[Movies]. Welles, Orson. INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH

9" x 12 ". Circa 1951. A dramatic black and white image of Welles, theatrically posed in front of a movie set for his 1952 movie classic, "Othello," scowling in character as the tragic Moor. The inscription, penned in white ink against the dark background reads: "Dearest Dadda and Hazel: God willing this is the last Christmas in a long time -- we'll spend apart -- all my love always Orson." Maurice "Dadda" Bernstein was among the most important people in the life of Orson Welles, perhaps THE most important. He was the family's physician as well as a friend of the young Orson's parents, Richard and Beatrice. Bernstein carried on a long-term sexual affair with Beatrice and after her death remained on friendly terms with her husband until Richard died. At that time Bernstein became Orson's legal guardian and controlled the boy's inherited fortune. More importantly, he was quick to recognize the potential genius of his ward. It was Dadda who presented the boy with formative gifts that were to prove crucial to his career: a miniature theater and a magic set. Though their relationship was at time checkered (Welles would come to question Dadda's not-so-occasional appropriation of the funds he inherited upon attaining legal age) it is obvious that the two loved each other deeply -- as this photograph so graphically indicates. As fine an Orson Welles artifact as one may hope to find. Matted and framed under museum glass.