press release by Tom Pettey, 4 March 1942.

9
‘a night of relaxation …’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, op. cit.

10
‘I believe Welles’s
intentions …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 3 March 1942.

11
‘MOST IMPORTANT THIS BE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD
…’ Telegram from George Schaefer to Phil Reismann, 4 March 1942.

12
‘It is all very grand and exciting …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, op. cit.

13
‘The weather remains cloudy …’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, 10 March 1942.

14
‘LOST JUNGLES
…’ Telegram
from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, 11 March 1942.

15
‘MOST COLORFUL ADVENTUROUS
…’ ibid.

16
‘Beautiful shots Rio …’ Memorandum dictated by Orson Welles, 11 March 1942.

17
‘THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD I WON’T DO
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 15 March 1942.

18
‘THAT HE IS NOT TO MAKE ANY PICTURE
…’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to George Schaefer, op. cit.

19
‘Line up translators
…’ Memorandum from Orson Welles to Richard Wilson, 14 March 1942.

20
‘SURE YOU REALISE IMPORTANCE
…’ Telegram from George Schaefer to Orson Welles, 16 March 1942.

21
‘EAGER HEAR REACTIONS
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to George Schaefer, 18 March 1942.

1
‘
PROBABLY EASTERN EXECUTIVES
…’ Telegram from Robert Wise to Orson Welles, 16 March 1942.

2
‘He ordered me to prepare
picture …’ ibid.

3
‘It should be shelved …’ Report cards from Pomona showing 17 March 1942.

4
‘Much better than
Citizen Kane
…’ Report cards from Pasadena showing ibid.

5
‘I did not want to cable you …’ Letter from George Schaefer to Orson Welles, 21 March 1942.

6
‘
UNSATISFACTORY REACTION
…’ Telegram from Jack Moss to Orson Welles, 23 March 1942.

7
‘You asked for a more detailed report …’
Letter from Robert Wise to Orson Welles, 31 March 1942.

8
‘doubtless the most faithful adaptation any book …’ Letter from Joseph Cotten to Orson Welles, 28 March 1942.

9
‘
SURE I MUST BE AT LEAST PARTLY WRONG
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Jack Moss, 25 March 1942.

10
‘It is a lazy land and I’m afraid …’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, 20 March 1942.

11
‘Once a year in December …’ Letter
from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 21 March 1942.

12
‘We still haven’t done any of the script stuff …’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, 31 March 1942.

13
‘no assurance that our trek …’ Memorandum from Walter Daniels to Reg Armour, 24 March 1942.

14
‘Just why I cannot seem to find out …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 28 March 1942.

15
‘it looks like Orson is going to make
…’ Letter from Tom Pettey to Herb Drake, op. cit.

16
‘
BE SURE AND LEAVE HIM A REASONABLE
…’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to Orson Welles, 28 March 1942.

17
‘
TELL JACK IT
’
S MORE IMPORTANT
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Norman Foster, 31 March 1942.

18
‘
ALL EXPECTATIONS SURPASSED
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 30 March 1942.

19
‘
I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT I AM PERSONALLY ON
THE HOOK
…’ Telegram from George Schaefer to Orson Welles, 31 March 1942.

20
‘he neither wished to go to jail …’ Letter from Richard Wilson to Orson Welles, 9 April 1942.

21
‘
THESE COMMITMENTS VALID
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to George Schaefer, 12 April 1942.

22
‘On the Lynn Shores matter …’ Memorandum from Richard Wilson to RKO front office, 27 April 1942.

23
‘the negro and low class
element …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Alberto Pessao, 11 April 1942.

24
‘Mr Welles knows what to do with his own picture …’ Memorandum from Richard Wilson to Orson Welles 14 April 1942.

25
‘
CARIOCA CARNIVAL IS GOING TO BE VERY DARK
…’
A Noite
, 2 April 1942.

26
‘Fact and fiction are served forth in unusual combination …’ Memorandum from Mercury
group
to RKO front office, 28 May 1942.

1
‘a 100% natural …’ Letter from Herb Drake to Orson Welles, 5 March 1942.

2
‘
THERE ISN
’
T A BETTER DIRECTOR ON EARTH
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Norman Foster, 13 March 1942.

3
‘
COMPLETELY AGREE WITH CABLED
…’ Telegram from Norman Foster to Orson Welles, 14 March 1942.

4
‘Everything I have seen of
Journey into Fear
…’ Letter from Orson Welles to Joseph Cotten,
4 April 1942.

5
‘The dialogue, you will immediately note …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Norman Foster, 4 April 1942.

6
‘
THEY LOVED EVERYBODY
…’ Telegram from Jack Moss to Orson Welles, 18 April 1942.

7
‘Jo to turn into Dick Tracey …’ Letter from Norman Foster to Orson Welles, 21 April 1942.

8
‘I can’t be very intelligent about
Journey
…’ Letter from Orson Welles to Norman Foster, 3 May 1942.

