This movie finishes a project that started decades ago, when famed director Orson Welles planned to translate on film his experiences in Brazil in the 1940s as a cinematic envoy for the American government. His mission: To make a movie that highlighted the United States' strengths. But endless problems scuttled the production and, sadly, Welles died before his film came to pass.
Welles had intended to narrate the section himself, but the writers and directors of this documentary have wisely opted not to second-guess Welles, simply presenting the material as it stands and adding music and sound effects.
Because Welles is arguably the most magnetic and mercurial of all American directors, the film would be interesting on any grounds, but it is also impressive because of the long raft sequence, shown here in an essentially complete state.
What little there was (some Rio carnival footage, scenes from the fishing story Four Men on a Raft) looked stunning. In this documentary, happily, there's much more to show.
...the film at once seems like a visually dynamic conflation of a Robert Flaherty film and a proto-neorealist fable comprised of photogenic locals and working class heroics.
One of the great unfinished film projects and an excellent look into Welles' visionary style. Look for some gorgeous shots throughout and an overall feeling of 'being there' as the film takes you on its little trip.
May 6, 2009
greg w
Now this film is not going to be for everyone. However, if you are a film lover-especially of classics films of the 1940s or Orson Welles this will be something you won't want to miss. The U.S. Government had commissioned Welles, who was a hot ticket at the time because of CITIZEN KANE, to head to Brazil to make an
anti-Nazi film for the U.S. "Good Neighbor Policy." After months of shooting on his film, which undoubtably would have been a masterpice, was stopped and abandoned by RKO and the footage was just sort of stored away never to be seen. This devastated Welles and in the biography Welles On Welles he himself said it was probably the most devastating single thing that happened to him next to RKO butchering his film THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. This film consists of footage that he shot for that film and Welles magnificent documentary "Four Men On A Boat." Now this is not for all tastes and I even found it a little boring but its fascinating seeing the young Welles and listening to him talk film and seeing the magnificent footage he shot. Directed by Richard Wilson, Myron Miesel and Bill Krohn. Released by Paramount Pictures and Rated G.
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