Orson Welles - Interview (July 27, 1970)

Host Dick Cavett welcomes his only guest, actor-writer-director Orson Welles.
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[@omelmusic]

Interviews with Orson Welles are more engaging than 99% of movies made nowadays.

[@TheSnowmanBKK]

You got that right !

[@dreyn7780]

Well, they're not trying to entertain people today. I've got no idea who actors are today. I see their photos and I've never seen them before. The old world has well and truly gone.

[@omelmusic]

@@dreyn7780" It's a very sad state of affairs, Jerry." - Cosmo Kramer

[@jjcaron72]

Orson was amazing.

[@judyannlemay618]

AWESOME!! Well said ;]

[@JeffRebornNow]

I just noticed the joke Cavett and his crew put in the credits at the end of the show: "Entire production conceived, produced, directed, written, staged, choreographed, built, designed, lit, managed, rehearsed, contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles." LOL that was awesome

[@servantoftheonetruegodalmi7212]

Haha

[@Ajidam]

I feel like Orson is my God.

[@johnl1685]

It's probably true. Ha!

[@blakegillen1762]

I’lllol oil oil oil lil

[@78MONINA]

I loved it too 😂 Cavvet just wasn't going to let it go. Wells did not like the questions related to his childhood and orphanhood at all because they were asked just when the previous question had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, a very common practice in this type of shows and that still persists to generate morbidity or controversy in the audience. Wells simply wanted to defend himself skillfully, wanting to take control of the show for a moment and make Cavvet as uncomfortable as he made him, only by trying; He did it in a very backward and prejudiced way, as he criticized his youth and the power he already had by being able to interview someone for 90 minutes, mocking his use of sophisticated and, to his taste, pretentious words. In the end Cavett only lets him know yes, this young man is in charge of this show and reminds him that it was not very different from what Wells himself did in his own film career. Both very intelligent men without a doubt. Both a great reflection of how the entertainment industry worked at that time and absolutely both with a great sense of humor.🙌

[@BULL.173]

Orson Welles was just so...grand and majestic. I don't watch him so much as I regard him. There will never be another.

[@Billkwando]

He was _so_ grand, I find I have a tendency to reregard him regularly.

[@MarkMirremont]

He was without a doubt a one of a kind genius.

[@deborahdodson9367]

And played many many characters on & offstage...

[@normsaunders4980]

Very, very well put 👏.

[@stevenallard5284]

Him and Richard Burton, I can listen to all day

[@jcmilosmith4622]

What is intriguing about Cavett and Welles, is their insatiable curiosity about things. It's always thoughtful

[@garrettsmth]

“One’s privacy is invaded enough without doing it to oneself”

[@daveschere918]

wisdom applicable to our time for sure.

[@waynej2608]

2021: 'wtf is privacy'?

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

Orson was a great raconteur and every story he would tell was a colorful, masterful performance in itself.

[@josephmcfarland8442]

Well Stated

[@richardthelionheart5594]

That's bc he was from jump, a great writer. Mank got a lot of the credit, House a little too but Wells really wrote Citizen Kane.

[@liquidsonly]

Hardly any of it was true, but who cares? Not me.

[@russellcampbell9198]

​@AMT Well said, indeed.

[@vandal1764]

Lol his Shakespeare was definitely a "colorful masterpiece" 😂😂

[@vickaps]

What a booming voice. Intelligent and confident - would love to have been able to have known him

[@pleasequietdown8946]

Entire production conceived, produced, directed, written, staged, choreographed, built, designed, lit, managed, rehearsed, contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles.

[@douglasmilton2805]

But Mel Brookes did the catering.

[@pleasequietdown8946]

@@douglasmilton2805 wonderful bagels

[@waynej2608]

And, he even sweeps up around the joint.

[@JeffRebornNow]

LOL I noticed what Cavett and his crew had put in at the end of the show and then saw your comment

[@scottnapier943]

Mr Welles looks like a Mafia boss here, he once said in an interview he would have loved to have played Don Corleone in 'The Godfather'. Would have been very interesting to have seen that performance.

[@treble77]

Good call or a rival mob boss?

