Around the World with Orson Welles - Season 1

Around the World with Orson Welles - Season 1

Season 1

"Around The World With Orson Welles" (broadcast in France under the title: Le Carnet De Voyage d'Orson Welles) is a series of 6 episodes lasting 26 minutes produced by Louis Dolivet for a new British channel, ITV and dedicated to Orson Welles and following "Orson Welles' Sketch Book". The contract signed in March 1955 with ITV called for an order of 26 episodes, each to be a travelogue. This is Welles' first real work for television (the "Sketch Book" series consists of long fixed shots in the studio). The episode filmed first is the one dedicated to Vienna. Two episodes are devoted to the Basque Country, another to bullfighting, then to a district of Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and finally, the last to retirees from Chelsea (London). The episode dedicated to the Domenici Affair was left partly unfinished, but should have been the first documentary dedicated to this affair which hit the headlines in France in 1952.
Network
Episodes6
DatesOct 7, 1955 - Dec 16, 1955

Episodes

Pays Basque I (The Basque Countries)
Season 1Episode 130 min

Pays Basque I (The Basque Countries)

In a two part documentary that has him travelling through Basque country, acclaimed filmmaker Orson Welles remarks on the many aspects of life in this picturesque part of the world, and on the people whose territory straddles the French/Spanish border. This first episode is centred around interviews with two English speaking residents as they discuss their way of life with the enigmatic Welles.

Oct 7, 1955
Pays Basque II (La Pelote basque)
Season 1Episode 230 min

Pays Basque II (La Pelote basque)

In episode two of his exploration of Basque country, director Orson Welles focuses on life, sports and dance in the region. A young American boy serves as interpreter and cultural expert as Welles navigates his way through what seems like a whole community, meeting with both a priest and then a young boy whom he chats to in French. One highlight sees Welles introduced to some of the forms of the old, fascinating and picturesque game of pelote.

Oct 21, 1955
Revisiting Vienna
Season 1Episode 330 min

Revisiting Vienna

In episode three of Around the World with Orson Welles, the great man re-visits the Austrian city of Vienna. The setting for one of his most fondly remembered performances in the classic film The Third Man, Welles retraces some of the key locations used in the film. He simultaneously undertakes a comprehensive survey of cakes and pastries whilst investigating changes to coffee-house culture with the arrival of the espresso.

Nov 4, 1955
St. Germain-des-Prés
Season 1Episode 430 min

St. Germain-des-Prés

On his visit to Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orson Welles meets various fascinating characters including Raymond Duncan, the 82 year old American artist who founded the Akademia school in the Rue de Seine, and the leaders of an odd literary movement called The Lettrists. We are also introduced to the avant-garde celebrities of Saint-Germain-des-Prés such as Jean Cocteau and Juliette Gréco as well as other modern jazz experimenters.

Nov 18, 1955
Chelsea Pensioners
Season 1Episode 530 min

Chelsea Pensioners

On a visit to London, Orson Welles gets to know the widows who live at a Hackney almshouse as well as chatting with the 'Chelsea pensioners' who reside at the serviceman's retirement home at the Royal Hospital. Both his interest in, and regard for his subjects is readily apparent in the warm and generous interviews that make up this particular episode of Around the World with Orson Welles.

Dec 2, 1955
Madrid Bullfight
Season 1Episode 630 min

Madrid Bullfight

Orson Welles' interesting commentary on bullfighting with scenes inside the Madrid arena, combines vivid shots of a matador being thrown by a bull as well as looking at some of the fearful trappings that make up this strange and much maligned sport. Welles neither shocks, sickens or horrifies, but nor does he romanticise or glamorise the bullfight.

Dec 16, 1955

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