Mr. Arkadin

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Mr. Arkadin

Directed by	Orson Welles
Produced by	Orson Welles Louis Dolivet
Written by	Orson Welles
Starring	Orson Welles Robert Arden Paola Mori Akim Tamiroff Michael Redgrave
Distributed by	Filmorsa/Cervantes Films/Sevilla
Release date(s)	1955
Running time	95 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Mr. Arkadin is a film written and directed by Orson Welles. Its history is quite convoluted; the story was based on an episode of the radio series The Lives of Harry Lime, which in turn was based on the character Welles portrayed in The Third Man. In addition, several different versions of the film were released. Jonathan Rosenbaum's essay "The Seven Arkadins" is an attempt to detail the different versions including the novel and radio play. Adding to the confusion is a novel of the same title that was credited to Welles; Welles claimed the book was only ghostwritten with Maurice Bessy.

Released in some parts of Europe as Confidential Report, this film shares themes and stylistic devices with its cousin The Third Man. Like many of Welles' other films, Mr. Arkadin was heavily edited without his input. The Criterion Collection has now issued a 3 DVD box set which includes three separate versions of Mr. Arkadin including a comprehensive re-edit that combines material taken from all the known versions of the film. Also included are three of the Harry Lime radio plays Welles reportedly wrote and based the screenplay on, as well as the complete novel.

[edit] Plot

The story of Mr. Arkadin involves small time smuggler Guy Van Stratten. Van Stratten is at the scene of a murder, and the dying man whispers two names that he claims are very valuable, one of which is Gregory Arkadin. Using this small bit of information and lots of bluffing, Van Stratten manages to meet the apparent multi-millionaire business magnate and socialite Arkadin, and Arkadin then hires Van Stratten to research Arkadin's past. Arkadin claims to have no memory of his past before 1927.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Traveling across the world, Van Stratten pieces together Arkadin's past from the few remaining people who knew Arkadin as a gangster in post-WWI Europe, but in each case the individuals he speaks to end up dead. Van Stratten ultimately discovers Arkadin's amnesia was a ruse and that his true purpose was to locate anyone who could still identify Arkadin with his criminal past, so that Arkadin could have them killed. Arkadin is motivated by the need to keep his past a secret from his daughter, and in the film's climax, he and Van Stratten each race to Spain to see her. Van Stratten arrives first, and thinking his daughter has learned the horrible truth about his past, Arkadin commits suicide by jumping out of his plane.

[edit] Cast

Gregory Arkadin, a Russian tycoon -- ORSON WELLES
Guy Van Stratten, American smuggler -- ROBERT ARDEN
Mily, dancer at Juan les Pins -- PATRICIA MEDINA
Raina, Arkadin's daughter -- PAOLA MORI
Jakob Zouk, a Zurich tailor -- AKIM TAMIROFF
Bracco, a blackmailer in Naples -- GREGOIRE ASLAN
Robert Rutleigh, a Scottish Marquis -- JACK WATLING
The Professor, a Copenhagen flea trainer -- MISCHA AUER
Thaddeus, Tangier contraband dealer- PETER VAN EYCK
Burgomil Trebitsch, Amsterdam antique dealer -- MICHAEL REDGRAVE
Baroness Nagel -- SUZANNE FLON
Oskar, heroin addict in Mexico -- FREDERICK O'BRADY
Sophie Radzweickz Martinez -- KATINA PAXINOU
Jesus Martinez, a Mexican General -- MANUEL REQUENA
Woman who hides Zouk -- TAMARA SHAYNE
Mr. Arkadin’s Secretary -- TERENCE LANGDON
A Munich detective -- GERT FROBE
Munich policeman -- EDUARD LINKER
Pianist in Cannes bar -- GORDON HEATH
Woman with baguette in Paris -- ANNABEL

[edit] External links

Orson Welles
Citizen Kane (1941) • The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) • The Stranger (1946) • The Lady from Shanghai (1947) • Macbeth (1948) • Othello (1952) • Mr. Arkadin (1955) • Touch of Evil (1958) • The Trial (1962) • Chimes at Midnight (1965) • The Immortal Story (1968) • F for Fake (1974)