Mr. Arkadin (Confidential Report) (1955)

80% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(2,177 ratings)

Also known as Mr. Arkadin, this flawed late effort by director Orson Welles recalls the structure of Citizen Kane, centering around an investigation into the past of a powerful millionaire. This time around, however, the millionaire is very much alive; in fact, it is Gregory Arkadin (Welles) himself… More Also known as Mr. Arkadin, this flawed late effort by director Orson Welles recalls the structure of Citizen Kane, centering around an investigation into the past of a powerful millionaire. This time around, however, the millionaire is very much alive; in fact, it is Gregory Arkadin (Welles) himself who orders the inquiry, claiming to suffer from amnesia. The investigator soon gets a taste of the difficulty of his task, however, when several witnesses to Arkadin's past suspiciously turn up dead. Indeed, the closer he comes to the truth about Arkadin, the more he fears that he himself may be the next victim. While it aspires to intense suspense, Confidential Report suffers more than most of Welles' films from budgetary limitations and erratic shooting habits, with the final result often seeming choppy and needlessly confusing. Nevertheless, any Welles effort is by definition at least partially worthwhile, if only for further demonstration of his brilliant visual sensibility. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Orson Welles
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 2, 1962 Wide
On DVD: Apr 18, 2006
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Engaging meller it may be, but missing the incisive delineation that marked Kane.
, New York Times
A film, which, for all its strangeness, is seldom less than brilliant.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
For all of the film's perversity, there is greatness in it -- a greatness harshly criticizing itself.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
a mesmerizing experience, a schizoid crime caper that's half-potboiler and half-reverie
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Arkadin is a rotter from the start; we couldn't care less about his life or death.
Doug Cummings, Filmjourney
While the plot sometimes seems too fragmented for its own good, Welles' consistently inventive imagery nevertheless ensures that the action remains thoroughly engrossing.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
This is a brilliant disaster... some of the highest class trash you'll ever get to see.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
A frequently breathtaking film, even though it lacks some of the finer polish of Welles' best Hollywood productions.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
the film suffers not from Welles' absence but rather from any reason for us to care about Arkadin
Derek Adams, Time Out
Failure or not, it's irresistible.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Endlessly inventive thriller, with spectacular visual style from Welles.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Junk food for cineastes.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A bemusing melodrama that is bizarre.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A spectacular film, a complete and total Orson Welles film with his unique fingerprints all over it. I wouldn't swap it for a dozen other films.
, Film4
This is a sprawling complex mystery that, while it's sometimes too tangled for its own good, has an absorbing central story.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A fascinating Wellesian mess

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Graham J

A "brilliant disaster" is the perfect definition of this strange work.
Randy T

After watching Mr. Arkadin twice (once to see it and once again to attempt to understand it) I'm compelled to examine the inspirational possibilities. LSD was invented in the 1930's but didn't come into popular recreational use until the 1960's. Mr. Arkadin was… More
After watching Mr. Arkadin twice (once to see it and once again to attempt to understand it) I'm compelled to examine the inspirational possibilities. LSD was invented in the 1930's but didn't come into popular recreational use until the 1960's. Mr. Arkadin was released in 1955. Rule that out. Crack didn't become mainstream until the early 1980's. Scratch that one. Federico Fellini made his first film in 1950, a mere five years prior. A possible but unlikely influence. The best bet is that Orson just, somehow, lost artistic control and the film was cut, re-edited, dubbed, re-dubbed, lost, found, re-re-dubbed, and released. As freakishly bizarre as this all sounds, the film still warrants 4 & 1/2 stars. Imagine how high it could have been had it made sense!!
Michael G

Orson Welles' style in Mr. Arkadin is every bit as dynamic as it was with Citizen Kane. Unfortunately they're both equally as jumpy and sometimes messy. The movie's lavish style frequently takes a back seat to Welles' pretentiousness and whoever did the dubbing and… More
Orson Welles' style in Mr. Arkadin is every bit as dynamic as it was with Citizen Kane. Unfortunately they're both equally as jumpy and sometimes messy. The movie's lavish style frequently takes a back seat to Welles' pretentiousness and whoever did the dubbing and horribly matched the sound to the film should be shot. Poala Mori was gorgeous but this movie isn't anything to wrap your legs around more than once. Recommended viewing for Welles fans but otherwise forget about it.
Stella D

a brilliant mess. the story of a reclusive billionaire played by welles in a fake beard and his daughter, played by his third wife, whose dialogue was completely dubbed. another film welles claimed was destroyed by the studio. the lead actor, one robert arden, is not great and… More
a brilliant mess. the story of a reclusive billionaire played by welles in a fake beard and his daughter, played by his third wife, whose dialogue was completely dubbed. another film welles claimed was destroyed by the studio. the lead actor, one robert arden, is not great and resembles bruce campbell to a distracting degree. still a fascinating watch, some great cinematography and alot of fun. there are several versions out there; not sure how 'complete' this one was
Burger S

I'm sure that this jet setting spy story could have came off a little bit better providing two things. The cinetography was awful, it looks like it it was made in 1942 not 1962. The voices are badly overdubbed. There may be a reason that Orson Wellles star faded after Citizen… More
I'm sure that this jet setting spy story could have came off a little bit better providing two things. The cinetography was awful, it looks like it it was made in 1942 not 1962. The voices are badly overdubbed. There may be a reason that Orson Wellles star faded after Citizen Kane. He comes across as a completely insane person. A man hiring another man to investigate himself reminded me of Angel Heart with DeNiro & Rourke. Anyone who has seen The Crying Game and loves Forest Whitaker's qoute about the Frog and Scorpion story - this is where that came from.
Dimitris S

Felicity of the tormenting oceans....where is thy swaying motion?
Linda K

Welles has failed again in the narrative where there is a lot of ambiguity and unclear content. On the other hand, the cinematography is always excellent. The use of shadows and darkness makes the film very expressionistic. The camera position is never at the eye level which creates… More
Welles has failed again in the narrative where there is a lot of ambiguity and unclear content. On the other hand, the cinematography is always excellent. The use of shadows and darkness makes the film very expressionistic. The camera position is never at the eye level which creates a tense atmosphere in the film.