Well, if you’ve seen them, and you really like them and will watch them repeatedly, yes, of course, buy them.
Scenes from a Marriage is one of the Bergman films I haven’t seen but will be seeing soon so I can’t help you on that even though every Bergman film is probably worth buying. In regards to Mr. Arkadin it is definitely comparable to The Stranger and is worth seeing multiple times. I say yes it is worth buying.
Mr. Arkadin is interesting, but it is nowhere near Welles’ best work and at times feels like a rehash of Kane. But for the Bergman set the thing to think about when buying a set like that is, “Will I really watch this more than once? Are the supplements compelling enough to allow multiple viewings?” If yes, go ahead, if not then netflix it, always the best option at least for me.
I haven’t seen either one. I was considering taking the plunge because Scenes from a Marriage is often described as a classic and I enjoy everything I’ve seen thus far by Welles. They’re on the higher end of the Criterion price scale but there’s a 3 for 2 sale going on at Barnes and Noble and I am undecided on those 2 films.
Buy them.
Mr Arkadian is fascinating and one of Criterion’s best efforts. You get multiple versions of the film. In someways this project becomes the ultimate Welles project because of it’s unfinished/open text. Definitely recommend you buy this one. I have Scenes From a Marriage and haven’t watched it yet. It seems like a interesting set.
For what it’s worth I’d say Mr. Arkadin is fantastic and worth buying. I purchased Scenes from a Marriage as I remember seeing this years ago on the big screen and loving it. After watching the dvd though, I wonder if it may have been the wine I had before the movie. It just doesn’t compare to other Bergman films. It is definitely not something I want to watch again and again. I’d say rent it.
Scenes From A Marriage is definitely worth owning if you are interested in the dynamics that happen within the context of the relationship mentioned in the title. Having been married for 24 years myself, there are so many dialogs and situations presented in the film that I can relate to and even learn from. The acting is excellent and the camera work is amazing – it’s one of those films I watch and feel astonished that they were able to capture so much, so effectively. I think it holds up well to multiple viewing. The Arkadin set is worth purchasing because it can take awhile to work through all the material and if you rent it you won’t get the book. And I found it interesting to compare the different versions side by side. And it looks impressive as hell on your DVD shelf. Just go for it!
Thanks fto everyone who weighed in for the feedback. I decided to go with ‘Arkadin’. You had me at book, plus I watched some of it on google video and it’s looks very interesting at least visually. I’m too much into Welles to not dig it, regardless. As for Scenes from a Marriage, I’m going to wait till later to take the plunge on that. I finally watched Say Anything and loved it, and it’s hard to come down off a superficial Lloyd Dobler high and ingratiate yourself in a complex, doomed marriage. I think Smiles on a Summer Night is going to be next on my Bergman watch list before I make the leap to ‘Scenes’.
i have never seen “Mr Arkadian” but “scenes from a marriage” is brilliant and worth owning
Mr. Arkadin is eminently worth buying. It’s a very mysterious little film that I have found rewards repeated viewings. The scenes with Akim Tamiroff rival anything from expressionist art and cinema. Also, it’s good to see how Godard was influenced by this film when he made Alphaville.
Scenes From A Marriage is captivating throughout. Bergman showcases his adept talents at dialogue, as well as truly revealing the nature of relationships.
Mr. Arkadin is a tough nut to crack. On the one hand it’s Welles, so it’s worth it. It’s got some wonderful scenes in it, as well as some fantastic special features. However, Bob Arden is one of the worst actors who ever stepped on screen, and he’s in 90% of the film. He is just arduous to watch, it’s seems unfathomable for Welles to have hired him and directed him in such a manner that would result with that performance. Everything else is both intriguing and entertaining, and in response to the ‘retreading Kane’ comment, I think he was analyzing the myth that created him, which makes it more interesting to my mind.
Arkadin is like Kane as a serial killer. And there are certain closeups of Welles in this film that are almost pants-shittingly terrifying. A lot of the acting is flat; it’s an international cast with evident language barriers at times, but for me acting is a very small part of a film’s total mise en scene.
Scenes from a Marriage is (in my opinion) an absolute must. If the running time intimidates you, it’s broken up into pieces which make it much easier to get through. Arkadian…hm…I’d see if I could find a cheap used version of that on amazon maybe
Scenes from a Marriage was actually a pretty easy watch. The acting really disguises the run time.
Jay Leighty
Scenes from a Marriage, Mr. Arkadin. I love Bergman but I’m wondering, does this 5 hour miniseries remain gripping throughout? I love Welles but I’m wondering where this ranks with some of his other work. Is it comparable to The Stranger or The Trial if not to Kane and Touch of Evil? Any thoughts on either film would be appreciated.