The Stranger Orson Welles

director , star orson welles @ work on stranger (october 1945)

in fall of 1945 welles began work on stranger (1946), film noir drama war crimes investigator tracks high-ranking nazi fugitive idyllic new england town. edward g. robinson, loretta young , welles star.

producer sam spiegel planned hire director john huston, had rewritten screenplay anthony veiller. when huston entered military, welles given chance direct , prove himself able make film on schedule , under budget—something eager accepted disadvantageous contract. 1 of concessions defer studio in creative dispute.

the stranger welles s first job film director in 4 years. told if film successful sign four-picture deal international pictures, making films of own choosing. welles given degree of creative control, , endeavored personalize film , develop nightmarish tone. worked on general rewrite of script , wrote scenes @ beginning of picture shot subsequently cut producers. filmed in long takes largely thwarted control given editor ernest j. nims under terms of contract.

the stranger first commercial film use documentary footage nazi concentration camps. welles had seen footage in may 1945 in san francisco, correspondent , discussion moderator @ un conference on international organization. wrote of holocaust footage in syndicated new york post column may 7, 1945.

completed day ahead of schedule , under budget, stranger film made welles have been bona fide box office success upon release. cost $1.034 million; 15 months after release had grossed $3.216 million. within weeks of completion of film, international pictures backed out of promised four-picture deal welles. no reason given, impression left stranger not make money.