Confidential Report - Mr. Arkadin UK DVD - Is it any good???

[SFT]

Does anyone here have the Metrodome UK DVD release of Confidential Report (or Mr. Arkadin)?? I'm hoping someone can give me a mini-review of the quality of this release. I really want this Welles film, but should I hold out for a better release sometime in the future? I know that that American releases are very poor.

Thanks,
SFT

[SFT]

Well, I couldn't wait for a comment so I went ahead and got it. Pretty bad quality overall, both picture and sound, but not unreasonably so. Certainly watchable - not one of Welles' best films, but maybe if he had gotten his final cut it would have been a different picture. One thing that really irritated me was the obviously fake make-up on Welles. You'd think there was enough of a budget to at least get a good make-up artist.

In the end I doubt if there is anything that sets this release of the film apart from the other releases we've seen. Aside from a Welles biography and a photogallery there are no special features of any kind. So I wouldn't go out of my way for this release if a US version is availible.

SFT

[colwood]

sorry it's late, but a great place to look for dvd comparisons of some movies is dvdbeaver.com

http://207.136.67.23/film/dvdcompare/arkadin.htm

[Glenn Anders]

Thanks, colwood. I think I'll stick with my Criterion Laserdisc of CONFIDENTIAL REPORT until Criterion, which obviously has an interest in the property, decides to do something (hopefully) definitive. I made the mistake of ordering that DVD with the commentary by Tony Curtis. Not anywhere as good or complete as the Laserdisc. And of course, though it's always nice to hear from Tony, I could have done as good a commentary myself, and been not much further away from the production than he was.

One day, I suspect, we'll get the real thing.

Glenn