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CONFIDENTIAL REPORT a.k.a. MR. ARKADIN ** out of *****
 Genre
1955
Written and directed by Orson Welles Cast Akim Tamiroff .... Jakob Zouk Grégoire Aslan .... Bracco Patricia Medina .... Mily Jack Watling .... Marquis of Rutleigh Orson Welles .... Gregory Arkadin Mischa Auer .... The Professor Peter van Eyck .... Thaddeus Michael Redgrave .... Burgomil Trebitsch Suzanne Flon .... Baroness Nagel Frédéric O'Brady .... Oscar Katina Paxinou .... Sophie Tamara Shayne .... Woman in Apartment Paola Mori .... Raina Arkadin
Confidential Report is the kind of movie that usually makes its way into the ‘Classics’ section at your local video store. This would only ring true, however, if the term ‘classic’ was expanded to include pretentious, egotistical, pompous drivel. An Orson Welles creation; not only did he write, direct, produce, and star in Confidential Report, he was also the costume designer. If you are a first-year film student you will love this film, right up until the point one of your second-year lecturers refers to it as ‘the poor man’s Citizen Kane’. I for one feel that this statement is far too insulting to poor people.
 | Yes, Orson Welles is statuesque. But
we're talking more Stalin than David. | The film opens with a pseudo-‘deep’ quote and an ominous piece of melodramatic narration and then we are flung into the story proper. An American smuggler, Guy Van Stratten (Robert Arden) is released from prison and at once attempts to insinuate himself into the life of the beautiful Raina Arkadin (Paola Mori) or, more precisely, into the world of her father, the enigmatic millionaire Gregory Arkadin (Orson Welles). Mr Arkadin has another plan for Van Stratten, though, and explains to Guy he has amnesia before sending him on a quest to uncover Arkadin’s mysterious past. However, all is not as it seems…… but then again, is it ever?
Perhaps the single greatest flaw in this film is the butchery that tries to pass itself off as ‘editing’. Mood is destroyed and the story struggles to maintain tension and narrative flow. Am I wrong, or should characters be allowed to finish sentences before the plot is moved to another continent? This is partially salvaged by Welles’ direction, which brings some outstanding sets and shots, but too often steps into the realm of self-indulgence.
 | | "Ja, Euro Disney ist scheizer." | The performances from Arden and Mori were very strong. Arden, in particular, was wonderful and at times downright hilarious. But again, I find myself having problems with Welles. His attempt to portray Arkadin as shadowy and mysterious was overblown, and often left his character looking like a portentous buffoon. The supporting cast were absolutely wonderful, and Van Stratten’s interviews with the eccentric men of Europe were, I felt, the most outstanding scenes in the film.
I do know that Citizen Kane is a cinematic masterpiece, and I recognise all the brilliant work that this one man did for the art of film. So if you feel that I have been too harsh to a beloved auteur then I urge you to see this film for yourself. If only so that you can honestly utter the phrase, ‘That was ninety minutes of my life that I will never, ever get back’. Finger_Of_DOOM's reviews also appear on DVD Compare, where they include details of the DVD release. For this review click here. Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts) |
