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Mr. Arkadin

Mr. Arkadin

Mystery · Thriller · 1955

Claiming that he doesn't know his own past, a rich man enlists an ex-con with an odd bit of detective work. Gregory Arkadin says he can't remember anything before the late 1920s, and convict Guy Van Stratten is happy to take the job of exploring his new acquaintance's life story. Guy's research turns up stunning details about his employer's past, and as his work seems linked to untimely deaths, the mystery surrounding Mr. Arkadin deepens.

Movie details

Mr. Arkadin

“Discovering the past can be murder...”

1955 Mystery · Thriller 1h 47m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Claiming that he doesn't know his own past, a rich man enlists an ex-con with an odd bit of detective work. Gregory Arkadin says he can't remember anything before the late 1920s, and convict Guy Van Stratten is happy to take the job of exploring his new acquaintance's life story. Guy's research turns up stunning details about his employer's past, and as his work seems linked to untimely deaths, the mystery surrounding Mr. Arkadin deepens.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Mr. Arkadin?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Orson Welles

Written by

Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Gregory Arkadin

Akim Tamiroff

Akim Tamiroff

Jakob Zouk

Grégoire Aslan

Grégoire Aslan

Bracco

Patricia Medina

Patricia Medina

Mily

Jack Watling

Jack Watling

Marquis of Rutleigh

Mischa Auer

Mischa Auer

The Professor

Peter van Eyck

Peter van Eyck

Thaddeus

Court is in session

Put Mr. Arkadin on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.