Orson Welles on French Television

THE IMMORTAL STORY-1968-Orson Welles’ first color film (and second to last directorial effort) is a beautifully shot and narrated story. Welles is very good as Charles Clay, a ruthless Portuguese businessman in 19th century Macao. Growing bored with life he decides to make a sailor’s legend come true by manipulating two people, an innocent sailor (Norman Eshley) and his ex-business partner’s daughter (Jeanne Moreau) into enacting it.

This is an underrated film that is sometimes overlooked but it contains some of Welles the director’s best work. Roger Coggio is Clays’ assistant who helps in the scheme. It's based on a novel by Isak Dinesen.

Moreau was in Truffaut’s THE BRIDE WORE BLACK the same year. Eshley showed up in the George Pal fantasy THE LOST CONTINENT a year later.

Originally made for French TV, it was later released in theaters slightly edited. A new restored version was shown on TCM. Not counting his unfinished projects, Welles would direct and complete only one more film the fascinating F FOR FAKE in 1974.

Thanks for reading!