IMDb RATING
6.9/10
976
YOUR RATING
A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.A look at the life and work of the great theatre, radio and film artist.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Photos
Orson Welles
- Self
- (archive footage)
Christopher Welles
- Self
- (as Christopher Welles Feder)
Micheál MacLiammóir
- Self
- (archive footage)
Norman Corwin
- Self
- (archive footage)
William Alland
- Self
- (archive footage)
Reggie Armour
- Self
- (archive footage)
William Randolph Hearst
- Self
- (archive footage)
John Houseman
- Self
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen the paternity of Welles's alleged son is mentioned, one of the photographs which is shown and purported to be of Welles is actually a photograph of Vincent D'Onofrio, who played Welles in Ed Wood (1994).
- ConnectionsFeatures The Hearts of Age (1934)
Featured review
Highly Entertaining and Worth Watching
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
This is certainly a highly entertaining documentary that takes a look at the career of Orson Welles. It features archival interviews with the director as well as archival and new interviews with a wide range of filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Richard Linklater as well as actors like Charlton Heston and Welles' two surviving daughters.
I've read a lot of negative reviews aimed at this film and while I understand where they're coming from, at the same time I think they're being a bit harsh. Yes, this film could have gone more into the mind of Welles and it could have focused more on his personal life. It could have done a number of things but I think it's best to judge what's actually here and not judge what isn't here or whatever we might have wanted the documentary to be about.
I really thought the film did a good job at giving a quick look at the work of Welles going back to his childhood to his radio work to his movies and of course the projects he was doing at the end of his life. I thought the archival interviews with Welles were great and I really liked how they pretty much helped the legend tell his own story. The film clips are wonderful and it was just a great way to get introduced to the man and his films.
If you're already familiar with Welles then you might not learn anything "new" here but this is still a highly entertaining documentary and one that's certainly worth watching.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
This is certainly a highly entertaining documentary that takes a look at the career of Orson Welles. It features archival interviews with the director as well as archival and new interviews with a wide range of filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Richard Linklater as well as actors like Charlton Heston and Welles' two surviving daughters.
I've read a lot of negative reviews aimed at this film and while I understand where they're coming from, at the same time I think they're being a bit harsh. Yes, this film could have gone more into the mind of Welles and it could have focused more on his personal life. It could have done a number of things but I think it's best to judge what's actually here and not judge what isn't here or whatever we might have wanted the documentary to be about.
I really thought the film did a good job at giving a quick look at the work of Welles going back to his childhood to his radio work to his movies and of course the projects he was doing at the end of his life. I thought the archival interviews with Welles were great and I really liked how they pretty much helped the legend tell his own story. The film clips are wonderful and it was just a great way to get introduced to the man and his films.
If you're already familiar with Welles then you might not learn anything "new" here but this is still a highly entertaining documentary and one that's certainly worth watching.
helpful•10
- Michael_Elliott
- May 11, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Mago: La impresionante vida y obra de Orson Welles
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $813,505 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,400
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,130
- Dec 14, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $16,400
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
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Top Gap
By what name was Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer