featuring Orson Welles
with Oja Kodar, Elmyr de Hory, Clifford Irving, Edith Irving, Francois Reichenbach

Orson Welles conjures up a world of art and illusion as he investigates the cause celebre of Elmyr de Hory, whose post-impressionist art forgeries hang in the world s best galleries. The investigation itself becomes a sleight of hand as the Wellesian wit and showman. ship weave a gigantic, teasing puzzle. The mosaic of the film is a work of art in its own right - as de Hory says of his paintings, 'If they hang there long enough, they become real.'

"Welles' brilliantly edited jeu d'esprit on tile nature of art and illusion ... Wholly captivating" (Evening Standard)
"God bless that great joker and self-confessed charlatan, Orson Welles. He is an oasis of civilised, witty sanity. A magnificently funny film" (Daily Mail)

(The Orson Welles Story, part 1 of an Arena special: Tuesday 9.0)