The Seven Arkadins

[TheMcGuffin]

Here is the latest reply of got from the Corinth representative

Rob,
I was curious as to why you'd want a DigiBeta. Thanks for clearing that up!
We have no plans to release this version on DVD. We have released a lot of
our library (and the libraries of other copyrights holders whom we
represent)through Image Entertainment. We no longer reelease anything on our
own label, and Image has had little or no interest in this film. If it ever
does go into DVD release, I'll let you know.
I've scheduled the making of the VHS, so when our Pennsylvania office is in
receipt of the check, I'll ship it to you.
Thanks again,

Richard Evangelista

Since Image Entertainment publishes the public domain version of Mr, Arkadin, it doesn't seem like they will all of a sudden start paying for another version of the same film. oh well...

Rob

[Fredric]

What needs to happen is that when Criterion releases Confidential Report . . . in 2016 . . . they need to include the Corinth Arkadin on a second disc.

[maxrael]

There's a new French 4 disc DVD box set on ebay containing: 'THE STRANGER', 'MR ARKADIN', 'AROUND THE WORLD/THE DOMINICI AFFAIR' and 'MALPERTUIS'... apparently

This 3 DVD Set is FULLY REMASTERED AND RESTORED from the absolute best possible sources. This is NOT a Public Domain or Asian release that are WAY inferior !. These films are presented fully UNCUT and UNCENSORED. These releases have been supervised and approved by the CNC (Comité National de la Cinématographie). They look amazing !.

see:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws....5813925

Could be one of the previous versions of 'MR ARKADIN'... but...

Does anyone know any more information about this French release box set?. it's the first time i've heard of a French release of 'MR ARKADIN'...

if it was the other side of pay day i'd be tempted to bid just to get 'MALPERTUIS'!!

atb,
max!

[Jeff Wilson]

I'm dubious, as none of the French e-tailers I checked even show that this exists. Until I hear more, I'm thinking it's a bootleg, but who knows. I wouldn't pay $65 to find out.

[maxrael]

No, i can't seem any more info on it either... i'm also suspicious of the fact it's allegedly a region 2 PAL French release that's being sold from New York!! and as with you i can't find a european distributor who sells it!
i think i'll e-mail the seller and ask for more information...

If there's one for sale at the end of the month, i'll try and get it and let you know what i find...

Talking of MALPERTUIS... those lovely people at:
http://www.salvation-films.com/ have it listed on DVD as 'coming soon'...

As a not particularly interesting aside, Salvation Films used to be Redemption Films who made the Jesus Franco video of SUCCUBUS which i bought when i was a wide-eyed young adolescent looking for some sauce!

atb,
max!

[Jeff Wilson]

Some info on that four DVD set: apparently, it's only available through a certain French retailer that doesn't ship out of France, so I'm not sure how the guy on eBay got hold of them. Anyhow, in France the set retails for about $23, so this guy is ripping people off in a big way. And that's $23 for four discs, so I don't imagine a lot of care went into doing a good job, but I could be wrong. You can find the details at the link below. Do a search on Welles in the DVD section and you should find it. The set has no extras.

Welles French set

[71-1045893605]

The closest version to Welles' vision is the Criterion LD of CONFIDENTIAL REPORT, hands down. Print, sound & continuity are first rate. I've seen about 7 other versions. Close but no cigar.

[jaime marzol]

the book where truffaut credits arkadin for starting the french new wave is called THE FILMS IN MY LIFE, or something to that effect.

i have only come across 3 versions of arkadin, would love to see the other 4.

if i were pushed i would say that the voyager arkadin is the best of the 3, but if i'm not pushed i say all 3 are significant, and should be experience one after the other. invite over all your friends, serve them pork chunks on a stick, and show the 3 versions of arkadin. they will never come over again, but you will have a great time.

[TheMcGuffin]

I read throught Truffaut's The Films of My Life...and it doesn't explicitly say that Mr. Arkadin was an influence on the french new wave...but does in all three of his essay's on Welles' Work (Citizen Kane, Confidential Report, and Touch of Evil) were all heavy influences on it. The interesting one is Touch of Evil...i wrote one of my final papers on the movie and in it I argued that ToE was basically a Hollywood French New Wave film. For ToE Welles brought back to Hollywood, from France, the first camera meant to be carried handheld. This coupled with the fact that the film was shot on location, quickly, for a meager budget and using the aforementioned handheld camera that it embodied all the elements of the French New Way. It completely explain's Truffaut and Godard's admiration for the film and their selection of it for Top Honors at the Venice Film Festival (or was it Berlin...i need to check that one)

Rob

[Terry]

I've seen the three Arkadins which Jaime has. As for the OTHER FOUR, well, don't know about the Spanish version, but I always presumed the other Arkadins were the novel, ghostwritten from Welles' screenplay by Maurice Bessy (or some hack he'd hired,) and the various episodes from The Lives of Harry Lime radio series containing dialogue later used in the film (Man of Mystery was one of two I know of.) I listened to the episode "An Old Moorish Custom" the other day, and the shape of its story arc was essentially that of Arkadin, they were surprisingly similar. Welles distilled a lot of radio scripts for that screenplay!

Side Note: I'd like to do an encyclopeadia of errata from that new Welles encyclopeadia - gods, what constant errors!

[allegra]

I like your idea, Store Hadji, about the errata encyclopedia on the Welles one -- I've been similarly tempted. I think it would be a great boon to anyone who buys the book and, not knowing better, takes it as gospel because it's an "encyclopedia." Let me know if you're serious, and if you'd like, I'd be happy to help.

[Jaime N. Christley]

Woo-hoo!

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/message/22199

[Wilson]

Wow, that's excellent news indeed. Maybe if Stefan is still popping in here, he can provide some details as to his Arkadin project.



Edited By Wilson on Feb. 03 2005 at 15:10

[Cole]

This truly is excellent news. My big fear was that Criterion would release the British "Confidential Report" on DVD, but instead they've wisely (IMO) gone with the Corinth Version (multiple flashbacks), plus they're throwing in some new version we presumably have not seen. I can't wait.

[Jaime N. Christley]

What's heartening is that Criterion has several precedents for multiple-releases-in-one packages, whether it be two takes on the film by different directors in different countries and in different eras (like the two versions of The Lower Depths: Renoir and A. Kurosawa), but multiple versions by the same director, for a variety of reasons: De Sica's Terminal Station/Indiscretion of an American Wife, the French and German-language versions of The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, the theatrical and director's cut of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Visconti's Leopard, Bergman's Fanny and Alexander, etc.

It goes without saying that a Criterion release of a schizoid mutant masterpiece like Confidential Report would follow suit.