Orson Welles Talks About Making 'Citizen Kane' | The Dick Cavett Show

Orson Welles discusses making Citizen Kane as his first feature and tells Dick that movie making can be learnt in a day and a half.

Date aired - May 14, 1970 - Orson Welles

Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.

His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.

Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.

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[mlb]

Orson Welles what a genuine person-self deprecating, humorous and intelligent.

[russellcampbell]

Orson always seemed to be enjoying himself. He was life personified.

[OldDirtyRobot]

"Ignorance, there's no authority in the world like it." 1:09

[JohnTurner]

I love how these old school classy people used to call them "pictures" instead of movies. Classy

[irwinmiller]

The contribution of Gregg Toland, the premier cinematographer, to Welles' Citizen Kane is inestimable. His innovations with respect to the use of lighting and shadows and deep focus was revolutionary and set the standards for generations of filmmakers to come. Welles was actually 25 when he collaborated with Herman Mankiewicz and Toland on Kane. It was the only time that he had complete creative control as a director on a film.

[dinahleeloo]

One wouldn’t expect someone as regal as Orson Welles to be funny. I enjoyed him immensely. “I’ve never seen any of my pictures because I like to sit here and think how good it must have been.” What a real, endearing man.

[THE-HammerMan]

Now HERE'S what you want to make note of...
The great Jack Lemmon listens to Welles without a peep. I've seen Lemmon many times on shows and he's always respectful of other guests, but usually puts in some comments here and there.
THAT is the utmost compliment by Jack, and shows exactly how much Orson Welles was admired and his genius respected. Jack didn't want to miss a word Orson might have to say on anything!
BTW: Orson displays here how funny he was; very intelligent and a quick wit.
PPS: Lemmon does add(talk) during the Welles segment; this is only part of the show.

[tp]

"Whenever I see a cop I know I did it"

[RollingOrmond]

Nice of him to dispel the myths of the director and give props to all the people actually involved including the cinematographer. So many directors today love to soak up the glory as if everything were their doing
(love the stories about his two years making Othello: back of head shots for unavailable actors, murder in the steam bath because they couldn't afford wardrobe, etc.)

[mattinthehat]

My God! To this day I cannot believe how this man (Welles) could never cease to amaze and astound me with his brilliance. He truly was one of a kind.

[cothrige]

What a simply astounding interview. Everything in it is incredible. Welles' intelligence and wit, Cavett's deft touch and Lemmon's classy quiet observation. Simply brilliant clip.

[soulballet]

luv the smoke wafting into frame from jack's ciggy. golden days of tv

[jecny]

Ah the golden age of television... when cigar smoke periodically obscures the guy your trying to interview.

[blahchop]

I never realized welles was such a comedian. lol

[Syklonus]

Fucking hell! Welles is an absolutely on point comedian, but he weaves some nuggets of pure wisdom into it as well. No wonder he was so great.

[drstew]

The absolute one and Only Orsen Wells. His F for Fake is also remarkable. Orsen Wells R.I.P

[CarolineChiasson]

I could listen to Orson talk for years 💙

[jupiterlegrand]

Orson Welles was the greatest talent the movies/stage/radio ever had. Forget Dos Equis, HE is the most interesting man in the world!

[larrysimon]

DC's greatest skill is letting the interviewee Just Talk ! What a period in time.

[TheAdventurer]

Way to go Orson, you showed your class, wit and genius in this old interview. Wish we had more like you today making films.