322 The Complete Mr. Arkadin

Message

Ishmael · #126 Post by **Ishmael** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:35 am

denti alligator wrote:But with this release I feel that $6.50 is a fair amount to pay for two extra versions of a film with such a problematic history.

Yeah, you're probably right. I'm probably just bitter about the price point. If somebody gave the set to me, I'm sure I'd love it.

Lino · #127 Post by **Lino** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:09 pm

You guys are impossible. Criterion goes to extreme lengths to please the most demanding DVD collector and STILL you find reason to whine!

For my part, I'm glad they are including every possible version of Arkadin in ONE set and making it available for the general public to buy. If you want just one version of it, go buy those Public Domain editions that are already out on DVD for quite some time. Just don't expect wonders at THOSE prices...

leo goldsmith · #128 Post by **leo goldsmith** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:52 pm

Annie Mall wrote:to please the most demanding DVD collector...

I think Ishmael's point is that he is not (for shame!) the most demanding DVD collector. Like some of us, he probably has better things to spend his money on (like dinner). For him, as for many others, Arkadin will make a very enjoyable rental.

Ishmael · #129 Post by **Ishmael** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:03 pm

Thank you, Leo. That's exactly what I meant, but you said it much better!

What A Disgrace · #130 Post by **What A Disgrace** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:40 am

With the site's return...the specs for the release have been altered slightly, with the addition of what seems to be a very thick booklet, apart from the source novel.

SPECIAL EDITION THREE-DISC SET FEATURES
- New, restored high-definition digital transfers of three versions of the film: the Corinth Verion, Confidential Report, and a new comprehensive version
- Audio commentary by Orson Welles scholars Jonathan Rosenbaum and James Naremore
- An interview with Welles biographer Simon Callow, featuring his audio interview with star Robert Arden
- Three half-hour episodes of the radio program The Lives of Harry Lime, upon which the film is based, and an interview with producer Harry Alan Towers
- On the Comprehensive Version, a new documentary featuring interviews with film historian Stefan Drössler and Claude Bertemes, and Welles confidant Peter Bogdanovich
- Outtakes, rushes, and alternate scenes from the film
- Extensive stills gallery
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: Mr. Arkadin, the novel, with a new preface by Robert Polito, and a booklet featuring J. Hoberman; Rosenbaum, film historian FranÃ§ois Thomas, and Drössler on the three versions; and a time line of Arkadin-related events

#131 Post by **domino harvey** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:13 am

shit, now that's a package

porquenegar · #132 Post by **porquenegar** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:42 pm

Goddamn, that looks great. Can't wait to get it!

#133 Post by **domino harvey** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:52 pm

it's only $30.99 preorder at DigitalEyes too

thewind · #134 Post by **thewind** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:20 am

It's not the source novel, its a novelization.

FilmFanSea · #135 Post by **FilmFanSea** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:16 am

It's rare for Robert Harris to comment on Criterion releases in his occasional "A few words about..." posts at HTF, but he is quite complimentary about Mr. Arkadin:

Packaged along with a paperbound copy of the novel, Criterion's new DVD release of Mr. Welles' Mr. Arkadin shows precisely how far, in an industry gone mad with continuous triple and quadruple dips into known territory, one can take a project in the name of quality, art and love of the cinema.

Offered as "The Complete Mr. Arkadin," this new DVD is much more than that.

As a project that was never officially completed by Mr. Welles, various versions have been available for decades, ranging from quite good to rather emasculated.

Offering three interestingly different versions of the film on three separate discs, we can now follow the editorial changes, and finally view for the first time, a new version which seems to be the closest to what might have been an "official" version had there been one.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Mr. Arkadin / Confidential Agent turf, this is a package containing many delights, put together with consummate care.

Mr. Arkadin is Criterion at its highest level.

Very Highly Recommended.

RAH

denti alligator · #136 Post by **denti alligator** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:08 am

Will probably be windowboxed, or?

david hare · #137 Post by **david hare** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:00 am

Good point Denti - its now or never to scream loud and clear for them to stop this practice. This was only ever shot on the run, or whatever And re-sizing to windowbox would make the curly ends obvious. (Lots of the footage's aperture doesn't match.)

