Mr. Arkadin ("Confidential Report") (1955), Orson Welles archived movie

Mr. Arkadin
(also known as "Confidential Report")
1955)
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Orson Welles

"Mr. Arkadin" (also known as "Confidential Report") is a captivating mystery film released in 1955. Written and directed by the acclaimed Orson Welles, the film is a French-Spanish-Swiss production, shot in various locations including Spain, London, Munich, Paris, and Switzerland.

The story follows Guy Van Stratten, an American smuggler working in Europe, who becomes entangled in a dangerous plot. Stratten seeks out a Munich resident named Jakob Zouk to warn him of an impending threat on his life. However, Zouk, who is terminally ill, shows little concern about the news. Stratten, driven by personal reasons, proceeds to recount his story in a series of flashbacks.

The narrative begins in Naples, where Stratten receives a tip that the enigmatic oligarch Gregory Arkadin holds a dark secret related to a woman named "Sophie." Intrigued, Stratten and his girlfriend Mily travel to Arkadin's castle in Spain with the intention of using this information for blackmail. Through a chance encounter with Arkadin's daughter Raina, Stratten gains access to the castle.

To Stratten's surprise, Arkadin already knows about his and Mily's interest in him and their criminal past. Rather than turning them away, Arkadin offers to pay for information about his own forgotten past. In 1927, Arkadin awoke in a Swiss square with amnesia and a substantial sum of money. Struggling with the mystery of his origins, Arkadin believes Stratten possesses the discretion and resourcefulness to uncover the truth.

While Arkadin takes Mily on a yacht cruise, Stratten embarks on a global quest for clues. Through encounters with eccentric individuals—a flea circus proprietor, a junk-shop owner, an impoverished noblewoman in Paris, and a heroin addict—he gradually pieces together Arkadin's pre-1927 life. He discovers Arkadin's involvement in a sex trafficking ring in Warsaw and learns that "Sophie" was his former lover and the leader of the ring.

As Stratten delves deeper into his investigation, he realizes that Arkadin has been following him and eliminating potential witnesses. He confides in Raina, only to discover that Arkadin never had amnesia; his hiring of Stratten was a ruse.

The story intensifies at Arkadin's Christmas Eve party in Munich, where Stratten uncovers the true purpose of his investigation. Arkadin orchestrated everything to conceal his criminal past, fearing the loss of Raina's love should she discover the truth. Mily is dead, and Stratten is framed for her murder, setting him up to be silenced by the police. Desperate, Stratten seeks out Jakob Zouk, the last surviving member of the sex trafficking ring, hoping to use him as leverage against Arkadin. However, Arkadin finds Zouk and has him killed.

Stratten devises a daring plan and secures the last seat on a plane to Barcelona. He arranges to meet Raina at the airport to reveal her father's secret, hoping it will shatter Arkadin's spirit and put an end to the plot. Arkadin realizes Stratten's intentions and pursues him in a private plane. Stratten and Raina connect briefly, but she is summoned to the control tower to speak with her father over the radio. With little time to explain, Stratten convinces Raina to tell her father "it's too late." The lie devastates Arkadin, leading him to commit suicide by jumping from his plane.

Raina, unable to blame Stratten for her father's death, ends their love affair. She arranges for an old boyfriend to drive her away from the airport, leaving Stratten alone.

"Mr. Arkadin" weaves a complex tale of mystery, deceit, and personal intrigue. With its atmospheric locations, intricate storytelling, and nuanced performances, the film offers a compelling exploration of identity, morality, and the consequences of hidden pasts.

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