Welles’ Arkadin: Which version to watch?
March 16th, 2007 by Bill
Today I received my copy of Mr. Arkadin (Criterion Collection). I’ve never seen the film. I know almost nothing about it.
About all I do know is that it was a schmozzle because Welles lost control of it.
The upshot is that there is no definitive version. No final cut, as Welles would have done it. What exists is several versions, each with some of what Welles wanted but not all. Not ever having had a chance to complete the movie, Welles himself probably didn’t know what his final cut would have looked like.
And so I’m here with what looks to be a fabulous package from Criterion of Welles’s Mr. Arkadin. That means three versions to choose from: Corinth version, Confidential Report version and a comprehensive version.
So … which one to watch first? Which one?
Coming to it virginally, I think I’ll begin with the comprehensive version. Mistake? Who can say with any confindence …