[@paolamura3497]

No..that role Is Brando's

[@jadezee6316]

@@paolamura3497 orson welles did not consider brandos performance very good..in fact quote" it wasnt even a good performance"......after someone suggested it was great performance

[@jadezee6316]

Wells after someone suggested brandos performance in the Godfather was great...."it wasnt even a GOOD! performance".

[@dreyn7780]

Well, you know what? I heard people talk bad about brando. The thing about people is, they appear out of nowhere into your life and then rapidly vanish, never to be seen ever again. I've retired from listening to people. Its a worthless hobby.

[@GA-1st]

Welles was a true Renaissance Man, the likes of which we'll probably never see again.

[@android584]

He would have been raised on organically grown food, no fluoride, no vaccines and given a much higher grade education than is available (outside of homeschooling) today.

[@AslansMane88]

@@android584 And schooled with a tinfoil hat to boot!

[@wMNWw]

@@android584 Oh blimey, the stupidity of this comment is rivaled by very little.

[@jeremymullins1294]

Orson always manages to seem from the past the present and the future.

[@nemsimic]

great way to describe him

[@Conn30Mtenor]

He's the only filmmaker I know of who casts himself as the villain. Multiple times. He was also the first to produce a Shakespeare production with an all-black cast.

[@GeordieAmanda]

As a Brit I was totally unaware of Dick Cavett until I stumbled across him one day, on KZbin. What a delight. Insightful, erudite, intellectual and possibly most important, just plain old likeable. What an amazing interviewer. Possibly the finest I've seen (we had the much revered Michael Parkinson, brilliant interviewer himself). Incredible composure too.

[@GodsOath_com]

He was the cerebral Johnny Carson

[@villll]

he has the makeup of something pretentious but he’s entirely humble, so good to listen to

[@POCKET21923]

Brilliant man. Underrated, under appreciated. He was hollywood history and I regretfully was too young to know.

[@sameerahmed-gx8js]

Ikr??..... He made so much great movie but people only recognize him for citizen Kane(which is not wrong though)

[@MothGirl007]

True film fanatics totally know how important he was, imho.

[@lovealways2609]

underrated?.. known as : having made the greatest movie ever.. really?

[@mkrbrtsn1]

Love thes old Dick Cavett interviews. Just great conversation without needing to plug a book or film.

[@karenkaren3189]

Listening to Welles lifts my spirits in these depressing times

[@ahkee369]

Oh Karen. Just take it easy. Less anger, more tolerance. Things will improve. I promise. 😊

[@DINOLOVER6717]

What a giant of a man, in every single possible sense of that word. Just mind blowing to hear how that brilliant mind operated. You are missed Orson 💙

[@January.]

*mind-blowing

[@outwestinc]

Spellbinding interview. Thanks for sharing.

[@pix046]

Brilliant actor, director, producer, the works. As an Englishman, I see him as an honorary Englishman.

[@nathanmiller185]

@@pix046 an anglophile from wisconsin , usa

[@lisaburns4131]

Orson is a brill interviewee He was really interesting, never boring. Could listen to him again and again, and I have.

[@acheesylasagna8636]

I wish people spoke like this today

[@clifforddriver9434]

I can listen to Orson do interviews whenever they come up. I find him to be on of the most interesting people this planet has ever had.

[@Bunske1976]

What an interview. First time of ever watching an interview with Orson Welles, and first time I have ever heard of Dick Cavett.. what a pleasure to watch! I'm completely blown away by Mr Welles' charm, intelligence and voice. Great interview, I could have watched them talk for hours on end. Marvellous. Thank you for posting 👍

[@wolfwilliams]

Look for the video of Welles and Peter O'Toole discussing how to act and stage 'Hamlet.' Brilliant....

[@arundelmercure553]

This was wonderful, thank you. I felt like I was spending time in Orson's company, what a splendid raconteur. Cavett was great too- gently inquisitive and respectful, asking just enough to let Orson do his thing, reeling off great stories. "So I was swimming with Churchill and..." So cool. He knew everybody, had seen it all. One of the greatest 20th century men.

[@jamesdrynan]

An interesting aspect of Cavett's original shows was the number of actors and show biz folks who watched it religiously.

