Orson Welles on the Basque Country - Part 6 of 6

In 1955 the BBC asked Orson Welles to complete a quaint series of documentaries which were labeled "Around the World with Orson Welles. This is an extract from one of the programmes on France, and although being mainly focused on the northern side of the Pyrenees it makes for a fascinating watch for any Euskalover. Sare, Ascain, Ciboure, Dancharia, SJDL, it's all there. Some may even recognise some much younger familiar faces at school's out in Ciboure, or the estudiantina on its way to Socoa. Enjoy.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• EuskaOrson
• 6

[bngr1]

@OrodesIII great to find the information. Only thing is I felt like I'd aged 50 yrs by watching the transformation.

[bngr1]

@JeanEtchepare no bother. Its nice to trace it forward like that. i think there's still a lot of basque speakers left, maybe less so on French side.

[OrodesIII]

@bngr1

Thanks so much for the information about Chris and the link you gave us.

Touching to see the transformation from young boyhood to older man and still playing his guitar.

[JeanEtchepare]

@bngr1 Thank you very much GREAT WORKhe , Yes he is Chris Wertenbaker.

[JeanEtchepare]

@bngr1 I am really surprised, thank you ever so much. I'm glad Chris put to good use his love of the guitar. when I think about the Basque country, this documentary by O.W always always lingers on in the back of my mind, of a time and an age of innocence, of true Basqueness, a bygone era, never to return, even the Basque language is fighting for survival in these parts .

[bngr1]

@JeanEtchepare did a spot of net detective work and it looks like Chris became a full time ethnic musician & is still performing. Do a search on youtube for "Port O' Monkeys- Rumba in E minor"

[JeanEtchepare]

That day of free circulation is the ABERRI EGUNA, or commonly known as the Day of the Basque nation

[Lialuna]

This is a great documentary. I have learned a lot about the Basques in this documentary.

I like the Basques for preserving their unique and rich culture.

[lehighmark]

This is wonderful to watch Orson Welles who truly seems to enjoy himself here in these videos. He has such an intelligent view balanced by a child like wonder while narrating these.

[lamiamurphy]

Gora Euskal Herria askatuta .

We want the Basque Country Free,

we want all the planet to be free.