John HousemanCritiques

Very good memoir by elite producer of theater, radio and film, John Houseman. His partnership with Orson Welles is filled with candid insight into the character of Mr. Welles.

Houseman's life as a professional creative artist is inspiring.

A fascinating story on many levels: Houseman's life as a citizen of many nations and none, his coming to America and success as an immigrant, his fraught but creative relationship with Orson Welles, his work at the nexus of so much mid-20th Century art of the theater, Broadway, radio and finally motion pictures. All written masterfully by a man fluent in 4 languages.

Orson Welles got some incredible performances out of Ray Collins in the Mercury Theatre on the Air series (here as the Russian captain)...you can't even tell it's him! Also, I didn't realize that Bernard Herrmann composed original music for Orson Welles's radio dramas before Citizen Kane. Very cool.

Can anyone forgot the opening spiel Professor Kingsfield made to an awe-stricken Harvard Law School Class?
"...You come in here with a skull full of mush...and you leave thinking like a lawyer!"
John Houseman, the man who won an Oscar for his memorable role in "The Paper Chase," serves up an autobiography that chronicles a lifetime of creative leaps. Buried in the rich anecdotes set on Hollywood sets and Shakesperian stages is a fascinating look at a man who admits he had an obsessive thirst for success. It was an obsession that he attributes to his life-long fear of failure.½