Michael Caine once said that his idea of God’s voice would be the film director, John Huston - he of the booming, gravely tones. My own choice would be the great Orson Welles...
He had a voice of such sensitivity, warmth, clarity and authority, that it was an unbelievable pleasure to listen to. His control of this beautiful gift was astonishing. He would use phrases like 'musical notes to be drawn out hypnotically' or 'stabbed like a stiletto'. His command of his vocal kit was grounded in theatre and particularly radio. It was the latter where he was able to establish a fantastic intimacy rarely possible in theatre. And it was his voice that sent Americans panicking into the streets with his 1930’s radio production of H G Well’s, ‘World of the Worlds’. Welles understood precisely what the voice was capable of and throughout his career he perfected his instrument and often prostituted it too. Stories are legion about Welles’s interrupted film projects, normally because he would run out of money. In order to bolster the coffers he would take on cameo roles in box office potboilers, endorse products in many commercials or take on voice-overs. There are two hilarious moments from these commercial enterprises and thanks to good old You Tube, we can still witness them. The first is a voice over for Findus Frozen Peas, during the recording of which, Welles looses it and lashes out at all those around him. It is highly embarrassing but very, very funny. Click to hear it. The other is on the set of a Paul Masson wine commercial when it is clear that Welles has had rather too much of the said liquid, with the result that he was only able to utter a series of slurred squeaks. Click to see and hear. But here he is in one of his finest roles as the amoral Renaissance prince Cesare Borgia, in the 1949 film Prince of Foxe.
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This is a scene about the power of seduction and the seductions of power where he uses his vocal talents to the full. See and hear for yourself here.