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"Featuring two stunning, cinematic achievements, Citizen Welles pays tribute to the legendary genius of writer, director, and actor Orson Welles." - The box for Citizen Welles
CITIZEN WELLES
(Featuring The Stranger and The Trail)
Movie: 8/10
Welles is one of the best filmmakers ever, if he wasn't I doubt they would give him a DVD of this caliber and call his groundbreaking film, Citizen Kane (DVD review here) one of the best films ever. This DVD takes a look at two of his little known films: The Stranger and The Trial.
The Stranger stars Welles in a Apt Pupil-Esque story about a small town schoolteacher who is really a former Nazi war criminal. Intertwined with Welles' character, Franz Kindler, is Mary (Loretta Young), who falls in love with Welles' charm and a Nazi hunter played by Edward G. Robinson. That's the plot in a nut shell, it was very decent (the acting and direction), although it did remind me quite a bit of Apt Pupil (no, there isn't some school boy blackmailing a Nazi, but you get the idea). Welles' work, as always, is better than the norm, although he never could top Citizen Kane, as hard as he tried. I've seen far worse, but other Welles' work is better (The Lady From Shanghai, Touch of Evil, and The Third Man for Welles the actor come to mind, although in his acting he always seems to give 110%).
The Trial stars Anthony Perkins as Joseph K in an adaptation of Franz Kafka's novel, "Le Proces". Basically it deals with Joseph being charged with an unnamed crime. It doesn't help that Joseph is innocent and has no idea what is going on. It's typical Kafka. (Ever seen the Soderbergh flick?) The photography is absolutely beautiful and it's a shame Perkins never did more in Hollywood. They had him typecast as Norman Bates. (Ironically, Norman Bates was based off the motel clerk in Welles' Touch of Evil). Again, this doesn't top Welles' other work, but I did enjoy it more than The Stranger. I do wish, however, that Welles would have adapted this story himself. I think both films could have benefited more if this had been true. Not bad stuff though, worth a viewing.
Video: 8/10
Really well done. The Stranger is full screen and The Trail is wide, however, both films look wonderful. (Not as good as Kane though.)
Audio: 7/10
Again, well done in 5.1!
Extras: 8/10
Really stacked. Both films have commentaries by Jeffery Lyons, theatrical trailers, photo galleries, and a real gem: Welles' FIRST film, 1934's Hearts of Age, a silent ambiguous film which features commentary by Lyons (who does a decent job on all three tracks). This DVD is really done well. It was a pleasure to watch some decent movies with some great extras.
Overall: 8/10
Worth a buy if you're a fan of Welles or good old movies.
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