Product Description

The only novel by Orson Welles, a witty, madcap, pulp-noir adventure of international intrigue, blackmail, and murder

Customer Reviews (1)

entertaining reprint of a 1950s thriller
Just after the war, Chesterfield smuggler Guy van Stratten and his girlfriend Mily find the dying man with a knife in his back near their boat the Queenie.Marcel Bracco tells them to find Gregory Arkadin if they want to make a fortune.The cops arrive as Bracco dies, but also look on board the Queenie where they find the illegal contraband.Guy spends the next three months behind bars.

After his release, Guy searches for and finds Mily who works on board Arkadin's ship.However, Guy also learns the great international financier has a daughter Raina and knows she is the best ticket to get to her father and subsequently a lot of money though he remains unsure how.Guy maneuvers a dance with Raina and a ride to Marseille.Guy meets Arkadin who hires him to find out who he was before arriving in Zurich in 1927 with 200,000 Swiss francs.

Although the novelization of the Welles' unfinished movie (as described by John Parker in the forward: apparently there were several versions but none finished by Welles) is an intriguing character study starring individuals who are shady and most often on the wrong side of the law.Although the tale is slow at first, once Guy and Raina meet, the action picks up until a final confrontation.Fans of Orson Wells will enjoy this entertaining reprint of a 1950s thriller as his antiheroes work post Europe with a capitalist need at the bottom line at all costs.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Piece of Science Fiction History
Orson Welles' famous radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds caused nationwide pandemonium when it aired just before Halloween in 1938. This book contains the original radio script, newspaper articles describing the pandemonium during and after the famous broadcast, and the story behind the story.The author of this book, Howard Koch, wrote the radio broadcast script, and went on to write the script to the movie Casablanca. This book is a treasure. ... Read more

Product Description
Starring some of the great stars of movies and radio from the 1940s, this volume features “Night Cry” (10/7/49), with Ray Milland; “Dead Ernest” (3/24/49), with Pat O’Brien; “The Lonely Road” (3/21/46), with Gregory Peck; “Give Me Liberty” (10/21/48), with William Powell; “Consequence” (5/19/49), with James Stewart; “The Defense Rests” (3/9/44), with Alan Ladd; and “For Love or Murder” (12/8/49), with Mickey Rooney. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Radio Heaven
The catch-phrase, "Roma wine presents" or "Autolite presents" voiced over that famous and ominous theme music are recognizable to anyone who loves old radio. Radio ruled the airwaves for decades and "Suspense" was one of the finest and most popular shows ever produced.

"Suspense" was truly the cream of the crop. There were well written stories given a glossy and realistic production that week after week kept listeners glued to their chairs, bent slightly forward so as not to miss even one moment of the twist ending or haunting finale. Great stars from the era were always happy to appear, as this particular collection shows.

These eight gems will have you using your imagination as no television show or feature film can. Radio was a theatre of the imagination, and these eight gems will stretch the mind into shadowed corners and crimes with a twist. Each of these shows ranging in time from 1944-1949 have terrific guest stars and tense and involving stories of suspense.

Stars and shows in this fabulous edition, which is different from stated, are as follows: Blood Sacrifice, Joesph Cotten -- Money Talks, Alan Baxter -- The Night Reveals, Robert Young and Margo -- Statement of Mary Blake, Joan Bennett -- If the Dead Could Talk, Dana Andrews -- Pearls are a Nuisance, William Bendix -- Smiley, Donald O'Conner -- The Black Shawl, Maureen O'Sullivan and Dame May Whitty

For some reason, other volumes are linked with this particular set. Please note that this is the CORRECT track listing for VOLUME 8, which is pictured with the girl holding her fingers to her lips. This listing is one of the ones I bought for my wife some time back and have listened to. If you do not see the picture I described here, and it does not state that it is Volume 8, containing 4 CDs, then this track listing will be incorrect.

