There are few filmmakers in the history of cinema that are as much of a tragic paradox as Orson Welles. An undeniable filmmaking genius, one could argue Welles peaked too early with pretty much every movie after “Citizen Kane” getting compromised in some way and that trajectory continuing downward until he was left doing stuff like… well, this…
By time the late ’70s and early ’80s arrived, Welles was reduced to talkshow appearances, dubious acting gigs and advertising work, including this thing for Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. From 1978, the video features the iconic baritone-voiced Welles leading a nearly half-hour long tutorial on how to play baccarat, craps, blackjack, roulette and Keno. The guide recalls a time when casinos weren’t shopping malls and brings with it a bit of class albeit slightly hammy. Also, it’s kind of sad to see Welles doing this sort of work to pay the bills, an early step in the slippery slope to being spokesman for Paul Masson wine. Anyway, it’s an interesting curio regardless, so give it a spin and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. [Open Culture]