MR ARKADIN (aka CONFIDENTIAL REPORT) - New DVD (PAL) old VHS (NTSC)

[sergio]

I recently purchased the new PAL region 0 DVD of MR Arkadin in its Eurpean incarnation as Confidential Report, and am glad to report that a good, if a tad scratchy, print has been transferred as well as could be expected without any real digital "restoration" being done to it. The extras are a bit scant - an ok picture gallery backed by a bit of Misraki's score and a very very comprehensive Welles filmography.

However, I realise that I have only ever seen the European cut and never the preferred US cut that Corinth releases on film - is this the version that has been released by Homevision (cat B000007T1Q ), the cover of which appears on this site in the video section devoted to ARKADIN, saying that it was previously also released by Voyager on LaserDisc (I guess I'm addressing this to Jeff Wilson)?

Even Rosenbaum's "7 versions" article is a little scant on the differences and I was hoping for a little illumination from my fellow Welles fans and some info on how to get the right VHS tape. Also, has anyone seen the Italian documentary on Arkadin to which Rosenbaum refers?

Thanks

Sergio

[Obssessed_with_Orson]

I've got the movie "Mr. Arkadin" and I don't even know if it is a cut or uncut version. But is a very good movie.

i've got an article titled the '7 mr. arkadins' from the magazine Film Comment. I can type it first thing tomorrow. I can't right now because i didn't think of bringing it with me to the library today.

as for the DVD sorry, can't help you there, buddy

bye now

[Jeff Wilson]

The European cut of Arkadin (which is Confidential Report) was indeed released by Homevision and Criterion, on VHS and LD, respectively. This Euro version is about 99 minutes in length. The two US versions differ in that one is structured chronologically (93 min. version), while the other (the Corinth version) is not (also about 99 min.). The Corinth version is the one said to be closest to Welles' original conception. Then there's the Spanish language version, but let's not even get started on that one.

I saw a brief snippet from the documentary Rosenbaum mentions (I think), as he showed a very short sequence from it at a screening of Arkadin I attended a few years ago. The footage I saw was of Welles directed Paola Mori, as also some of the Spanish version as well.

For the best look at the differences between the different versions of Arkadin, check out the articles from Video Watchdog magazine #10, Mar/Apr 1992, #12, July/Aug. 1992. That article covers a good deal of it. Without question, Arkadin has the most confusing and mixed-up history of any of Welles' completed films.

[sergio]

Thanks for the replies

- I have the Rosenbaum article from Film Comment but thank you for offering to put it online for me, truly!

And thanks for the Video Watchdog references - I'd seen a reference to them in THIS IS ORSON WELLES, but I'll definitely go and chase them up next week!

However, is there a VHS that has the 99 minute version then? I've got to see this version some how....

The reason I ask is that the European cut actually runs 97 and 1/2 minutes.

Isn't it about time that a special edition be prepared which combines all of the different versions - perhaps Rick Schmidlin could?

Many thanks to you all

[jaime marzol]

there is no great difference in the 3 versions, a slightly different arrangement of scenes. in one version a few alternate takes are used. but it's still fun to watch all 3.

the version voyager put out i find preferable.

[Fredric]

Ok, here are some thoughts I'm having after watching my Arkadin DVD last night, reading the pertinent info in TIOW and then reading this thread.

1. It seems to me that merely restoring the print would be a vast improvement. A great film is there, but it is obscured by cloudy image and sound. Someone dfeinitely needs to clean up this film.

2. Reading the chronology in the back of TIOW I finally, slow me, realized that a third print, closest to O's vision was discovered by PB in Hollywood in 1961 and released in the US at 99 minutes. This apparently is told in multiple and layered flashbacks and is released on film by Corinth. This is also the version that sergio is referring to in the first post. Am I wrong?

3. The version Jaimie prefers is the Europen Version called Confidential Report, also 99minutes, which TMC showed a year or two ago and I taped. It is also the version that Voyager and Criterion released on LD. It has only one flashback. Jaime says that he has all three versions, which means that he has the Corinth version, yet he prefers the European. Jaime says that there are few differences between all three, but if the Corinth has multiple flashbacks and is closer to Orson's vision, what must be wrong with it to not garner his approval?

