Huw Wheldon
Director
Orson Welles' Sketch Book (1955)
Season 1
Orson Welles' Sketch Book is a series of six short television commentaries by Orson Welles for the BBC in 1955. Written and directed by Welles, the 15-minute episodes present the filmmaker's commentaries on a range of subjects. Welles frequently draws from his own experiences and often illustrates the episodes with his own sketches.
Released April 23, 1955
Episode 15 min
None+
Genres: Biography, Talk, Talk Show
Keywords: imdb.early-television, imdb.screenwriter, imdb.hollywood, imdb.director, imdb.filmmaking, imdb.actor, imdb.non-fiction, imdb.character-name-in-title
Network: BBC One
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S1E1 - The Early Days
Welles discusses a timely earthquake, first-night audiences at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, and how he came to be an actor.
April 24, 1955, midnight
S1E2 - Critics
Welles talks about a Boston performance of Five Kings, the consequences of Percy Hammond's negative review of the Voodoo Macbeth, and a curse placed on the film It's All True.
May 8, 1955, midnight
S1E3 - The Police
Welles relates the story of Isaac Woodard, a decorated black World War II veteran who was blinded in a brutal 1946 beating by South Carolina police.
May 22, 1955, midnight
S1E4 - Houdini/John Barrymore/Voodoo Story/The People I Missed
Prompts used by actors and others; remembering Harry Houdini; observations on gender differences in the appreciation of magic tricks; John Barrymore.
June 5, 1955, midnight
S1E5 - The War Of The Worlds
The famous 1938 Mercury Theatre broadcast mistaken by many listeners for a real Martian invasion, and the consequent skepticism during the presentation of Norman Corwin's Between Americans on December 7, 1941; and the opening night of the Mercury stage flop, Danton's Death.
June 19, 1955, midnight
S1E6 - Bullfighting
Welles tells the true story of Bonito the bull. Robert Flaherty's story was partially filmed in 1942 for Welles's unfinished film, It's All True.
July 3, 1955, midnight
S1E7 - Postscript
May 7, 1955, midnight
Network: BBC One
Episode Runtime: 15 min.
Season Runtime: 15 min.
Released: April 23, 1955
Last Air Date: July 3, 1955, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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