As for the movie - after reactions to my take on Louis I'm loath, but I'm really very pleased Crtierion is doing such a thorough and scholarly release. Despite which - if I was bitching - Id crawl thru mud to beg for a triple of restored the Stranger, l'Histoire IMmortelle (in English with optional Fr. subs) and a non=Beatrice version of MacDuff. (All this to say I really don't like either Mori or wotsisname in Arkadin, and frankly after several viewings over several decades of two versions I find the movie completely unengaging. IMO it's the least Welles.)

But we HAVE TO HAVE IT. Of course.

Lino · #138 Post by **Lino** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:41 am

Tim Lucas on Arkadin and the upcoming Criterion DVD:

http://videowatchdog.blogspot.com/2006/ ... rship.html

Narshty · #139 Post by **Narshty** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:03 pm

One for the geeks.

I must say, that's an unpleasantly smug and self-possessed blog by Lucas, above. He might well have a point, but, Christ, a bit of modesty goes a long way.

Fletch F. Fletch · #140 Post by **Fletch F. Fletch** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:28 pm

Narshty wrote:One for the geeks.

I must say, that's an unpleasantly smug and self-possessed blog by Lucas, above. He might well have a point, but, Christ, a bit of modesty goes a long way.

Yeah, he's since posted a response to the backlash he received from said blog. It did reek a tad of sour grapes to me... the original blog posting, that is.

tryavna · #141 Post by **tryavna** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:19 pm

Fletch F. Fletch wrote:
Narshty wrote:One for the geeks.

I must say, that's an unpleasantly smug and self-possessed blog by Lucas, above. He might well have a point, but, Christ, a bit of modesty goes a long way.
Yeah, he's since posted a response to the backlash he received from said blog. It did reek a tad of sour grapes to me... the original blog posting, that is.

Actually, the more recent posting sounds even worse.... Here it is, for quick reference. Perhaps I don't read his blog often enough to judge, but he really comes across badly in these two entries.

thethirdman · #142 Post by **thethirdman** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:38 pm

Does anyone know which message board Lucas was referring to?

Narshty · #143 Post by **Narshty** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:21 am

Yup - the Wellesnet forum (here's the offending thread and the follow-up).

Fletch F. Fletch · #144 Post by **Fletch F. Fletch** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:22 am

tryavna wrote:Actually, the more recent posting sounds even worse.... Here it is, for quick reference. Perhaps I don't read his blog often enough to judge, but he really comes across badly in these two entries.

I read his blog on a regular basis and generally it is a good read, in particular his recent entry on Sterling Hayden and a while back he did a nice one on The Double Life of Veronique.

Titus · #145 Post by **Titus** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 4:46 pm

Beaver review. It is indeed windowboxed, as we feared, but looks to be otherwise fantastic, as we expected.

Narshty · #146 Post by **Narshty** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:33 pm

Windowboxed yet again... Morons.

Do they not realise this is a practice every bit as foolish and backward-looking as their early non-anamorphic transfer policy?

GringoTex · #147 Post by **GringoTex** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:54 am

I've never seen any of the versions and so have always avoided reading too much about it. So which version should I watch first for that good fuck-me-like-a-virgin experience?

david hare · #148 Post by **david hare** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:09 pm

Have not seen the reconstruction version myself, but why not start with the second Mr Arkadin disc, presumably the most compromised version, then go to the Corinth which was , correct me if I'm wrong, the European Confidential Report version, then the reconstruction.

#149 Post by **zedz** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:32 pm

davidhare wrote:Have not seen the reconstruction version myself, but why not start with the second Mr Arkadin disc, presumably the most compromised version, then go to the Corinth which was , correct me if I'm wrong, the European Confidential Report version, then the reconstruction.

I'm inclined to agree. It's sort of perverse to go from (notionally) worst to best, but it's often much harder to stomach the other way around. And you may never get around to the most compromised version if you run out of steam (I've never felt masochistic enough to view the dubbed and truncated Leopard, for example, and one King of Kings was enough!). Order of release / reception will also give you a better sense of the film's critical history.

I'm not sure how many commentaries are involved, but another option is to take in the 'best' version first off and view the others as background with the commentaries on. The 'happy' version of Brazil is painful to watch in its own right, but absolutely compelling with the commentary noting all of the minute modifications (a beautiful demonstration of just how much the meaning of a film can be altered by an accumulation of small edits).

blindside8zao · #150 Post by **blindside8zao** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:09 am

I've never seen any Welles but part of Chimes at Midnight and Citizen Kane. Would this or F for Fake be a good place to recommense my viewings? It sounds like an exciting set but I'm wondering if I should see other stuff with less problems as this seemed to have.