Orson Welles’ daughter slams Zac Efron movie
Orson Welles’ daughter is objecting to the star-studded film that takes the blighted film director’s life as its subject and his name as its title, Me And Orson Welles.
Chris Welles Feder claims the movie, which stars Zac Efron and Claire Danes, provides a negative portrayal of her father as a womaniser, calling it “laughable”.
Welles Feder said: “That’s not my father – it’s a distortion. They took all the negative things and fashioned a character that’s a caricature. It’s laughable.”
Welles Feder’s half-sister, Beatrice, refused to see the film, which is the creation of Richard Linklater.
Welles Feder objected to what she saw as a portrayal of her father, acted by Christian McKay, as a dictator and philanderer who cheated on her mother when she was pregnant. She also rejected what she saw as the depiction of his harsh treatment of an actor. She said: “It’s inconceivable my father would ever act as he did toward Zac Efron’s character – he was known for being kind to his actors.”
McKay for his part, defended the movie in response to Welles’ daughter’s opposition. He said: “I respect her opinion enormously. At the same time – if we made him more likeable, we’d have taken all the drama away.”
Tags: Beatrice, Chris Feder Welles, Christian McKay, Claire Danes, Me and Orson Welles, Orson Welles, Richard Linklater, Zac Efron