[@cuddlycactus6378]

Orson Welles was truly a unique creative genius. (And a compassionate genuine human being) It truly is a tragedy the original version of The Magnificent Ambersons was destroyed and we will never be able to watch the real story that Orson wanted to tell. And his way of story telling through his movies & paintings and interviews (such as this one) are true treasures. F for Fake was so far ahead of its time and sadly when it was released people just did not understand it...amazing how decades later it resonates and is simply a fascinating story. If you are a fan of O.W. then you need to see F For Fake Orson Welles has given us an Immortal Story of his own creation and his artwork and insights are truly eternal and I am eternally grateful for all of his contributions to this world.

[@jacquelinegerber2998]

JG is nice

[@camphope9344]

I have fallen head over heels in love with Orson fucking Wells. That man was stupendous. So pleasurable and proper. Reminds me of the etiquette that my grandmother taught me. Makes me smile

[@thebuffmister90]

The George Marshall and Winston Churchill stories are brilliant and probably made so by not just the content of the stories but the way in which they were told. Thank god for KZbin for preserving these moments of entertainment history.

[@stewmott3763]

Any sensible dream dinner party would have Orson Welles at the table.

[@VictorMaxol]

Maybe not, or at least get fed before he arrives.

[@stiv147mccluskey3]

America should be so proud of this great man.

[@danielharpo263]

Just the way they speak...not to say everything was better in the old days, but the language and vocabulary were on such a different, higher level than nowadays. Class, elegance, grace - call it what you want, but the difference is blatantly noticeable compared to the pretentious, tasteless language and behavior of today, especially in today's talk shows.

[@PURPLE.REIGN.1999]

That's just how language evolves. People 200 years ago would say the same thing about you.

[@csfan65]

You are absolutely correct, Daniel.

[@smoothlyamusing1502]

it seems that we have found the lazier option in our linguistics and vocabularies ... how I miss the good old days...

[@PURPLE.REIGN.1999]

@@smoothlyamusing1502 the good old days to you are the bad old days to others.

[@smoothlyamusing1502]

@@PURPLE.REIGN.1999 the music back then was better than anything these days

[@UncleBobCrypto]

Good God, the English language is so skilfully spoken by Wells. Smooth like silk

[@paolamura3497]

In fact I thought finally an American Who speaks excellent English...and the I learn he's been years in London theatres!!!

[@villll]

this man is excellent, I can listen to him forever. Such charisma, such grace and self awareness..

[@MothGirl007]

His intelligence is off the charts.

[@dustinw6849]

Well said. Here Here. Rare to witness an adult conversation between two gentlemen.

[@android584]

I think the Idiocracy's already kicked in.

[@theflorgeormix]

This might be the definitive Welles interview. Good person. Very generous. Calming.

[@GodsOath_com]

Absolutely the best interview I have EVER SEEN.

[@aaronlane8405]

Orson led a truly epic life.

[@alanchriston6806]

Orson a genius, superb interview from the great DC. Orson left us with a handful of genius pieces, the system shut him down., and didn’t want us to see more. Orsons portrayal of Shakespeares, Falstaff is sublime. Look again.

[@Eire_Go_Deo]

Dick Cavett was one of the best interviewers ever!

[@PutItAway101]

Not many people could contribute equally to the conversation with Orson Welles like Dick Cavett.

[@dreyn7780]

He was very low quality. He could be very bitter and boring.

[@dreyn7780]

He could be very bitter and nasty to people who didn't deserve it.

[@gordonowens7794]

I beg to differ Johnny Carson and Charlie Rose were the best interviewers because they were both great listeners and could be spontaneous with their questions.

[@Arjmm]

​@@gordonowens7794 Charlie Ross not at all. He was extremely dull

[@coastlinersmithy]

A wonderful “old school” interview but I especially loved the bit where he turns the interview on to Cavett, great humour and Welles seemed genuinely interested in Cavett.

[@marcco44]

not only a brilliant man, but also immensely charming

[@MothGirl007]

Very.

[@2kanchoo]

This is one of best interviews of all time. Both of these guys were so great at conversing.

[@benkoldoff8662]

Welles was such a unique individual. He talks so differently than anyone else I've ever heard. When you first hear him he sounds a little dramatic, a little pretentious, a little over the top, but you just listen to him for 2 minutes and you simply can't deny his genius. Hollywood would not be what it is today without this brilliant mind.

