Gateway B2 Units 34 Gateway online

Culture Orson Welles

1 Speaking You are going to read the first part of a biography about Orson Welles, who worked in the film industry. Have
you heard of him or seen his films? When do you think his films were made? And why did he become so well known?

2 READING Read the text and check your answers to 1.

Orson Welles was born in the USA in 1915 and died there 70 years later. During his
life, he had many different roles in the entertainment industry. He had a long career
as a director, actor, screenwriter and producer; working in film, theatre, television
and radio throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s. He became renowned for his unique
acting and directing style, his deep voice and strong personality. Although he had
an often controversial relationship with Hollywood, experts consider him one of the
most talented dramatic artists of his generation. He had a highly characteristic style
when directing, which included an imaginative use of shadow that added great
suspense to his films. He also became famous as the director and narrator of the
1938 radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds.

3 READING Read the second part of the biography. Put the names of the works in chronological order.
1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Three years later, he directed and starred in what is often considered one of
the greatest films ever made the iconic Citizen Kane (1941). The story of a
newspaper tycoon called Charles Foster Kane (played by Welles) is told through a
series of flashbacks, which was highly original at the time. After the Second World
War, Welles went to Europe to continue making films. He starred in The Third Man
(1949), a suspense drama which was directed by his friend Carol Read. He then
went on to direct and star in a film version of Shakespeares play Othello (1952).
He famously wore black face make-up for the role. He returned to Hollywood in the
50s to star in and direct a crime thriller called A Touch of Evil (1958) alongside one
of the most stunning casts of all time (Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Marlene
Dietrich). After such a distinguished career, it is surprising to find that Welles was
only awarded one Oscar for the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Since his death,
however, he has become a Hollywood legend.

4 READING Cover the texts and choose true (T) or false (F). If false, correct the sentences.
1 Orson Welles directed all of the works mentioned in the biography.  T/F
2 He became a Hollywood legend in his lifetime.  T/F
3 He won many Oscars during his career.  T/F
4 He wore black make-up to play Othello in the film version of the story.  T/F
5 Citizen Kane was based on the life of a newspaper tycoon.  T/F
6 The Third Man was made before the Second World War.  T/F
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5 READING Work with a partner. Rewrite the following passive sentences in the active.
1 The suspense drama The Third Man was directed by Carol Read.

2 Citizen Kane is considered one of the finest films ever made.

3 The story of a newspaper tycoon called Charles Foster Kane is told through a series of flashbacks.


6 READING Underline any positive adjectives in the biography. Complete the definitions with adjectives from the text.
1 A person who has a special skill is .
2 If you are , you are respected and successful (formal).
3 If something is , it is well-known, famous and even symbolic.
4 An style is one which is new and different with exciting ideas.
5 If something is , it is very impressive and beautiful.
6 You call something or somebody , when it is very special and different.

over to you!

7a Project Work with a partner. Choose a film star or director that you admire. What biographical information do you
know about him/her?

7b WRITING Use the Internet to research the person and write a short biographical text, following the model on page 1.

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Culture Orson Welles

Teachers Notes
Activity Hypothesising about an artists life Ordering
information True and false for comprehension
Rewriting sentences Researching and writing about
someones life.
Language Positive adjectives and collocations
Cinema language Passive voice (including
impersonal use).
Key
1 Students own answers
2 Orson Welles was a director, actor, screenwriter and
producer. He worked in film, theatre, television and radio
and his films were made in the 40s, 50s and 60s. He was
well known for his unique acting and directing style, his
deep voice and strong personality.

To use: After Students Book unit 3 in class, as self- 3 1 Citizen Kane, 2 The Third Man, 3 Othello,
study or as a homework activity. 4 A Touch of Evil

Preparation: Make one copy of the worksheet for each 4 1 F He did not direct The Third Man, this was directed
student. by Carol Read.
2 F According to the text, he has become a legend
since his death.
Procedure 3 F He only won one Oscar.
This worksheet can be given as homework or be done 4 T
in pairs in class. 5 T
1 Give a worksheet to each student. Ask them what 6 F It was made after the Second World War.
they know about the actor and director Orson Welles 5 1 Carol Read directed the suspense drama The Third
(students should recall his adaptation from The War of Man.
the Worlds CLICK section in Unit 3). 2 (Many) people/critics consider Citizen Kane to be one
2 Ask the students to read the first part of the text and of the finest films ever made.
feed back any new information. If you feel it necessary, 3 The director/The film tells the story of a newspaper
pre-teach some vocabulary items related to cinema tycoon Charles Foster Kane through a series of
such as crime thriller, suspense, flashback, cast, screenplay, flashbacks.
screenwriter, adaptation. 6 1 talented
3 Next, ask the students to read the second half of the text 2 distinguished
and complete the task. 3 iconic
4 imaginative
4 Tell the students that they are going to test their 5 stunning
memories. Ask the class to cover the reading texts and 6 unique
answer the questions.
7a and b
5 Ask the students to rewrite the sentences, thinking
carefully about the possible subject(s). More than one Students own answers
answer may be correct.
6 Focus students attention on the positive adjectives in
the text. Ask them to underline them if necessary. You
could point out that not all the adjectives used are
positive (e.g. controversial).
7a & b You could exploit this section in class or set it for
home/project work. Check that the whole class does not
choose the same film star. Remind the students to follow
the model where possible to structure their own text.
They should use examples of cinema language, positive
adjectives and passive voice constructions where
possible.

This page has been downloaded from Gateway Online: www.gateway-online.net

Written by Ben Goldstein. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011.
PHOTOCOPIABLE