The Trial blows my mind - in awe of Welles' The Trial

[chrissie]

Yes, from BTWN. A fabulous song and video, and of course it's about Bowie's brother -- his schizophrenia and eventual suicide. DB was terrified of inheriting it himself. A few screen grabs for anyone curious:

Grab 1

Grab 2

Grab 3

I think it's the surreal/nightmare atmosphere that works on a similar level, in a strange way...

[Roger Ryan]

I would say the Bowie video is definitely an homage to "The Trial"...certainly with the line of men standing up as Bowie exits the room and that one character with the glasses who's a dead ringer for one of Welles's assassins.

[jaime marzol]

knowles, ineresting you say that about discovering the trail while drinking vodka. i've had the same experience several times:

LAST TANGO IN PARIS-i always loved brando, didn't know bertalucci. tried a bunch of times to watch it, just could not sit through it. one night, after a few cocktails, scotch was my drink of choice then, i popped it in player, and it was great. have liked it ever since.

2 films got stuck in my craw after nights of nightclubbing, and coming home damaged from swallowing gallons of second hand smoke, TOUCH OF EVIL, and THE TRIAL

IT SEEMS THE STIMULANTS OPEN SOMETHING IN YOUR BRAIN THAT LETS SOME PIECE OF INFO IN, AND YOU NEVER LOOK AT IT THE SAME WAY AGAIN.

long live stimulants

[Roger Ryan]

In the past month since David Bowie's passing, I've been re-listening to a lot of his music and re-watching many of his music videos. One of his best videos is for 1993's "Jump They Say"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJt0SQec0I

...Included in the visuals are references to Kubrick's "2001" (1968) and Chris Marker's "La Jetée" (1962). Bowie also slips in at least two visual nods to another 1962 release: Welles' "The Trial". See if you can spot them.

[cinescot]

An excellent article on The Trial is available at Cinephilia and Beyond. It also contains the screenplay in PDF as well as photos and interview excerpts.

http://www.cinephiliabeyond.org/trial-orson-welles-exhibition-paranoia-illogicality-personal-responsibility-take-kafkas-classic/

[Wellesnet]

Thanks, Cinescot.

[Wellesnet]

Here is also a nice transcript of the 1962 interview that Welles did with the BBC's Huw Wheldon:
http://www.wellesnet.com/bbc-interview- ... the-trial/