Star power and tense and involving stories combined to make "Suspense" one of the most enduring shows ever to rule the airwaves. A fantastic starter kit for those new to the medium or a nice addition to the radio buff's collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Durante el rodaje de El tercer hombre, Orson Welles empezo a perfilar el personaje de Mr. Arkadin, un magnate con ciertos puntos en comun con esa otra gran creacion wellesiana que fue el Ciudadano Kane. En esta apasionante novela, el joven Guy Van Stratten, el narrador, sigue la pista del escurridizo y poderoso Gregory Arkadin, y entre la envidia y el miedo, trata de averiguar que se esconde detras de sus mil caras, trata de descifrar los misterios de su pasado y nos introduce en su complejo universo. El libro reconstruye la personalidad de este hombre enigmatico y desmesurado, y se convierte en una fascinante reflexion sobre el poder y sus mecanismos, sobre el deseo, el amor y la muerte. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Mystery, a Riddle , an Enigma
The origins of this novel are almost as mysterious as that of the central character in the motion picture of the same name. Arguments abound as to whether or not Orson Welles actually wrote the novel. Welles certainly signed the book contract with the publisher and held the copyright, but some sources suggest that Maurice Bessy wrote the novelization of the original screenplay written by Welles. Biographer Simon Callow, an actor in his own right, interviewed Robert Arden, who played the role of Van Stratten in the movie, and he indicated that Welles was the author and Bessy merely worked on the French translation of the book for itspublication in that market. Later in life, Welles disowned the entire project and dismissed the book. Was he being truthful or was he simply playing coy with an interviewer?

Welles may have been disgusted with the entire project to the point where he wanted to deny any association with the movie and the book. As a motion picture, "Mister Arkadin" began as an ambitious international production. As the filming progressed, however, the lavish budget was cut and some of the latter sequences in the film appear to be cheaper than those filmed earlier. The producer became angry about costly delays and had the film taken away from Welles during the editing process.

As a result, multiple versions of the film were issued. The various scenes were assembled in different sequential orders depending upon the print of the film that was being exhibited in a given country. Welles had intended to tell the story using a series of flashbacks, but this technique was scrapped in one version of the finished film which was edited in strict chronological order. In some markets, this chronological print of the film was shown, but, later prints surfaced which incorporated the flashbacks envisioned by the director. Alternate takes of certain scenes in the film were made employing different performers in key roles as part of an effort to sell the movie to cinemas in different European markets. In some English speaking countries, the movie was released under an alternate title, "Confidential Report." The production disputes delayed the American release of the film for almost seven years. It opened in a handful of art house cinemas and never found an audience.
That is a shame because the beautifully photographed film is great escapist fare set against the background of numerous European locations.

Nonetheless, the story is fascinating. "Mister Arkadin" owes much to the success of Welles in Carol Reed's production of "The Third Man." The role proved to be so popular that Welles was hired to repeat the role of Harry Lime in a British radio series (the program took care to overcome the difficulty of Lime being killed in the conclusion of the movie!). Key elements of the plot of "Mister Arkadin" can be traced to three specific radio scripts that Welles wrote. The radio material was reworked for the screenplay which involves amnesia, smuggling, blackmail, murder, romance and a paranoid multimillionaire who is either trying to discover his own identity or erase his past.

Some sources indicate that the Arkadin character may be based upon Basil Zaharoff, the armaments tycoon, who was known as "The Merchant of Death." Zaharoff was played by the late Leo McKern in the memorable television series "Reilly: Ace of Spies." Whatever the case may be, the plot of the book is intriguing. Film fans may notice that the novel expands upon the plot of the movie in some respects. For example, there is more of a back story for the Van Stratten character. Many of the comedic touches from the film are reduced or eliminated. The book is written as a straight forward manner. There are no lengthy flashbacks as the book proceeds in chronological order.

For those who enjoy the book or the movie, it should be noted that Criterion Films has released the definitive print of the motion picture on dvd. The film has been restored and restructured to match the script of Welles as much as possible (arguably, no one knows how Welles may have altered the film if he were permitted to edit it), alternate takes have been preserved on a separate disc with plentiful production notes and bonus materials, including interviews with associates and biographers of Welles who were familiar with "The Lives of Harry Lime" radio series and the film "Mister Arkadin." The Criterion edition even includes a copy of the novel.

