Orsen Welles

Essay by IxNxFxExRxNx0High School, 10th gradeA+, April 2004

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Orson Welles was an actor, producer, director, writer, and columnist who revolutionized the film industry by directing movies that depicted men and woman as real human beings. Throughout his writing career, Welles' characters reflected his own personality and inspired others writers throughout his career.

Orson Welles, born on May 6, 1915 to Richard Head Welles and Beatrice Ives Welles in Kenosha, Wisconsin wasn't the focus of his parents' attention. Instead his brother, Dickie was the one who was pressured to become a famous and great person. However, Dickie wasn't meant for the stage, and eventually became homeless with an alcohol problem. Orsen then stepped up to the plate, and filled into Dickie's shoes as his parents' pride and joy. He adapted wonderfully to the pressure of becoming famous, and took on many tasks trying to achieve his goal. Nevertheless, Orsen's personal relationships suffered because of this pressure to succeed. However, as he once said "A good artist should be isolated.

If he isn't isolated, something is wrong" (BrainyQuote).

In 1931, Welles made his first appearance on stage in Dublin, Ireland. He then toured the United States with Katharine Cornell, and by 1934 had become a radio producer in the U.S. By 1937, Welles was well on his way to making it in New York, directing numerous Federal Theatre productions and organizing the Mercury Theatre company. In 1938, Welles and Mercury Theater broadcasted short plays over the radio, often from popular pieces of literature. Welles' first notoriety on a national level would come when he broadcasted H. G. Welles' War of the Worlds on his radio show. His broadcast wasn't a typical one, as he treated it as if it were a real news story, cutting into a regularily scheduled music program. He frightened countless listeners while describing the landing...