Rating: 
Summary: Stick with Kane
Review: The first thing I noticed with Arkadin was the similarities with Citizen Kane. Both stories revolve around an aloof wealthy complex figure, both are a character study of one great man. Arkadin, however, doesn't take it's time to tell a clean story. First, about the DVD. I share the comment with other online reviewers that it's not good. The image has the look like it was mastered from video, and the sound is flat with characteristics of generation loss. The audio is compressed so much, the music, effects, and dialogue often seem to be at the same volume level. This makes the movie irritating and difficult to watch all the way through. Welles would rather talk about his accomplishments on Arkadin than his other movies. But I'd stick with Kane as his best work. Arakadin's pacing is fast and furious, much like that of radio drama intended to keep the audience interested and excited. It doesn't work in this movie, however. The fast cuts, dutch tilts, and overlapping dialogue drove me batty. This movie most closely resembles bad Italian films from that period. Arkadin's character, as well, is creepy and unbelievable. I didn't see real depth in the character, as in Kane. Arkadin seemed one-dimensional, lurchy, and uninteresting. Symbols (like the sled in Kane) are replaced with mystery around who Arkadin really is. But who really cares? For anyone studying Welles and film, this is a movie that you should see. But you probably don't need to watch it more than once. Tony Curtis, looking really creepy and donning strange black gloves, stumbles through an introduction of this DVD speaking mostly of Welle's life and times. He is right, in his half-drunk commentary, Welles was a shooting star that rose to stardom and faded away through the rest of his career.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible quality but a must-see for the Welles aficionado
Review: The shocking audio and visual quality makes it incredibly difficult to watch, but it's a classic piece of Welles history, so I put up with it. The Tony Curtis intro alone is worth the price of admission!
Rating:
Summary: Is this THE Arkadin? Why, that's a rhetorical question!
Review: There is no THE version of this film. Even though many consider the British'European version, "Confidential Report," to be the definative one, that is simply not true. The original release was in Spain with Spanish actors--actors who didn't appear in the English language version--in several key roles.
And, even though it came out years later, Welles has been quoted as liking the American release version, the one on this disc,titled "Mr. Arkadin", better (although it was a best fo two evils situation for him).
Welles was never allowed to complete this film. While he was (endlessly) editing, the film was taken from him by his European backers and completed without his participation (he found out the hard way that Hollywood didn't have a monopoly on raping his art). So there is no definitive Welles version. "Mr. Arkadin", which we have here on this disc, has a more linear storyline. "Confidential Report" (available on a better-quality VHS than this disc) opens with a "flashback within a flashback" which was obviously imposed on the piece in postproduction. The dubbing here is not just odd, as it is in all of Welles' European productions, which were filmed silent with all sound added in postproduction. In "Report" it is obvious that the actors dubbed in totally different dialoge so that the 2nd flashback would work. Compare the scenes with protagonist VanStratten and crazy old criminal Zouk in "Report" with those in "Arkadin" and you can tell the Arkadin scenes contain the original dialoge, unaltered. So, despite being a few minutes shorter that the available "Report" version, I consider Mr.Arkadin superior in many ways. Too bad it's a crappy print. In any case, for $5, I think this Arkadin is a good buy, despite the poor picture. Perhaps Criterion will release a DVD with a 3 major versions: Spanish Arkadin, Confidential Report, and American Arkadin.
Now THAT I'd pay 39.99 for!
Rating:
Summary: Third-rate Kane knockoff - by the man himself!
Review: This film represents sort of an artistic low point for Welles. Presumably exhausted by his four-year ordeal of producing "Othello" and far removed from his Hollywood glory years, he attempted a comeback with this hodgepodge re-working of the "Citizen Kane" theme. The rich and mysterious Mr. Arkadin hires an investigator to research his past, presumably to keep his secrets away from his enemies. However, everyone interviewed by the private eye mysteriously dies! (This idea was realized more effectively in 1987's "Angel Heart"). Although this film showcases' Welles unique style far better than, say, "The Stranger," its utter lack of production values make the experience somewhat grueling. Welles shoots with a manic energy, but fails to reach the giddy heights of "The Lady from Shanghai" or the visual eloquence of "Othello." Fortunately, Welles gets some entertaining performances from his supporting cast, particularly Michael Redgrave as an effeminate shopkeeper and the ubiquitous Akim Tamiroff ("Touch of Evil's" Uncle Joe Grandi) as the kooky Jacob Zouk. The Laserlight DVD transfer doesn't help matters. As noted, it's taken from a grainy, choppy, poorly synced public domain print. However, you do get an unintentionally funny Tony Curtis intro, as well as the chance to own a rarely seen Welles film for a budget price.