As far as books go, "Mister Arkadin" is a good thriller that can stand on its own without necessarily watching the movie. If you enjoy international intrigue and suspense, you are likely to find the book to be an entertaining read. One final note, the novel is available in various editions from different publishers, so seek out the title in whichever version is convenient. ... Read more

Product Description
Old-time radio programs have continued to entertain listeners for years. This collection will certainly be no exception to the ever growing popularity of this type of entertainment. Selections include "Sherlock Holmes," "Abbott & Costello," "The Green Hornet," "Fibber McGee" and many others. 4 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great!But Orson Welles is not among the artists here.
This is certainly a worthwhile set of tapes for anyone who is interested in or who enjoys listening to old-time radio programs.However, although it is listed among items featuring Orson Welles, those who may bepurchasing it in the hope of hearing some of Welles's classic radiodramatizations need to know that Welles is NOT on these tapes. ... Read more

Product Description
Winner of the 2001 Book of the Year Award by Foreword Magazine for Pop Culture, The War of the Worlds has been revised and updated for this new paperback edition. The audio CD includes the complete 1938 Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast, along with Orson Welles’s press conference from the next day, a rare interview between Orson Welles and H.G. Wells and clips from a later version of "War of the Worlds." The book includes the story behind the "Panic Broadcast," the radio play script, biographical information on H.G. and Orson and the complete text of H.G. Wells’s classic, "The War of the Worlds"—in addition, the book features lavish black-and-white and color photographs and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Three In One! how's THAT for a "tripod"? :)

An enjoyable novel, an enthralling recording, and a valuable reference book
The HG Wells novel is a fine piece of fantastic literature, but to combine it with a recording of the Orson Welles radio broadcast that panicked a nation, & to add a very well written scholarly text on that panic, is brilliant!

Well-illustrated with ample photographs, maps & drawings, the reader/listener gains a full understanding of the novel, the broadcast, & the cultural significance of both.

One can gain insight into the effect that news of terrorist strikes has on the public by careful, thoughtful reading of this text.

Highly recommended.

Invasion Never Felt So Good!
After finding this book in a local library and checking it out, I soon realized that I had to have my very own copy. So, I jumped onto Amazon and thankfully found one! For those who love classic War of the Worlds, this book is a huge slice of wonderful. I was thrilled with the CD that came with the book, too. This is a great resource and it would make a fine product for a Sci-Fi literature and / or media class.

Martians everywhere! The Invasion comes to you in the book and in the sounds. Worth the price!

A good overview
i bought this book as a gift for a war of the worlds fan and he liked it a lot. The CD was good and the book contained both the script and original HG Wels novel. So all in all the book was a good purchase that contained everything that you have ever wanted to know about the beginning of War of the Worlds saga.

Book is decent, CD is disappointing
I ordered this book after hearing the 1940 radio interview where both H.G. Wells and Orson Welles appeared together.That was an amazing program as both men discussed the war that was looming in Europe--and that they felt would soon envelope the United States.Orson even mentioned that he was working on a movie called Citizen Kane.

Unfortunately, only about two minutes of that hour-long interview is contained on the CD.The same is true for Orson Welles' press conference where he answered some of the controversy about his broadcast--the CD only has a couple of minutes of it.This was a major disappointment, because both recordings are fascinating and I was left wondering why we only get to hear short soundbites from them rather than the entire thing.Seriously, why bother at all?

The book is much more comprehensive and worthwhile.

THE edition to buy
With Spielberg's new film adaptation of WAR OF THE WORLDS in theatres, more attention is being paid to both the original Wells novel, and the infamous 1938 Welles radio broadcast.If you're interested in both, why not treat yourself to the best presentation of either version available today?

THE COMPLETE WAR OF THE WORLDS is an excellent book.It reprint the complete, unedited novel; prints the entire script to the radio play; and comes with a CD containing the entire radio play broadcast, plus archival materials such as the only interview Wells and Welles did together on the topic.[The recording sound quality is the best I've ever discovered for this play, BTW.]In addition, the book has lots of great historical and biographical material, including articles looking at the lives of both Wells and Welles; the story of the radio broadcast and the panic it caused; and a survey of the many incarnations of WotW in literature, film, and television.

