I’ve been enjoying listening to these 1938 broadcasts of Mercury Theatre. Orson Welles is an absolute legend in all that he does. He puts his entire heart, soul and mind in to every character he plays. So are you ready for an adventure?
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ffc2D78erfYYgGXm6KUo3?si=n3XIACp
Orson Welles wasn’t just a filmmaker, he was one of those rare creatives who seemed to do everything at a high level, from acting and directing to writing and radio. A lot of people first heard his name because of his 1938 radio version of The War of the Worlds (my favorite!), which stirred up a ton of attention and basically put him on the map overnight. Then he goes to Hollywood and makes Citizen Kane as his first film, which is wild because it is still often called the greatest movie ever made. After that, he kept putting out bold, creative work like The Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil, Chimes at Midnight, and F for Fake, even though he clashed with studios a lot over control of his films, which hurt some of his projects but also showed how much he cared about his vision, and that is a big reason why he is still seen as one of the most influential directors ever.
Comment on your favorite Orson Welles work.
I’ve been sharing classic radio dramas through a podcast Audio Time Machine, and this week’s episode features the Mercury Theatre on the Air’s 1938 adaptation of Julius Caesar.
Directed by Orson Welles, this version condenses Julius Caesar into a tight, one-hour broadcast, performed live with no edits. It’s a great example of how actors relied entirely on voice, timing, and sound effects to bring a full Shakespearean drama to life.
What stands out:
If you’re into old-time radio, voice acting, or Shakespeare adaptations, I’d love to hear your thoughts.