I found a used copy of The Criterion Collection’s The Complete Mr Arkadin by Orson Welles!

This is a highly mysterious film, with no definitive cut, seven different versions, and (I’m being serious here) a novel which is an English translation of a French version of Orson Welles’ original dictation to his secretary. That is also included in the box set…EEP!

I watched “The Corinth Version” tonight, on disc one. Jonathan Rosenbaum, of the Chicago Reader and a bit of a Welles expert, considers this the “best” example of what might have been.

My first impression? The overall story is quite interesting, but it’s the individual set pieces which are really jaw-dropping. It’s just not quite finished (clearly), and the “leading” man, Robert Arden, is a bit of a drip. That’s why I have picked this image to post, it is from the second Spanish cut of the film (there are two!), and it is distinguished by the fact that they were clearly so bored by Robert Arden’s “lead” performance, that they just decided to call him Mark Sharpe instead.

I agree with them, it’s a better name. How bizarre, though, right?

“What was the dude’s name?”

“Robert something, I think.”

“Was it?”

“I think so.”

“Nah, fuck it. Dull. Call him Mark Sharpe.”

“Niiiice!”

(they hi-five)