Buzz
Today marks what would have been Orson Welles' 103rd birthday. Known for his remarkable contributions as an actor, director, and writer—most notably Citizen Kane, often hailed as the greatest film ever made—Welles is also remembered by younger audiences for a memorable outburst during a 1970 voiceover session for Findus frozen foods, where directors pushed his patience to the limit.
Welles, known for his fiery temperament, refuses to comply. While the entire recording is worth a listen, here are some standout moments.
Following a request from the audio engineer for an additional take:
"Listen, I’m not accustomed to having multiple people in the booth. One more word from you, and you’re out! Understand? I only take directions from one person, and even then, reluctantly… Who exactly do you think you are?"
Once it was clarified that the second take was needed due to a 'minor gonk':
"What exactly is a 'gonk'? Care to explain that to me?"
When the director requested him to stress the word 'in' while saying 'In July':
"Why? That’s completely illogical. Sorry, but there’s no proper way in English to start a sentence with 'in' and put emphasis on it. … That’s just absurd. 'In July?' I’d really like to hear how you emphasize 'in' in 'in July.' It’s impossible! It’s nonsense!"
As the session transitioned from frozen peas to commercials for fish fingers and beef burgers, the now-hesitant directors tried to mumble out some directions. Welles responded with:
"You’re nothing but nuisances! ... In the depths of your cluelessness, what exactly are you after?"
Why did the iconic director even agree to promote a frozen food brand? As Josh Karp, author of Orson Welles’s Last Movie, explains, Welles admitted these ad gigs were purely for financial gain: he could command up to $15,000 per session, which he partly used to finance his film projects.
“I can’t say for certain why he berated the man,” Karp notes. “But I do know Welles was a perfectionist who had little tolerance for incompetence, sometimes to an extreme degree. He often took a keen interest in the ads he worked on, even when they weren’t his own ideas.”
The Findus recording was leaked years ago, appearing on radio and in private collections before surfacing on YouTube. Maurice LaMarche, the voice actor behind Brain in Pinky and the Brain, modeled the character after Welles and frequently reenacted his tirade whenever possible.
Welles passed away in 1985 at 70 due to a heart attack, leaving his final film incomplete. While some viewed his frozen pea ad as unworthy of his immense talent, he was actually pioneering a trend: by the 1980s, numerous top-tier celebrities were boosting their earnings through ads or voiceover gigs.
“He was an incredibly witty and intelligent man,” Karp remarks. “It’s quite possible he’d find the pea commercial amusing.” If not, he certainly wouldn’t hesitate to voice his disapproval.
