Mr. Arkadin aka Confidential Report (1955)

Mr. Arkadin is on of those unwieldy Orson Wells character study mysteries, which now that I think about aren't all of his films on some level character study mysteries? Like so many of Wells films its origin and process of production is also unwieldy and fascinating. Originally conceived as a sort of prequel/sequel for the Harry Lime character that Wells had essayed in the film The Third Man and also in a radio series titled The Lives of Harry Lime , Wells apparently became so fascinated by the Arkadin character (which  was reportedly based in part on the real life arms dealer Basil Zaharoff) that rather then resume the role of Lime, he simply removed Lime from the story, replaced him with a similar character and decided to play the role of Arkadin himself.

A complicated French-Spanish-Swiss co production it was shot in multiple countries throughout Europe, particularly in Spain, and missed sufficient deadlines that Wells eventually had creative control taken from him and the film was edited and released in multiple versions throughout the world not getting an American release until 1962 (The version I watched was kind of a composite done after Wells death). The film concerns Arkadin hiring small time ex patriot American smuggler Guy Van Stratten (this part was originally to have been the Harry Lime character) to dig into his own background for mysterious reasons after said smuggler (played by relative unknown Robert Arden) stumbles upon some potentially valuable information on Mr. Arkadin as well as attracts the romantic interest of his daughter Raina (played by the woman who would become Wells third and final wife, they were married for thirty years, Paola Mori). There is much intrigue, death and suspense as well as interesting characters encountered by Guy as he crisscrosses the global in search of the origin of Arkadian and the source of his fortune. It's enjoyably weird, often feels rambely and improvised, but has a surprisingly taut odd logic to it that comes through at the end. Wells is a director whose innovations are so atypical that they still feel remarkably fresh even sixty years later. A more then worthwhile viewing. ***1/2