Vienna (film)
| Vienna | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Orson Welles |
| Starring | Orson Welles Arte Johnson Mickey Rooney Senta Berger |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Cinematography | Giorgio Tonti |
| Running time | 8 minutes (incomplete) |
| Original release | |
| Release | 1968 |
Vienna (also known as Orson Welles' Vienna[1] or Spying in Vienna[2]) is a 1968 American short film directed and written by Orson Welles.[3] It was originally produced as part of his abandoned CBS television special, Orson's Bag. However, in 1969, with the project close to completion, CBS withdrew their funding over Welles' long-running disputes with US authorities regarding his tax status. The film remained uncompleted.[1] Despite its name, Vienna freely mixes footage shot in Vienna, Zagreb, and a Los Angeles studio.[1] An 8-minute segment was restored by the Munich Film Museum in 1999.[1]
Plot of restored segment
The film is an eclectic blend of faux-documentary and comical skits. Welles presents a leisurely guided tour of "Vienna," commenting on the city and its inhabitants.[2] He visits the Sacher Hotel, and the Wiener Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) at the Prater amusement park,[2] both of which appeared in the 1949 film The Third Man, in which Welles had a starring role. The film concludes with a spy film spoof, as Welles becomes involved in the abduction of "the most beautiful woman in Vienna".[1]
Cast
- Orson Welles as self
- Senta Berger as abducted woman
- Mickey Rooney as kidnapper
- Arte Johnson
- Peter Bogdanovich as Welles' assistant
References
- ^ a b c d e McBride, Joseph (2006) What ever happened to Orson Welles?: a portrait of an independent career, University Press of Kentucky, p233-4
- ^ a b c Brigitte Timmermann, The Third Man's Vienna – Celebrating a Film Classic, Shippen Rock Publishing, p271
- ^ "Vienna". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 November 2025.