Mr. Arkadin on DVD soon

[Holly Martins]

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=44410#44410

[Bantock]

$39.95 is pretty steep, but if it has the new Munich version, I'll probably bite.

[Jeff Wilson]

It was just a matter of time before the announcement. The 40 buck retail price will be discounted to around $26 or so before release, so no one need pay that original price. And it is scheduled to have the Munich cut.

[R Kadin]

Simply brilliant, all 'round. Congrats to any/all who have helped nudge this very special offering to fruition. And remember out there, when ordering via Amazon, be sure to click through from here. Wellesnet deserves your support.

[97-1086573686]

This is great news. Gary Tooze from DVD Beaver posted the following information (directly from Jonathan Rosenbaum):

'It will be a three-disc set including the Corinth version of the film (with a commentary by James Naremore and myself), CONFIDENTIAL REPORT, and a new edit by Stefan Droessler (of the Munich Film Archives) that will draw material from a variety of sources. Each version will have separate liner notes--by me, Francois Thomas, and Stefan, respectively--and I believe the set will also include some radio shows and a reprint of the novel (although there's new and more conclusive evidence, that will be cited, that Welles didn't write the latter).'

[Terry]

Well that sounds like the ultimate Arkadin set!

Just remember, it was MAN OF MYSTERY and not GREEK MEETS GREEK! Here's hoping they have the complete versions of the Harry Lime episodes, not the short versions with the incorrect titles.

[Terry]

Oh, is the Corinth version the 92-minute butchered cut or the 99-minute version which is rather rare?

[DexyMan]

This is definitely the most anticpated Welles release on DVD for me, it sounds amazing! Between this and MacBeth, 2006 is lining up to be a quality R1 DVD year. The only thing missing from Arkadin seems to be the "documentary" with making of footage.

[Fredric]

The Corinth is the 99-minute version. I can toss my old VHS tape. Got a lot of good trades out of it, though. Heck, I'll pay $40 for this glorious release!

[jaime marzol]

i've seen some very cool out take footage for arkadin, bet you that, and more will be there. there is so much material available, that an offering as good as criteriun's OTHELO could be made.

[Angelini]

As one of the people who benefitted from Fredric's trading largesse, let me say that the Corinth version is definitely the one to have, well until we see this new restoration from Stefan.

Not wishing to sound unduly pessimistic, especially as I am incredibly excited by this 3 version announcement by Rosenbaum, but has this been confirmed by anyone at Criterion? Where does the Rosenbaum quote come from exactly, apart from Gary at DVD Beaver (a great site by the way).

Either way, when this does become available, I will definitely set out a whole Saturday just to go through every bit of whatever Criterion puts out!!

[catbuglah]

Watched Confidential Report :angry: the other the night - wonderfully done, freaky, deaky! :p it's quite a jump stylistically from his previous stuff - I can see elements of Lady from Shanghai being pushed further(this whole film noir thing that gets all surreal with poetico-romantic existencial musings ), the whole fluid, proto-cinema verité look - and its subsequent influence on TOE. All the truncations are bothersome, though - The motivations for Arkadin's death seem pretty unconvincing - the Wellesian structure and rhythm do seem pretty compromised, lots of clumsy-looking abrupt cutting with various story inconsistencies - Paola Mori is stunning - I like all the fairy tale/myth references - He would look like Neptune - The identity of your father is uncertain, the Ogre, the castle, Frog and Scorpion and friendship fables, Raina=Queen, etc... I can't wait to see the new restored version...

[jaime marzol]

well, netflix lists a Mr. Arkadin that is going to be released. Do you think it's THE ARKADIN?

[colwood]

For a movie that I initially didn't care for, I can't wait for the Criterion release. Maybe it's just me, but too bad they didn't include the spanish version as well. I mean not including the pub domain version is one thing. But in the spanish version, besides being in spanish, Welles actually filmed certain scenes with two different actresses. That's got to be worth something. JMO

[Jeff Wilson]

I think it's a case of how far is too far before going overboard with the release. Three versions of a film like ARKADIN is already a lot to the casual fan. I guarantee you there will be reviews that ask why Criterion bothered to go as far as they did. I'm amazed they're providing three versions, to be honest. Criterion have certainly gone the extra mile in providing the Corinth-owned cut as well as the Munich restoration, so they certainly deserve some credit for that. Including the Harry Lime show and the novel, should that happen, will be nice (and necessary) touches as well. I fully expected to only get CONFIDENTIAL REPORT with minimal extras, so anything more than that is a bonus.