Ahoy, squirts. Quint here. Now this isn't really late breaking news, but if you've got an ounce of film geek wonder in you, then gather around and listen to this story. My understanding is Peter Bogdonavich is trying to finish the film, which was left shot, but unedited at the time of Orson Welles' passing. We ran a story about that last March (click it here for that one!!! If a story about being directed by Orson Welles and being ordered about by John Houston doesn't make your ears perk up, then this below article isn't for you. For the rest of us, gather around and listen to the tale!!!
Carefree, AZ 1973. I'm 16, living with my recently divorced Mom and 19 year old sister. Sis' says, "hey, ya wanna go with me and this guy up to those old Bob Newhart TV studios in Carefree? They're supposedly making a movie up there and need extras." So, what am I gonna say, no? Sure enough they're shooting a film and indeed they need extras.
Yes, I was an extra in the Other Side of the Wind directed by Orson Welles and (seemingly) co-directed by John Huston who was acting in it as well. Peter Bogdonavich was there and Cybil Shepard, Susan Strasberg, Gregory Sierra, and many whom I did not know as a sixteen year old. At one point we are all coming down a staircase(we, being extras playing the roles of cinema aficionados, buffs, critics and the like) in a huge room lit by candles. Someone says "Hey you, with the white shirt(me), we need you to step out..".
So I did, and another voice says:"c'mon over here." It's John Huston. "Come and sit down over here." So I join him on the couch. He's to my left. And in a huge overstuffed chair to my right is Orson Welles, dressed in black silk pajamas, puffing on an el presidente. I have never been near such a commanding presence in my 47 years. This guy says one word and the room completely hushes. Then one of the two 6 and a half foot string bean, earth shoe wearing hippy operators brings an Arri 35 over for Orson to look through, still in his chair.
He peeks through the camera, then he lights up, his eyes are like burning cherries, I swear to God, I will never forget it as long as I live. I must have walked by the rolling camera 1/2 a dozen times thinking, I just might show up in this thing. Then it just evaporates. My sister actually dated Mr Welles' gopher, Peter Jason, later to make it in a few roles himself, and knew that Orson's editor, a woman named Francois, possibly Iranian, would be cutting the picture. Later, thumbing through autobiographies on Orson Welles, I found out about the problems with the Iranian backers and that the film had ended up in vault in Tehran before and unfortunately after the revolution. And until I saw your article, that was that. Some years ago film quarterly ran a piece by another extra on the set at the same time as me so at least there was corroboration that I hadn't been dreaming. I would LOVE to know further developments!
Thanks for the article.
Corky Miller
Portland, OR
