Me and Orson Welles (2008)

In 1937, a teenager is cast in the Mercury Theatre production of "Julius Caesar", directed by a young Orson Welles.

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers:

Robert Kaplow (based on the novel by), Holly Gent (screenplay by) (as Holly Gent Palmo)

Stars:

Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Christian McKay

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian McKay	...	Orson Welles
Zac Efron	...	Richard Samuels
Zoe Kazan	...	Gretta Adler
Megan Maczko	...	Evelyn Allen
Simon Lee Phillips	...	Walter Ash
Patrick Kennedy	...	Grover Burgess
Shane James Bordas	...	Conspirator
Alessandro Giuggioli	...	Conspirator
Harry Macqueen	...	Conspirator
Rhodri Orders	...	Conspirator
James Tupper	...	Joseph Cotten
Thomas Arnold	...	George Duthie
Aidan McArdle	...	Martin Gabel
Simon Nehan	...	Joe Holland
Claire Danes	...	Sonja Jones

Storyline

In November 1937, high school student and aspiring thespian Richard Samuels takes a day trip into New York City. There, he meets and begins a casual friendship with Gretta Adler, their friendship based on a shared love and goal of a profession in the creative arts. But also on this trip, Richard stumbles across the Mercury Theatre and meets Orson Welles, who, based on an impromptu audition, offers Richard an acting job as Lucius in his modern retelling of Julius Caesar, which includes such stalwart Mercury Theatre players as Joseph Cotten and George Coulouris. Despite others with official roles as producer John Houseman, this production belongs to Welles, the unofficial/official dictator. In other words, whatever Welles wants, the cast and crew better deliver. These requests include everything, even those of a sexual nature. Welles does not believe in conventions and will do whatever he wants, which includes not having a fixed opening date, although the unofficial opening date is in ...

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Plot Keywords:

inspired by true events | based on real person | theatre | new york city | 1930s | 

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Taglines:

All's fair in love and theater

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual references and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA Isle Of Man

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Me & Orson

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$63,638, 29 November 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,186,957, 21 February 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

CinemaNX,Isle of Man Film,Framestore

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min 107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zac Efron and Imogen Poots would later star together in "That Awkward Moment" (2014)

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Goofs

When Orson finds Richard on the park bench, Orson's collar is up in the wide shot, but only half-up in the following close-up shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Mewling: By the year of 1592, Shakespeare was already an actor, and a playwright. Records of how his stage career began have not survived. We do know that in 1594 he joined a theater troupe. Called... anyone remember? Not everyone at once now. The Lord Chamberlain's Men.

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Crazy Credits

Gilson Lavis is listed as "Drumer" instead of "Drummer".

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.16 (2011)

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Soundtracks

I'm Shooting High
Written by Ted Koehler & Jimmy McHugh
Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Performed by Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Perfect blend of coming-of-age and theatre

The "me" in "Me and Orson Welles" is Richard (Zac Efron) a high school student who gets himself a part in Orson Welles' production of Julius Caesar at the Mercury Theatre. He's the kind of kid that loves everything creative in the world, is romantic, and is confident and sure of himself. Well, that is until he's alongside Orson Welles. Christian McKay plays Welles as the cocky and out-spoken man that I'm sure he was.

Directed by Richard Linklater, he has managed to turn this coming-of-age film into a Shakespearean theatrical production. My living room was transported into a theatre house, and I was watching a play. The lighting and score mirrored the production and its time; the actors were all right on cue; and backstage became the forefront.

This film is not a biopic, it's just the story of a young man discovering the acting world and the real world -- all alongside one of the most dramatic artists of the time. Romance was added to the storyline, along with a touch of self-discovery and world wonderment -- but that was done beautifully and softly. "Me and Orson Welles" is the perfect blend of coming-of-age and theatre.