Rating:
Summary: Third-rate Kane knockoff - by the man himself!
Review: This film represents sort of an artistic low point for Welles. Presumably exhausted by his four-year ordeal of producing "Othello" and far removed from his Hollywood glory years, he attempted a comeback with this hodgepodge re-working of the "Citizen Kane" theme. The rich and mysterious Mr. Arkadin hires an investigator to research his past, presumably to keep his secrets away from his enemies. However, everyone interviewed by the private eye mysteriously dies! (This idea was realized more effectively in 1987's "Angel Heart"). Although this film showcases' Welles unique style far better than, say, "The Stranger," its utter lack of production values make the experience somewhat grueling. Welles shoots with a manic energy, but fails to reach the giddy heights of "The Lady from Shanghai" or the visual eloquence of "Othello." Fortunately, Welles gets some entertaining performances from his supporting cast, particularly Michael Redgrave as an effeminate shopkeeper and the ubiquitous Akim Tamiroff ("Touch of Evil's" Uncle Joe Grandi) as the kooky Jacob Zouk. The Laserlight DVD transfer doesn't help matters. As noted, it's taken from a grainy, choppy, poorly synced public domain print. However, you do get an unintentionally funny Tony Curtis intro, as well as the chance to own a rarely seen Welles film for a budget price.
Rating: 
Summary: Appauling Quality
Review: This is a potentially very good film. Interesting idea (bearing some resemblance to "Angel heart"). Sadly marred by a quite appauling transfer. I don't think I've ever bought (DVD or video) or seen (TV or cinema) quite such an awful copy of a movie. It is clearly stuck together from more than one original, with the logo "Delta" appearing now and again in the bottom right hand corner, but don't be misled into thinking this is the most complete version. The term "special edition" seems to refer only to the fact that it has been released !!!!! Tony Curtis does an incredibly poor intro and epilogue (clearly from some late night cheap TV series).
Don't buy it.
Maybe there's a better version (I read talk of a "Critereon" disc), maybe not. Still, it really isn't worth (any) money.
Rating:
Summary: How many Mr. Arkadins are there?
Review: Viewing Orson Welles' film "Mr. Arkadin today is an experience similar to that the characters in his complex films would feel if they were real-mystery, confusion, frustration, fascination. Except for "Citizen Kane" and "The Trial" every one of Welles' movies--every one he completed that is--was taken over by its financial backers and reedited beyond comprehension. "Mr. Arkadin" is one of his most cryptic works not only because it was taken from its creator and reshaped, but because it was apparently reshaped several time by several different people. We don't have only one bastardized version, but several, at least 3. And according to Welles himself as quoted in Peter Bogdonavich's book "This is Orson Welles", none of these was even close to the story he wanted to tell. So "who is Mr. Arkardin?" is as pertinent a question when asked in the context of the film's story as it is when discussing the film itself. I myself have seen two distinct versions. One, a VHS tape of the "European" release of the film, re-titled "Confidential Report", the other this DVD Laserlight release of the later US release edit. Of the two, "Confidential Report" had the better edit and was also transfered from a much better print. This DVD version is certainly priced right, however--cant' beat Welles for under $4! As for the film itself, in all its incarnations, "Arkadin" is a fascinating failure, obviously patched together on the run on a miniscule budget. The overall plot is intriguing (and begs to be remade from Orson's original script). A famous, mysterious billionaire, claiming amnesia, hires a sleazy golddigging bum to investigate his own past. To give away more would be evil, so I won't. Let's just say there are some clever twists and turns. Unfortunately, the film only works in spurts. There are quite a few masterful scenes, but they are only loosely connected, a s though only half the filming was completed and the movie had to be cobbled together at the last minute from what was on hand, whether it made sense or not. The awkward narration and many clumsy montages used to fill the gaps make this obvious. Again, however, I must say that for movie lovers, film students, Welles freaks, or anyone else looking for something very different, you can't beat a Welles DVD for the price of a rental!
Rating:
Summary: How many Mr. Arkadins are there?
