Happy Birthday, Mr. Welles

Today we celebrate the centenary of America's classic film genius, Orson Welles.

It's fascinated me the amount of reflections that are in his films, ever since I first saw The Lady From Shanghai.

Here they are again in Citizen Kane:

Citizen Kane. Man or myth? — *Citizen Kane*. Man or myth?

There is always the question of who is real and who is the impostor. A mirror with two faces. A mirror held up to scrutinize character, whether or not an actual mirror was present.

The Trial. Average joe or enemy of the state? — *The Trial*. Average joe or enemy of the state?

The Stranger. Milquetoast suburban professor or Nazi fugitive from justice? — *The Stranger*. Milquetoast suburban professor or Nazi fugitive from justice?

Touch of Evil. Law man or criminal? — *Touch of Evil*. Law man or criminal?

Even in the films he only starred in, he is mentioned by the other characters as one thing, but revealed as another.

Welles in Grahame Greene's and Carol Reed's The Third Man. Hero or war profiteer? — Welles in Grahame Greene's and Carol Reed's *The Third Man.* Hero or war profiteer?

Who was real and who was the fake?

Film HistoryAaron LindquistMay 7, 2015orson welles, american film, citizen kane, the lady from shanghai, touch of evil, the stranger, f for fake, the trial

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Happy Birthday, Mr. Welles