4. There is another Europen Version that was actually filmed in Spanish, using different actors, and which begins with the dead woman on the beach, the way Orson intended the beginning to be. Jeff says that he prefered not to get into that version, but I am extremely curious. Would a subtitled release of that version be even better than the US release? Especially if the lead is a better actor than Arden? I don't mind reading subtitles if the film is great.

5. O_w_O or someone else, could you post the '7 Arkadins' here or provide a link to a copy of the article online?

6. The saddest thing, to me, is that this film was taken away from Orson because he could not reach the editing deadline. After reading several posts about O's editing of TOE, how even though the current edit worked fine, O would keep recutting and recutting until he was satisfied, I realize that the editing of a film is just as important as the filming. How can anyone really fix Mr. Arkadin?

That's all for now. I would love to hear more on this subject.

Thanks,
Fred

[Obssessed_with_Orson]

deleted by sender
want to read will send

[Obssessed_with_Orson]

deleted by sender

[Fredric]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it.

[nathan_h]

Where does one find the region 0 PAL version of Confidential Report? I see Amazon UK has a version they call Region 2. DVDGO (in Spain) doesn't seem to have it. I don't see it at Amazon France. Bensonsworld in the UK has a region 2 PAL version as well (http://www.bensonsworld.co.uk/detail.as ... 0000067524) released by METRODOME DISTRIBUTION LTD (Catalogue No: MTD5069) in Jan 2002. I'd assume that this is the one (and probably the same one as at Amazon)... but maybe not?

How does the DVD compare to the old Criterion LD? I'm tired of trying to get it for a decent price on ebay.... so if the DVD is comparable, that'd be much nicer. (Unlike other Criterion LDs of Welles' work, I think that there are no extras on the Confidential Report LD.)

[jaime marzol]

:::::::::::

i have no idea how long these films of arkadin are, but here are discriptions:

1 - the voyager disc: papier mache bats hanging over super imposed credits, told in flashbacks, 2 stories at party, arden doesn't have sex with raina.

2 - no bats, one story at party, told in flashbacks, arden doesn't have sex with raina.


3 - no bats, no bats, one story at party, no flashbacks, arden doesn't have sex with raina.


2 and 3 are indentifiable before the movie begins because the cast is listed in order of appearence, so in 2 tamiroff is listed to the begining of of credites, in 3 towards end of credites.

robert arden sucks

i find all 3 films very enjoyable. #1 is the best rounded cut. #2 has a cool, different look than #1, and #3 uses alternate takes that are not in 1 or 2.

i hope i didn't mix up 2 and 3 again.

would be great to come up with a fourth cut.

robert arden sucks

:::::::::::

[Fredric]

Jaime, you crack me up.

[Obssessed_with_Orson]

deleted once more

bye now

[Jeff Wilson]

I doubt that there are two versions in PAL; I've seen only a listing for the version that came out a couple weeks ago, which is likely the one Sergio was referring to. It's entirely possible that the listings were wrong and it is R0. If Sergio could confirm this, that would help.

Regarding Robert Arden, I have to say I find him perversely entertaining as Van Stratten; the role is that of a sleazy, two-bit hustler who is out of his league, and Arden played it well. Is it a towering performance that will last down the ages? No, but I think it served the film. It's no worse than Welles as Arkadin, accent and all.

And as far as the Spanish version, it has some different actors, but not all. I've seen a couple scenes from it, but I don't recall much. Everyone was simply dubbed into Spanish in that version, including Welles. I didn't want to get into that version because it isn't available and it just helps further confuse people. So technically, it's the fourth cut, I guess. I prefer the Corinth cut myself, but any one of them is good.

[Obssessed_with_Orson]

the only thing i didn't like about mr. arden is that i don't think i remember seeing him smile. what was he doing trying to be humphrey bogart or somethin'

bye now

p.s. jaime, i agree with fredric. im glad you are no mr. schmillin.