Magician:TheAstonishingLifeandWorkofOrsonWelleslooksattheremarkablegeniusofOrsonWellesontheeveofhiscentenary-theenigmaofhiscareerasaHollywoodstar,aHollywooddirector(forsomeaHollywoodfailure),andacruciallyimportantindependentfilmmaker.OrsonWellesslifewasmagical:amusicalprodigyatage10,adirectorofShakespeareat14,apainterat16,astarofstageandradioat20,romanceswithsomeofthemostbeautifulwomenintheworld,includingRitaHayworth.Hisworkwassimilarlyextraordinary,mostnotablyCitizenKane,(consideredbymanytobethemostimportantmovieevermade),createdbyWelleswhenhewasonly25.IntheyearsfollowingCitizenKane,Wellesscareercontinuedtochangeashemadefilmafterfilm(someneverfinished,manydismissed)andactedinotherprojectsoftentoearnmoneyinordertokeepmakinghisownfilms.MagicianfeaturesscenesfromalmosteveryexistingWellesfilm,fromHeartsofAge,(whichhemadeinadaywhenhewasonly18yearsold)torarely-seenclipsfromhisfinalunfinishedworkslikeTheOtherSideoftheDream,TheDeep,andDonQuixote,aswellashistelevisionandcommercialwork.