Russian Opera Star Orson Welles Called Century's Greatest Actor
The legendary filmmaker dismissed Hollywood icons like Brando to champion an unexpected choice: a Russian opera performer who barely appeared in movies but commanded stages worldwide.
When movies transformed from novelty tricks into serious storytelling, certain performers became legends. Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton mastered silent comedy, using cinema's unique power to create impossible stage magic through practical effects.
Hollywood's golden age produced stars with different strengths. Some excelled at silent films, communicating through facial expressions alone. Others developed unconventional methods to enhance their craft. By the 1950s, method acting gained traction, though many veteran performers rejected it as pure insanity.
Welles' Surprising Choice
Decades brought unforgettable names: Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier, Gena Rowlands, Daniel Day-Lewis. Orson Welles earned recognition both behind and in front of cameras, particularly for his masterpiece Citizen Kane. But his pick for the century's greatest actor shocked many.
Welles championed Feodor Chaliapin, a Russian performer who appeared in hardly any films. The opera singer, born in 1873, made just one notable movie appearance in 1933's Don Quixote adaptation. His true passion remained stage performance.
The Genius Behind the Voice
Chaliapin studied under Sergei Rachmaninoff, who taught him musical techniques that brought operas to life. He toured globally, cementing his reputation through roles like Boris Godunov. His enormous physical presence matched his artistic talent.
In conversations with Peter Bogdanovich for "This Is Orson Welles," the filmmaker explained his choice: "Chaliapin, an actor whose genius was equal to his enormous stature as a personality. And believe me, Peter, that's really saying something. He was by far the biggest actor of our century."
No Hollywood Competition
"No contest; nobody could make his weight. And what was he onscreen? Just marginally impressive," Welles continued. "Yeah, I've been lucky—Lear, Richard III, Falstaff. It doesn't prove anything. Those parts are too big for any actor—the very biggest never manage to completely fill them. The nearest I've ever seen was Chaliapin; nobody came near to him for size, for sheer density."
Welles admired Chaliapin's ability to completely inhabit any role, regardless of its demands. His choice wasn't surprising given his disdain for many Hollywood contemporaries. He even criticized Brando's physical appearance, calling his neck "like a huge sausage, a shoe made of flesh."