If you have any curiosity about the book or the radio play, do yourself a favor and buy this book.It's worth it! ... Read more

Product Description
This book about "Touch of Evil" includes the continuity script, a biography of Orson Welles, an interview with Welles by Andre Bazih, an interview with Charlton Heston, excerpts from several critical essays, major reviews, a filmography and a bibliography. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the story of a young Marine's struggle through unwanted separation from friends and family caused by the consequences of the Great Depression and by the demands of World War II. During the twenty-two plus months my brother, Cpl. Buel Wesley Bray, served as a Marine in World War II, he wrote more than sixty letters to Bobbie Waren, a young woman whose sister had married his older brother. Bobbie saved fifty-seven of those letters and made them available in 2007.

The substance of his letters and the recollections that emerged from a number of conversations with Bobbie formed a theme upon which to build an account of Buel's military and nonmilitary experiences, both factual, as well as fictional. In addition, his military personnel records, obtained from the National Personnel Records Center, included a schedule of movement and location of training and combat during his tour of duty.

Utilizing information from these sources as the story unfolds, especially from the letters, relationships were encouraged to develop and grow, attitudes were permitted to surface and change, and events were identified and described.

The places Buel and his Ordnance Company visited for training and combat duty are valid. While the events that occurred at these various locales are largely fictional, the activities in which the characters of the story engaged were those experienced by marine trainees and later on, when trainees became combatants.

Perhaps the merging of facts with fiction can best be exemplified by the equator-crossing activities that occurred when his battalion sailed into the South Pacific war zone. Buel's personnel records document his initiation as a Shellback on 20 March, 1943, therefore the last part of Chapter IX describes this ship-wide event that included activities that were prevalent during the late 1930's and early 40's. Research validated the participation of polliwogs(inductees) in assisting ship's company crewmen in preparation for the "mutiny" and in the construction of initiation obstacles. This was a necessity aboard ships carrying several thousand troops. However, polliwogs were barred from the final stage of preparation. They discovered that when they mastered the obstacle themselves.

While all individuals referenced in Buel's letters were real people influencing his life, the only other person who actually played a role in the story is FirstSergeant Charles V. Bomar, the author of the final letter in the book. Allothers are fictional.

Ulmon C. Bray
November 11, 2009
Fresno, California ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Obediently Yours, Orson Welles
I thought Obediently Yours was a wonderful book and a great tribute to Buel, the author's brother.The story was intriguing; the dialog and character development was touching, realistic, and brought smiles and tears.The smiles were at the initial stilted and awkward writing style of Buel's, leading up to his eloquent and heartfelt letter to Bobbie in that island off Bougainville that revealed his suppressed feelings.
The help given by Buel, et alia, to Gus in boot camp to get him up to speed physically was touching and typical of the strong bonds that buddies build during military service.The shipboard "Shellback" initiation that occurred on the way to American Samoa took me back fondly to the six or so times I crossed the equator, sometimes playing the lofty part of King Neptune.And Fred and Fiona's developing romance and family interaction were touching and quite realistic.Additionally, the descriptions of Boot Camp, San Diego, New Zealand, Guadalcanal, and Bougainville were right on; they nailed the suburbs of Auckland just as I remember them and background descriptions throughout the book were about as believable as they could be.
The epilogue left me hanging somewhat with what became of Bobbie, except I was able to imagine the best from that final little morsel that she "met Walter."I wondered if that was out of respect for Bobbie's privacy, or maybe just to tantalize my imagination.Either way, the book is an impressive memoir and a very appropriate salute to Buel, who was a true hero.
CDR, R.K. Sheehan, USN (Ret.)

Obediently Yours, Orson Welles
I finished Obediently Yours and LOVED it.I hate when I get to the end of a good book.For me, one of the biggest markers of a great read is not wanting to leave the characters.This proved very true with OY.I found myself wanting to continue not only with the progression of Bobbie's life, but was intrigued with Mary and the kids.What becomes of these adorable children who captured Buel and Bobbie's hearts?Also, Mary never quite seemed at ease either in ability or desire with being a homemaker/stay-at-home mom.What becomes of this young family?My hope is for a sequel from the author. ... Read more

Product Description
The War Of The Worlds (30th October 1938)
by Orsen Wells

(Mercury Radio Theatre)

This cd-rom contains the original radio broadcast preformed by Orsen Wells and the Mercury Radio Theatre On The Air, on 30th October 1938 that panicked America and the script of this program.

Millionsof people listening to their radios that night believed they werehearing an actual invasion take place of the earth from the planet Mars.