[@CannibalWHORE22]

Some days he is one of my favorite directors. He inspires me to achieve greatness in all aspects of life.

[@celebrityrog]

This is a HOOT! Dick and Orson just being masters of comedic timing and innuendo and double entendre is on fucking point. Its classy yet trashy but not too trashy with a pinch, dash, and splash of extra class back into it. I love it.

[@montylatino1]

Man...what a classic, fun, and quite revealing interview! A legend in Mr. Welles and a melancholic reminder that Mr. Cavett should have been on TV much, much longer than his tenure!

[@Viewer-ld5rc]

Didn’t he have a long run on TV anyway?

[@amberpaigejames9054]

All the comments for Welles, but Dick Cavett, who was able to keep so smooth and composed during this interview, is a legend.

[@johngraves2417]

"Film of memory" love how he speaks as if he's directing his life

[@mollied4905]

A man who’s as cool as his name, great interview!

[@phani888888888]

he is a good communicator.. he knows what he is talking about

[@richardthelionheart5594]

This piece of tape is priceless - literally! He's brilliant w greatest command of the English language.

[@pspaulstewartinterviewinspires]

I just love these guys and their interactions. Very enjoyable.

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

Orson Welles was and is an American Institution. There's been no one close after him.

[@316minister]

An amazing man he was. Such an awesome life lived.

[@AlbertAlbertB.]

It is superb to see so much joy here. This is just much fun, just because of the fun they are having!

[@rickarra1833]

He's a great interview, and had a wonderful vocabulary

[@joeanon5788]

1970, I was 11 years old, and this was such a hip / woke period. Color TV was all the rage. Even my grandma watched this show.

[@nhmooytis7058]

I was 18 and watched Cavett religiously!

[@MothGirl007]

When intelligence, talent and the art of conversation mattered.

[@Thrivinginthespotlight]

They will always matter truly, i see your point as well. This time felt like those values were more prominent in the world.

[@KingTriton1837]

He was a good looking guy. It's amazing that he didn't think he was good looking. And his voice was out of this world!!!!

[@MothGirl007]

He attracted a lot of very beautiful women too.

[@PhilippinesFarmLife]

I hope there is an Afterlife. I am going to look for Orson Welles

[@hysteriawysteria]

me too

[@thewhitewolf58]

He sounds like hes writing a book whenever he speaks

[@todd3563]

Orson was brilliant, yet humble. The opposite of hollywood today.

[@pedebe100]

1:13: 🎙️ Dick Cavett show with special guests Orson Welles. 5:27: ! Orson Welles is praised as a pioneer and legend in the entertainment industry, but prefers not to be treated as such. 10:42: 🎵 The video discusses the use of singers in movies and the decision to use a symphonic version of a theme song. 15:06: 🎥 Orson Welles talks about how he convinced Harry Cohen to fund a movie in a phone call. 20:27: ! Orson Welles recalls his experiences with world leaders, including Hitler, during his childhood. 25:20: 👵 The speaker recalls a delightful old lady he knew at the American Embassy in England who had connections to important people and was adored by everyone. 29:54: ! The speaker shares two anecdotes about encounters with Winston Churchill. 35:14: 🎙️ The interviewer expresses admiration for the interviewee and expresses a desire to know more about them. 40:23: ! Politicians are reluctant to discuss competition and avoid mentioning the names of other personalities in the same field. 45:22: ! The speaker believes that history can't be trusted because people often misquote and fabricate stories. 49:56: 🎖️ The speaker recalls his experiences in the army, including being jokingly made a Brigadier General.

[@trinalaios734]

Dick Cavett interviewed Orson Welles, Katherine Hepburn, and Marlon Brando in the space of the year. Incredible.

[@anjalisharma461]

Really enjoyed this conversation. What a fascinating man.

[@GodsOath_com]

On Churchill: you realize that Churchill had keenly observed his effect on others around Orson and enjoyed helping him that way

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

George Orson Welles, más conocido como Orson Welles (Kenosha, Wisconsin, 6 de mayo de 1915-Los Ángeles, California, 10 de octubre de 1985), fue un actor, director, guionista, productor y locutor de radio estadounidense.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Legendary Orson Welles ...no doubt about it ...trailblazer 🇺🇸

[@jeffstone2136]

Of course Orson was Dick's only guest. You give the whole hour to him or you don't bother. Welles could have come on every night as the sole guest for two weeks straight, and still have half a lifetime of great stories left to tell.

