Wel

Fram page 18

He was trving his utmost
to remain unobtrusive (Oran
Welles... unobtrusive?) on the
streets of downtown L.A. and
Century City and in and
around his rented home amid
three fortuitously located
vacant and secluded lots far
back in the smog enshrouded
hills of Beverly.

The working tith was Tir
Other Side Of the Wind. No-
one had seen a script. There
was none. “Tt’s all in my head,
Garv!™ said Orson to his cam-
craman, Gary Graver, a voung,
eager, versatile, non-union pic-
ture maker who had been
making sex-exploitaresn films
and receiving guod notices for
his excellent cinematography.

Gary, who Orsen endear:
ingly referred te as, “Gary
Grab-it,” a typical Weliesian

Vitiicism designed to remind
Gary of his “sex-oriented
movie” days, was and aiways
had been an ardent admirer of
Orson and everything to do
with Orson. He was the proud
owner of 16mm prints of
Touch Of Evil, and the 1 Love
Lucy Show, ov which Orson
once guest starred, which he
more than occasionally
screened for his friends.

In July, Gary had read ina
Hollywood trade paper that
Orson Welles was in town for
a few days. He hurriedly called
The Beverly Hills Hotel, bold-
y asked to speak with Mr,

Velles, gor through to him
and proceeded to bemoan his
lot as a maker of “X-rated”
films and offered... “to work
with you...here or in Europe,
even...PIl pay my own way.
Anything for a chance to work
with you!”

Silence. A bit of incoherent
grumbling was heard, then;
“Pll work tor nothing.” A
shorter silence, then; “Can
you be over here in 10 min-
utes?”

Within five minutes, Gary
had joined his idol for a
mighty drink and enthusiastic
conversation about specific
scenes in Citizen Kane, Touch
Of Evil, Falstaff, The Trial,
but mostly, about his own
prowess as a low-budget pic-
ture maker — how he once
managed to bring in a feature
for the impossibly low sum of
$10,000. And abcut how he
had the most efficient litle
crew in frown and, again,
offered his services for nothing
(which he could little afford io
do). This, of course, impressed
Mr. Welles.

“You're bright! [have a
hunch about you. Pm going
away fora week, but Fil be
back and we'll make a picture
together. Say nothing about it
to anyone.

Gary, ecstatic, told 2 tew
trusted “friends, including,
yours truly; also a film enthusi-
at and admirer of most of

Velles’ work. He ingenuously
related “It’s the culmination
ofa life-long dream! And he’s
a regular guy! Laughs a lot...
at his own jokes, mosdly. A
groove. Realiy beautiful!!!”

He then proceeded to imi-
tate Welles as Hank Quinlan
(the character he played in
Touch Of Evil) “Vargas!
Vargas!!” He had a fit of
laughter.

I, having previously
attempted to contact Welles
regarding a screenplay, decid-
ed to try again. “Think |
could be your sill man, Gary?
Anything at all? I want to
work with him in some capaci-

”

Gary would presumably
hear from him within the
week. We excitedly left it at

isa

les he

that

Atew weeks inter, b beard
that Mr. Welles had returned
and that he and Gary were.
indeed, actually busy preparing
to shoor a film, E rushed to
the Beverly Hills Hetei in
hope of tinding Welles in the
Polo Lounge. ‘Phere he was —
fornvidable, bear-like, in the
har with an agent and friend
with whom he was conversing

NATURAL FACTORS mt) Osteopcrosis

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id court at the

in Jaboured French and. occa
sionally, lsughing boisterously
at ius Own quips, just as Gare
had said he was wont co do.

I seated myself acerby,
undertook to write a note of

introduction and found myself’

ordenng 4 succession of beers
over a period of awe fascinat
ing, eavesdropping hours.

To the agent: “Is it in
escrow?” Repeatedly, “Is it in

escrow? ? Just get the money in
escrow.” To his French friend
“You have just mentioned one
of ny pet hates. That publish
er and bis school for writers.”

He was genuinely upset.
“Bah! You would think he had
enough money... magiac!
Exploiting poor, aspiring kids
who cannot even write their
own names!”

He shook his head in dis

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uh tas he fia monstrousiv
huge gar which threatened
to envelop te entire three
some ht billows of thick, grey
smoke. He then politely made
a hait-hearted, obviousiv futile
gesture to brush the smoke
trom his friend's already
obscured faces.

His deep voice carried.
People at the extreme far end
of the room could not help

everly Hillis Hotel

but know thar he was there
His presence wasnt Bit, so
compelling that Lround it dit
ficult ta concentrate on my
note of introduction, When
they had lett, leaving Orson
sitting there alone, P tentative
Iv handed him my note wath a
manila cavelope (pictures and
resume}. Ele fooked mie over

See Director pane 28

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