Hosted by Stanley Sheff, who worked with Orson Welles.
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June 17
GET TICKETSTouch of Evil (1958)
Shot on the border streets of Venice, California, the film's bravura opening, one long swooping take, was nearly discarded by the studio until Welles fought to restore it decades later. Quinlan's downfall, recorded on a wire in an oil-field canal, marks one of cinema's great resurrections, a masterpiece reclaimed from chaos.
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July 15
F for Fake (1973)
GET TICKETSFilmed partly in Ibiza and Paris, this freewheeling essay resurrects the notorious forger Elmyr de Hory and the hoax biographer Clifford Irving, who himself fooled the world with his fake Howard Hughes autobiography. Welles, ever the magician, ends his film with dazzling cinematic trickery of his own, proudly announcing it the moment the clock strikes midnight.
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August 19
The Third Man (1949)
GET TICKETSOrson Welles dominates "The Third Man" as Harry Lime - a charismatic, dangerous ghost whose presence haunts postwar Vienna long before he appears. When Joseph Cotten's Holly Martins arrives to see his old friend, he finds a maze of lies, black-market intrigue, and a death that won't stay settled. The mystery tightens through occupied streets and shifting loyalties, building to Welles' legendary ferris wheel speech and a breathless chase in the city’s sewers, driven by Anton Karas' unforgettable zither score. Stylish, suspenseful, and wickedly smart, it’s noir at its most irresistible.
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SEPTEMBER 16
Citizen Kane (1941)
GET TICKETSWidely regarded as the greatest motion picture ever made, Citizen Kane tops the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films of All Time. Orson Welles' groundbreaking 1941 debut remains a towering achievement in cinema, innovative, daring, and endlessly influential.
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OCTOBER 21
The Orson Welles Show (1979)
TICKETS ON SALE SOONThe Orson Welles Show is a never-seen television pilot from 1979 - an extraordinary, one-time glimpse into the late creative life of one of cinema's greatest minds. Conceived as a bold and unconventional talk show, it features Burt Reynolds, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, the Muppets, and Angie Dickinson in a fluid format that blends audience-driven interviews, comedy, and Welles' own mesmerizing magic performances. This is a singular opportunity to experience Welles in an entirely new role - intimate, experimental, and unlike anything else in his career.
"Wednesday With Welles" is a curated film and discussion series hosted by Stanley Sheff, celebrating the life and work of Orson Welles through historical context and personal insight. This website and series are independently produced and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by the Estate of Orson Welles, except where specific screening permissions or approvals have been obtained. Film screenings are presented by the Fine Arts Theatre using content provided by authorized distributors. All names, trademarks, and likenesses remain the property of their respective rights holders and are used for identification and historical reference only.