Noshing With Joseph McBride – November 5, 2026
Author, Orson Welles (the newly revised and expanded third edition)
What happens when you spend decades studying one of the most fascinating—and misunderstood—figures in film history?
This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” I talk with acclaimed author Joseph McBride, whose newly revised and expanded third edition of Orson Welles takes another penetrating look at the legendary filmmaker, actor and visionary.
The original edition of Orson Welles was published in 1972, followed by a revised edition in 1996. Now, Joseph has returned to Welles’ work once again, reevaluating every film and uncovering new material—including surprising discoveries in the RKO files.
Joe also shares the story of how he first met Welles, his experience participating in Welles’ unfinished film “The Other Side of the Wind,” and the last time he saw the legendary director. We talk about Welles’ unfinished projects, his boundless confidence, his belief in both highbrow and lowbrow art—and why he famously had little use for the middlebrow.
But this isn't simply another biography of Orson Welles. Joseph describes Orson Welles as a critical study, one designed in part to challenge and dispel some of the myths that have surrounded Welles for decades.
And perhaps most remarkably, Welles’ career continues to grow in reputation and fascination—even though he died in 1985.