rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1958
Directed by Orson Welles; produced by Albert Zugsmith; screenplay by Orson Welles
Starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, Marlene Dietrich, Zsa Zsa Gabor
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
I saw the version that was in theater in 1958 about 2 months ago. I thought
it was a great film. I saw the version Orson Welles meant it to be 2 days
ago. I thought it was a masterpiece. The changes are not very big but they
do add something. They are exactly right to make a great film into a greater
film.
In the 1958 version we have the famous opening shot with credits and the
opening theme. In this version the credits are gone and instead of the theme
we hear music that really is in the film like car radios. It is just a minor
change but it is an improvement. Another big improvement is the little
changes that are made to follow the plot more easily. Not that I didn't
understand it the first time, but you really had to focus and remember.
Whatever you say about it, it is sure that this is a great film. It has some
perfect shots in it, the cinematography is one of the best I have seen. The
direction by Orson Welles (the last film he directed) himself is masterful,
the performances are great. Welles as Hank Quinlan, Charlton Heston as Mike
Vargas, Janet Leigh as Susan Vargas and Marlene Dietrich as Tanya all doing
a wonderful job. Although sometimes the story is a little 'hard' it still is
a good one. This is a masterpiece you must not miss.