BONUS!! INCLUDED IN THIS CD!

Mercury Theater, Orson Wells Specials:

-Mercury Theater Remembered
-USO Tour - Guest Lana Turner
and other original Wells transmitions... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Substance great, presentation could be better
About the work:21st century listeners will recognize much of the recording as scripted, but it is not so surprising that some people took it seriously in 1938; seventy years ago, people had not yet become familiar with the many varieties of broadcast "trickery" that have since become commonplace.Some of the "reporting" will sound a little stiff (and thus suspicious) to a contemporary listener, but it's important to note that in the early days of broadcasting, the tone of news reporting was much more formal than it is now, and that patrician north-eastern accents like that of Welles were predominant, so the program probably did not sound as different from a real newscast as today's listeners might think.About this recording:There are several available for purchase, and this one could be better in a couple of ways.At one point, it skips ahead for about 30 seconds and then jumps back and plays through normally.The tracks are not named helpfully.The bonus material is not related to the "W of the W" broadcast, and includes a couple of partially duplicated tracks.The script that is mentioned as being included did not come with my CD.

Not as scary as in 1938, but still exciting and VERY interesting!!!
I had never heard the full radio broadcast untill purchasing this CD, but it is VERY easy to see how this could have scared the Bee-jeebers out of America on Halloween, 1938. Get this CD and listen to it every Halloween (as I now plan to) and you'll see how interseting old time radio was.Especially when you consider the horror that was just beginning to build in Germany at the same time as the broadcast. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapter ONE audiobook. Music Prepared by Marty Roth & Ed Yelin. Music Composed by Bill Loose. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete screenplay of one of the world's most famous and controversial films "A definitive chronicle of the making of the film" Sheridan Morley, Films & FilmingThis is the complete companion to Citizen Kane - the film that was "designed to shock" (Kenneth Tynan) - one of the best-loved and best-known movies in the history of Hollywood and still the most staggering film debut ever. Not only was this Orson Welles's first film as actor and director but most of the cast were also new to the cinema. Yet so controversial was the subject matter that an $842,000 bribe and the concentrated wrath of the Hearst newspaper empire combined in an attempt to strangle its distribution. And the authorship of the film is still a subject of conflict.Pauline Kael's long essay, "Raising Kane", dissects a maze of Hollywood lore to re-evaluate these and many other fascinating stories about the making of this remarkable film. Her account is followed by the original screenplay, illustrated with stills and frame enlargements."Citizen Kane revolutionised film-making, and the question of its authorship is as important to the cinema as that of Hamlet to the theatre ...Pauline Kael explains how the picture came to be made and concludes that the man most responsible for its creation was not Welles but Herman J.Mankiewicz" Kenneth Tynan, Observer ... Read more

Product Description
The Best of the Mercury Theater, with Orson Welles12-CD set, 12 EpisodesRunning Time: 12 Hours12 of the best episodes from the original broadcasts of the Mercury Theater, featuring Orson Welles. Includes the original broadcast of "War of the Worlds." 12-CDs, digitally remastered (NOT low-quality MP3s). Click on the PDQ Audioworks link under the title above to see a complete listing of all of our Old Time Radio Shows available here on Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Among the films inspired by Orson Welles's lifelong involvement with Shakespeare, the greatest is "Chimes at Midnight" (1966). It is a masterly conflation of the Shakespearean history plays that feature Falstaff, the great comic figure played by Welles himself in the film. For Welles, the character was also potentially tragic: the doomed friendship between Falstaff and Prince Hal becomes an image of the end of an age. To this epic subject Welles brings the innovative film techniques that made him famous in "Citizen Kane," "The Lady from Shanghai," and "Touch of Evil."

This volume offers a complete continuity script of "Chimes at Midnight," including its famous battle sequence. Each shot is described in detail and is keyed to the original Shakesperian sources, thus making the volume an invaluable guide to Welles as an adaptor and creator of texts. The first complete transcription of the continuity script of "Chimes" is accompanied by the editor's critical introduction on Welles's transformation of Shakespeare; a special interview with Keith Baxter, one of the film's principal actors, which discusses its production history; reviews and articles; and a biographical sketch of Welles, a filmography, and a bibliography. ... Read more