Filming Othello - Production

Production

Filming Othello was made between 1974 and 1978. It was intended to be the first in a series of documentaries directed by Welles on the creation of his classic films. However, the second film in the proposed series, on the making of The Trial, was never completed.

Filming Othello was shot in 16mm, with Gary Graver as the cinematographer. Welles shot the footage of his conversation with MacLiammoir and Edwards in Paris, France, in 1974, and shot the footage of his part of their conversation two years later in Beverly Hills, California. Footage was also shot of Welles visiting Venice, Italy, but it was not included in the final print because it had been believed lost when Welles was moving around Europe. However, many years later, cinematographer Gary Graver located at least some of the footage, and short excerpts can be seen in his 1993 documentary Working With Orson Welles, in which Welles (theatrically clad in black cape and black hat) rides around Venice in a gondola pointing out old filming locations, while crowds wave at him.

Filming Othello uses clips from Othello, but the footage is not accompanied by the film’s dialogue track.