A special presentation of the film featuring Orson Welles with Oja Kodar , Elmyr de Hory Clifford Irving , Edith Irving Francois Reichenbach Truth is a lie (PICASSO)
ORSON WELLES'S fascinating film opens as an inquiry into the career of the forger, ELMYR DE HORY, who has deceived art dealers for more than 20 years with his brilliant post-impressionist forgeries. Welles looks at the phenomenon of fakes in general - including Clifford Irving's celebrated Howard Hughes manuscript - and involves the spectator in the question of what is truth and what illusion.
To Picasso's enigmatic statement, ' Truth is a lie', Welles adds, 'a lie which helps to understand reality '.
Easily the best thing Orson Welles has done as director and actor since his Citizen Kane. (DAILY TELEGRAPH) Mischievous, enchanting legerdemain . -. The whole thing is irresistible.
(THE TIMES)
Orson Welles 's brilliantly edited jeu d'esprit on the nature of art and illusion t .. Wholly captivating.
(EVENING STANDARD)
An absolute joy ... ... (EVENING NEWS) 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)
Producer FRANÇOIS REICHENBACH
Director ORSON WELLES. Films: page 11 (First showing on British television)