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Orson Welles's 1962 take on Franz Kafka's nightmare comedy stars Anthony Perkins as a twitchy K, a man accused of a crime that is never specified. The story has been filmed several times over the years, but not quite with the air of noir fable Welles brings to it. Beginning with an unexpected prologue in which Welles, in voiceover, tells a haunting parable while we look at artwork by pioneer pinscreen animators Claire Parker and Alexandre Alexeieff, The Trial is one surprising and visually startling chapter after another. The sense of an unrelieved, labyrinthine passage through an incoherent world--in which a very real but determinedly unclear guilt dogs poor K--is merciless but compelling to see, and resonates profoundly with Welles's obsession with the power and nature of illusion. A cast heavy on female icons from the '60s includes Jeanne Moreau, Elsa Martinelli, and Romy Schneider. Welles favorite Akim Tamiroff is also on hand, and Welles himself plays the Advocate. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another brilliant Wellesian vision. Harrowing, tedious and frightening
Sep 1 2008
By Aco
Format:VHS Tape
What The Trial lacks in comprehension (purposely at that) it makes up for in cinematography, set design, art direction and music. Essentially a nightmare tale, Joseph K. slowly comes to madness as his accusation for some unknown crime leads him into the abyss of a legal system, full of strange, abusive, mysterious, confusing people.
As a film I couldn't sit through it at once, I had to get up and return a couple times because the convoluted situation makes it hard to follow. This aspect is surely purposeful, Welles is a master of storytelling and images, and the production itself proves amazing.
I would highly recommend this for it's adaptation of Kafka's posthumous story, beautiful and horrible direction, cinematography, set and art direction and music.
As a film I couldn't sit through it at once, I had to get up and return a couple times because the convoluted situation makes it hard to follow. This aspect is surely purposeful, Welles is a master of storytelling and images, and the production itself proves amazing.
I would highly recommend this for it's adaptation of Kafka's posthumous story, beautiful and horrible direction, cinematography, set and art direction and music.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By E. Lalonde
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Orson Welles' so called "personal favourite film", based on the novel by Franz Kafka does remain more or less consistent with the original written work, though Welles has changed a few things to amplify effect or to introduce characters.
The poor quality of the reel (the film was nearly lost), also make it that some lines go unheard and make characters difficult to identify. The "mise en scene" also adds to this confusion, with Josef K. walking through numerous strange rooms, corridors and halls.
Still though, the film can help visualize certain elements from the book that might be difficult to imagine otherwise. Also, it is important to remember that Kafka's work was unfinished and unassembled, and Welles has attempted to reflect this non-linearity within the film.
All in all, I do recommend you see this film if you have read or plan on reading the original work, but you might be very confused by the storyline without this base knowledge.
The poor quality of the reel (the film was nearly lost), also make it that some lines go unheard and make characters difficult to identify. The "mise en scene" also adds to this confusion, with Josef K. walking through numerous strange rooms, corridors and halls.
Still though, the film can help visualize certain elements from the book that might be difficult to imagine otherwise. Also, it is important to remember that Kafka's work was unfinished and unassembled, and Welles has attempted to reflect this non-linearity within the film.
All in all, I do recommend you see this film if you have read or plan on reading the original work, but you might be very confused by the storyline without this base knowledge.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By L. F. MORON
Format:DVD
Citizen Kane is one of my favorite movies ever, and of course I respect Mr. Welles as a director. But I am afraid this movie falls short. Sound editing problems, bad acting and some unexplainable changes in the story are awful. For example, the end of the movie is simply bizarre. This movie could be much better. Although it is a good try, it is not good enough for Kafka's story.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Alpha Video presents "The Trial" - in Interlace-O-Vision
Alpha Video's DVD of "The Trial" is a dirty, rough, nasty, muffled Public Domain copy of a great, great film -- recommendable only for its extreme affordability. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Señor Spook
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie seems more relevant with the passage of time
Whenever a famous person, comes to trial, we never really know why he is brought to trial, or whether the
charge specified, is the actual reason proceedings have started... Read more
charge specified, is the actual reason proceedings have started... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Anthony Marinelli
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guilty!
What is Joseph K guilty of? There are a number of possibilities, none of which I will suggest here. I don't want to be guilty of ruining the fun of figuring that out for yourself. Read more
Published on Jun 11 2004 by Kari L. Black
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great adaptation of Kafka's book
The Trial is Orson Welles' adaptation of the Franz Kafka novel of the same name. It follows the story of Josef K. Read more
Published on April 28 2004 by Melissa Martinez-areffi
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not much into the " noir " style of film making.
This film is dark in more ways than one. My copy was way dark. Of course it is emotionally dark also. Didn't much like the novel in college & my opinion hasn't improved. Read more
Published on April 26 2004 by JOHN GODFREY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guilty
What is Joseph K guilty of? There are a number of possibilities, none of which I will suggest here. I don't want to be guilty of ruining the fun of figuring that out for yourself. Read more
Published on April 23 2004 by Kari L. Black
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty boring
I first saw this movie long ago. I couldn't remember much about it, so I got it and watched it again. Read more
Published on Aug 17 2003 by Daniel Brockman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Injustice For All...
Have you ever been accused of doing something you didn't do? How about being accused, arrested, tried, convicted, and executed, without ever finding out what any of the charges... Read more
Published on Jun 26 2003 by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Masterpiece Ruined by Transfer and Extras
Despite being a very uncomfortable and tough-to-watch film, Orson Welles' take on Kafka is a thought provoking, unforgettable masterpiece. This version of the story of Joseph K. Read more
Published on Feb 5 2003 by "sloan123"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different Tapes
...
The film itself is an all time favourite, I have seen it a few times. I exerts a magic effect on me, almost like suggestion. Read more
Published on Oct 3 2002 by Stefan Steinsson
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