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The Trial (1963)
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Synopsis
Much of
Orson Welles
' latter-day reputation as an "unfathomable" genius rests upon his seeming unwillingness to tell a story in clear, precise fashion. Sometimes, as in such films as
Touch of Evil
, Welles' spotty storytelling skills can be forgiven in the light of the excellent visuals. In other cases, as in his 1962 adaptation of Kafka's The Trial, Welles'style comes across as empty virtuosity, precious and petulant when it should be profound.
Anthony Perkins
plays Joseph K, a man condemned for an unnamed crime in an unnamed country. Seeking justice, Joseph K is sucked into a labyrinth of bureaucracy (Welles once described the character as being a "little bureaucrat" himself, who deserves to be punished. This is never clearly expressed in the finished film). Along the way, he becomes involved with three women --
Jeanne Moreau
,
Romy Schneider
,
Elsa Martinelli
-- who in their own individual ways are functions of the System that persecutes him. While Welles considered The Trial one of his finest films, this enthusiasm is not universally shared; even his most fervent admirers have been known to emerge from a screening of the film with quizzical, disappointed expressions on their faces. On the plus side, Welles and his cinematographer Edmond Richard perform miracles in transforming an abandoned French railway station into the headquarters of a totalitarian, red tape-ridden society. It's also fun to hear Welles' voice emanating from several of the supporting characters (his post-dubbing budget was nil). All in all, however, The Trial never truly works; it is unfair, however, to lay the blame for this entirely on Welles, inasmuch as the 1948 and 1994 attempts to cinematize the original Kafka novel likewise came a cropper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
Suzanne Flon
Miss Pittl
Michel Lonsdale
Priest
Elsa Martinelli
Hilda
Madeleine Robinson
Mrs. Grubach
Romy Schneider
Leni
Akim Tamiroff
Bloch
Jeanne Moreau
Miss Burstner
Anthony Perkins
Josef K.
Orson Welles
Hastler, advocate
Production Crew
Jean Mandaroux
Art Director
Franz Kafka
Book Author
Edmond Richard
Cinematographer
Jean Ledrut
Composer (Music Score)
Orson Welles
Director
Fritz Muller
Editor
Orson Welles
Editor
Yvonne Martin
Editor
Marc Maurette
First Assistant Director
Louis Dor
Makeup
Jean Ledrut
Musical Direction/Supervision
Alexander Salkind
Producer
Miguel Salkind
Producer
Yves Laplanche
Producer
Orson Welles
Screenwriter
Guy Villette
Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1963
Runtime: 118
Country: France
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature
Genre
Drama
Release
March 30, 1963 (Italy)
by UFA-Comacico Paris Europa-Ficit-Hisa Films
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