9
‘I love you, more than I even realised …’ Letter from Norman Foster to Orson Welles, 21 April 1942.

10
‘At dinner tonight I complained …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Norman Foster, 3 May 1942.

11
‘I think constantly of being with you …’ Letter to Orson Welles from John Berry, 30 April 1942.

12
‘
NEVER REALISED I WOULD MISS ANY MALE COMPANION
…’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to Orson Welles,
28 March 1942.

13
‘We have now finally decided …’ Memorandum from Reg Armour to Jack Moss, 24 April 1942.

14
‘
HAVE VERY SWELL NEW FAST CHEAP JOURNEY FINISH
.’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Jack Moss, 31 May 1942.

15
‘Did you find [Welles] easy to get on with? …’ Quoted in Stephen Smith,
A Fire at Heart’s Center
.

16
‘Use
Toujours ou jamais
as directed …’ Memorandum from Orson Welles to Constantin
Bakaleinikoff, quoted in ibid.

17
‘absence of melody …’ Kathryn Kalinak, ‘Text of Music:
The Magnificent Ambersons’, Cinema Journal
, Summer 1988.

18
‘Am convinced … in view of man’s temperament …’ Memorandum from Gordon Youngman, 23 June 1942.

1
‘Each time the robust and handsome fiancé …’
Rio Cine-Radio Jornal
, 20 May 1942.

2
‘rehearsal: shooting Urca …’
Activities report, 5 May 1942

3
‘our period of wholehearted co-operation was over …’ Report by Richard Wilson to Orson Welles, 12 April 1942.

4
‘No threats, bribes, or payments …’ ibid.

5
‘
I HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING
…’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to Orson Welles, 27 April 1942.

6
‘PR: [Welles] is a tough baby …’ Minutes of conversation, 27 April 1942.

7
‘Here I am in New York …’ Letter from
George Schaefer to Orson Welles, 29 April 1942, delivered personally by Phil Reismann on arrival, 8 May 1942.

8
‘Did you get my birthday cable? …’ Letter from Maurice Bernstein to Orson Welles, 14 May 1942.

9
‘A three-fold attack …’ Letter from Arnold Weissberger to Orson Welles, 14 May 1942.

10
‘
OUT OF FILM
…’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 15 May 1942.

11
‘
LEADING BRAZIL RAFTMAN
DIES
…’
New York Times
, 20 May 1942.

12
‘They got drunk with the fame …’
Aino Da Noite
, 20 May 1942.

13
‘
WHAT AMOUNT WE COVERED IN STATES
…’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 19 May 1942.

14
‘working like a dog …’ Letter from Phil Reismann to George Schaefer, 25 May 1942.

15
‘he still stays awake nights …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 25 June 1942.

16
‘but it all
gets back to the main difficulty …’ Letter from Phil Reismann to George Schaefer, op. cit.

17
‘Best wishes for a merry Xmas …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 5 June 1942.

18
‘You have got to come home the right way …’ Letter from Herb Drake to Orson Welles, 1 June 1942.

19
‘
FACT IS THAT ORSON IS DOING
…’ Telegram from Berent Friele to Phil Reismann, 21 April 1942.

20
‘as can be
seen, it is already …’ Report from Brazil division of OI-AA, 27 May 1942.

21
‘About a year ago …’ Letter from Herb Drake to George Schaefer, 2 June 1942.

22
‘we will eliminate …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner to George Schaefer, 1 June 1942.

23
‘in a form not approved …’ Memorandum from Reg Armour to Ross Hastings, 1 June 1942.

24
‘No notice is necessary …’ ibid.

25
‘
I AM ENTITLED TO BETTER
…’ Telegram from Jack Moss to George Schaefer, 3 June 1942.

26
‘
PLEASE TRY TO FIND IT IN SCHAEFER
’
S
…’ Telegram from Gordon Youngman to Ned Depinet, 17 June 1942.

27
‘Wise tells me that this will in no way …’ Letter from Charles Koerner to George Schaefer, 3 June 1942.

28
‘I think it is important …’ Memorandum from George Schaefer to Reg Armour, 16 June 1942.

29
‘The natural conclusion can
only be …’ Letter from Jack Moss to Charles Koerner, 15 June 1942.

30
‘Dear Jack, Believe me …’ Letter from Charles Koerner to Jack Moss, 16 June 1942.

31
‘The editing and the cutting of the picture …’ Letter from Joseph Cotten to Charles Koerner, 19 June 1942.

32
‘the moment Schaefer’s resignation was received it was accepted …’ Louella Parsons, 2 July 1942, quoted in Betty Lasky,
RKO
:
The
Biggest Little Major of Them All
.

33
‘what is necessary to terminate further operations by Mercury Productions …’ Memorandum from Ross Hastings to Charles Koerner, 27 June 1942.

34
‘the Mercury files, a mimeograph machine …’
New York Times
, 12 July 1942.

35
‘I agree with Phil …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner, 1 July 1942.

36
‘GRANDE OTELO
: He is a natural …’ Memorandum from Robert Meltzer,
1 June 1942.

1
‘WELLES GROUP LEFT NORTH OKAY
…’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Phil Reismann, 16 June 1942.

2
‘ORSON WELLES ANGRY …’
A Noite
, 16 June 1942.

3
‘And he threw a small coffee table …’ Peter Bogdanovich,
This is Orson Welles
.

4
‘
SHORES AGAIN SERIOUSLY SABOTAGING
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 25 June 1942.

5
‘
ABSOLUTELY NO MORE
MONEY
…’ Telegram from Phil Reismann to Orson Welles, 26 June 1942.

6
‘
SHORES NOW SUCCEEDED GETTING PROCESS
…’ Telegram from Orson Welles to Phil Reismann, 26 June 1942.

7
‘The office is haunted daily …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Reg Armour, 26 June 1942.

8
‘70% of them were very happy …’ ibid.

9
‘Orson is making this picture …’ Frank Daugherty,
Christian Science Monitor
, 26 June 1942.

10
‘I’m a total chameleon …’ Unpublished interview with Kathleen Tynan, 12 February 1983.

11
‘he spoke to Fanto …’ Interview by the author with George Fanto, July 1988.

12
‘he taught me everything I know about framing.’ Interview by the author with Chico Albuquerque, February 2002.

13
‘the Co-ordinator’s office told me …’ Letter from Lynn Shores to Walter Daniels, 11 July 1942.

14
‘
PROMPT ACTION
NECESSARY
…’ Telegram from Lynn Shores to Phil Reismann, 14 July 1942.

15
‘any act done by Mr Welles …’
Aviso
, 20 July 1942.

16
‘Shores and gang …’ Letter from George Fanto to Richard Wilson, 29 July 1942.

17
The project was ‘hazed …’ Letter from Ray Joseph to unknown correspondent, 5 August 1942.

18
‘the movie that Welles, the
incredible
…’
Daily News
, 2 July 1942.

19
‘a marvellous three-week
trip …’ Peter Bogdanovich, op. cit.

20
‘A spanking is an inspiriting thing …’
Time
, 20 July 1942.

21
‘Welles has a picture that’s distinctly not attuned …’ Bosley Crowther,
New York Times
, 1 July 1942.

22
‘packed with cinematic power …’
Herald Tribune
, 14 August 1942.

23
‘In a world brimful of …’ Thomas M. Pryor,
New York Times
, 14 August 1942.

24
‘TIME THE MAGNIFICENT
…’ Telegram from Jack
Moss to Orson Welles, 18 July 1942.

25
‘
The Magnificent Ambersons
is a magnificent movie …’
Time
, 20 July 1942.

26
‘WELLES VERSUS HOLLYWOOD AGAIN.’
New York Times
, 12 July 1942.

27
‘ROLLING UP FROM RIO.’
Theodore Strauss,
New York Times
, 30 August 1942.

28
‘That was the end of the film …’ Peter Bogdanovich, op. cit.

29
‘If RKO does not wish to continue …’ Statement from Office of Inter-American
Affairs, 1 September 1942.

30
‘It is my studied opinion …’ Memorandum from William Gordon, 2 July 1942.

31
‘it is my definite feeling …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Nelson Rockefeller, 20 October 1942.

32
‘I naturally hesitate …’ Letter from Nelson Rockefeller to Orson Welles, 10 November 1942.

33
‘Nelson Rockefeller’s definition …’ Henry Wallace, quoted in Culver and Hyde,
American Dreamer
.

34
‘If on your own responsibility …’ Letter from Peter Rathvon to Orson Welles, 12 November 1942.

35
‘Homeric proportions.’ Letter from Orson Welles to Ferdinand Pinto, 26 March 1943.

36
‘He’s ready to leave elaborate …’ From treatment for
It’s All True
material, 2 September 1943.

37
‘Possibly this outline can …’ Memorandum from William Gordon to Charles Koerner, 10 September 1943.

38
‘I have
a degree of faith in it …’ Letter from Orson Welles to Ferdinand Pinto, op. cit.

39
‘now agrees …’ Anonymous memorandum to Charles Koerner, 10 December 1942.

40
‘I believe that probably the greatest attribute …’ Memorandum from Charles Koerner to Peter Rathvon, 30 June 1942.

41
‘This new set-up …’
Hollywood Reporter
, 4 June 1942.

42
‘Welles was offering Americans …’ Betty Lasky,
RKO
:
The Biggest
Little Major of Them All
.

43
‘Although
The Magnificent Ambersons
…’ Theodore Strauss, ‘The Return of the Hero’,
New York Times
, 16 August 1942.

44
‘before it was common to be so …’ David Kamp, ‘Magnificent Obsession’,
Vanity Fair
, 1 February 19?.