[@edwardwilliams4602]

Absolutely true!

[@davidallen8611]

I love this interview!

[@jdion79]

only a channel with that name could post this. thank you so much.

[@edcampion3998]

Love to have met this guy He is a character

[@robertrstevens]

The country changes, and not for the better, with the passing of people like Orson Welles. (ARE there others like Welles?) It's strange to realize that he passed on over 35 years ago. Long Live Orson Welles.

[@sempereye7291]

A thoroughly entertaining conversation.

[@GodsOath_com]

Spent his teens pretending he was in his twenties, it all makes sense now. How wonderful if todays teens would do likewise instead of what they do today.

[@lisad476]

A true American treasure.

[@bralph82]

Welles immediately becomes the host.

[@Abard3480]

What a facinating and enigmatic man....always 3 steps ahead.

[@belladrome]

I could listen to Welles for hours .

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

These marvelous interviews he did in the 70s show that Welles was a great human being who also was a great man.

[@williamewing5509]

I used to watch Orson Wells in a TV series called Orson Wells Great Misteries and I am dedicating this TV series to my old school friends who are both sisters as I hope to see them both again very soon to Chris and Hester from Billyxxxxx

[@amberpaigejames9054]

This is such a sweet interview! By the end, it seems like the two are best friends with respect and more respect for each other.

[@randallsguaranteedsold6361]

Love these Dick Cavett interviews! I at times have to pinch myself “wow, this is actually…..” (in this case Orson Welles)

[@authenticalaskan76]

.....back when intelligent conversation was the dinner and dessert of talk show entertainment.

[@paulchristopher8634]

Honestly, I could listen to this man for hours. Shame he’s no longer alive

[@garthdavis4320]

Happy birthday to the late Orson Welles.🎉

[@roygunter3244]

I watched Cavett all the time, he is a great interviewer, a great man and witty. When he was taken off the quality of talk shows went down. I would never have been able to sit down with either of these men and not have put on that hat they are talking about, when you sit down with giants you are always going to have a hard time not having the deer in the headlights thing going on.

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

One of the best interviews I've ever seen--because of the quality of the interviewer and the interviewee. Both are truly intelligent, thoughtful people.

[@GelatinousSSnake]

"Entire production conceived, produced, directed, written, staged, choreographed, built, designed, lit, managed, rehearsed, contracted for and criticized by Orson Welles"

[@danielharpo263]

just a brilliant man!

[@nhmooytis7058]

I saw this when it first aired!

[@matthewbattye5343]

Aside from everything else, gosh he is a physically huge presence.

[@soilmanted]

I see what Orson means when he complains about the music that was added. The gunshots and the broken glass were a full orchestral arrangement, and didn't need anything added.

[@gregcruse4647]

What a magnificent man

[@TonyB34]

I wonder if Mr Welles ever gave cinema lessons or taught how to make movies throughout his existence, but he would've been a master of it. The way he expresses himself, the pace of it. He also seems to be an extreme patient man.

[@ToastersChannel]

See “F is for fake”

[@TonyB34]

@@ToastersChannelMan.. you just read my mind, I was about to watch it

[@ToastersChannel]

@@TonyB34 :)

[@francisdec1615]

When he was in Europe he was making movies with Pasolini🧐

[@Fatherofheroesandheroines]

I could hear this man talk about potatoes

[@osvaldonoda9193]

Love this man, he can describe a slice of bread and make it interesting

[@whatwouldbrianwilson]

Quite a gentleman. I’d love to have been friends with this good fellow.

[@dalliepool550]

Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story

[@paolamura3497]

I want to believe his stories...but he has a so cunning look when he finishes them!!!!

[@mattreeves1222]

Striking how physically huge of a man Welles was compared to Cavett.

[@android584]

1.85 (6' 1") vs 1.69m (5' 6½"). Dick is short enough to make Orson look very tall.

[@MothGirl007]

He was a giant - I had no idea until seeing this interview.

[@tonynesbit9673]

Orson was a total one off ,a genius .