Review: Viewing Orson Welles' film "Mr. Arkadin today is an experience similar to that the characters in his complex films would feel if they were real-mystery, confusion, frustration, fascination. Except for "Citizen Kane" and "The Trial" every one of Welles' movies--every one he completed that is--was taken over by its financial backers and reedited beyond comprehension. "Mr. Arkadin" is one of his most cryptic works not only because it was taken from its creator and reshaped, but because it was apparently reshaped several time by several different people. We don't have only one bastardized version, but several, at least 3. And according to Welles himself as quoted in Peter Bogdonavich's book "This is Orson Welles", none of these was even close to the story he wanted to tell. So "who is Mr. Arkardin?" is as pertinent a question when asked in the context of the film's story as it is when discussing the film itself. I myself have seen two distinct versions. One, a VHS tape of the "European" release of the film, re-titled "Confidential Report", the other this DVD Laserlight release of the later US release edit. Of the two, "Confidential Report" had the better edit and was also transfered from a much better print. This DVD version is certainly priced right, however--cant' beat Welles for under $4! As for the film itself, in all its incarnations, "Arkadin" is a fascinating failure, obviously patched together on the run on a miniscule budget. The overall plot is intriguing (and begs to be remade from Orson's original script). A famous, mysterious billionaire, claiming amnesia, hires a sleazy golddigging bum to investigate his own past. To give away more would be evil, so I won't. Let's just say there are some clever twists and turns. Unfortunately, the film only works in spurts. There are quite a few masterful scenes, but they are only loosely connected, a s though only half the filming was completed and the movie had to be cobbled together at the last minute from what was on hand, whether it made sense or not. The awkward narration and many clumsy montages used to fill the gaps make this obvious. Again, however, I must say that for movie lovers, film students, Welles freaks, or anyone else looking for something very different, you can't beat a Welles DVD for the price of a rental!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One!
Review: Warning: the cut of the film on this DVD is so poor, it makes it not worth getting. Criterion put this film out on Laser Disc based on a print made in 1961. That's the one to own. I lived by Maltin as my bible. And in many cases, that was a very bad choice. Because of his reviews of this and 'Lady from Shanghai' I stayed away from them. When I saw this for the first time I thought I'd lost my mind. This is such a rich, wonderful film. Sure, Welles didn't get to finish editing it, but that doesn't bother me much at all. What is left is still one of the most ambitious and interesting movies of all time. The sheen of it may not match Citizen Kane, but there is much more going on in the film itself. (Perfect explanation of why Americans slighted it and Europeans rightly voted it one of the most important films of all time.) In a lot of ways, Mr. Arkadin is a recapitulation of the Kane theme, but this time, the truth of the character doesn't elude its pursuers only to be revealed to the viewer (Rosebud), the secret is that there was no secret and the whole tangle just disappears in a puff of smoke. There is so much going on in this film, it takes many viewings just to sort it out. There are also some of the greatest moments of Welles career like his telling of the parable of the scorpion and the frog. Sorry Lenny, you are CLUELESS on this one, Dude.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Welles' richest and most underrated fables
Review: We will probably never know exactly what Orson Welles envisioned Mr. Arkadin to be, but even in its present state, it remains a commandable achievement and one of his most underrated films. His storytelling mastery is evident throughout, both in the sound and images. As in Citizen Kane, the main character's life is gradually explored, but this time it's the subject of the inquiry who started it himself; this brings the film in the territory of initiations and psychoanalysis. Seemingly to uncover his own past, Arkadin sends low-profile hood Guy Van Stratten in a complex initiatic quest, one in which the initiated is mostly lured by money and luxury. Like Kane, Arkadin takes shape mainly via other people's testimonies, and he undergoes his own type of initiation: for the very first time, he is stripped of the masks and disguises he always relied on, and he is scared at the perspective of his private self (his Jungian 'number 2' personality) being discovered by the only person he cares for. Fables are scattered throughout the film, and the movie itself is such a tale, Arkadin acting as its grand, imposing Ogre, a character possessing strange and far-reaching powers. His overbearing abilities are illustrated in various ways, notably through the film's rapidly changing settings (a device also used in The Trial). The work's depth can also be measured by this consideration: Mr. Arkadin's universe is a huge maze in which Arkadin himself is Minos, Dedalus and the Minotaur all at once. This dense, rich and dreamlike film has never really received its due.
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