Robt Arden (Guy van Stratten) - "Interview" ?? - What might we have asked Arkadin's star?

[R Kadin]

While actor anecdotes and interviews might abound for a number of Welles-directed projects, I've yet to see much from the "other" star (apart from Welles, that is) of Mr. Arkadin/ Confidential Report.

Regrettably, any chance we had to fill that gap directly was lost when actor Robert Arden passed away earlier this year. However, his widow advises me that he did maintain some journals and had shared some stories with her that she believes touch on her husband's Arkadin-related experiences.

As it's my plan, then, to be interviewing her about these in the next two weeks, or so, I thought it might be fitting for me to invite other Wellesnetters to suggest, in advance, some questions they might like to have posed to this most gracious lady. I hope then to post the subsequent results here as a Wellesnet "exclusive".

Anyone..?

[Wilson]

My question would be what did he think of the criticism about his performance in Arkadin, as most critics make special mention of him in going after the film. And I'm glad to see that we might still hear something from him, in a manner of speaking.

[Glenn Anders]

I would ask: Did she and/or her husband ever see a complete version of MR. ARKADIN/CONFIDENTIAL REPORT satisfactory to them?

And . . .

What kind of things did Welles say to his players about his purpose for making the Movie?

And . . .

What effect did Arden believe the picture had on his career?

Glenn

[Cole]

And another question. Does Mrs. Arden remember her husband ever commenting on any unpleasant difficulties there were in making Mr. Arkadin? Welles said that it was a lot of fun making the film Othello despite all the problems he encountered, and that “it wasn’t anguish like Mr. Arkadin was. Arkadin was just anguish from beginning to end.” (Bogdanovich p. 226.) I realize that it was another film that was snatched from his hands, but I don’t recall Welles elaborating on the “anguish” he experienced during the making of Mr. Arkadin. I’m sure Robert Arden would have some thoughts about the subject, but whether his wife knows anything about this might be a long shot.

[mteal]

Another long shot, but I would ask her if there was any connection between Gregory Arkadin and Aristotle Onnassis. I know Welles mentioned Stalin and Fritz Mandl, but what other models for Arkadin might there have been?

Also, was Van Stratton based on Richard Nixon as has been rumored?

[R Kadin]

You folks never cease to impress! This is great stuff, so far. I'm also curious to find out whether Welles ever revealed to his lead what prompted Welles to cast him and what changes, if any, were made to van Stratten's role over the life of the project.

But, please do keep it coming. I'm all ears!

[dmolson]

I'd love to know if there are any stories about working with that fascinating cast, and if there were any bonds formed that lasted beyond the shooting.
By the way, perhaps my cave gets its info slow but I hadn't heard that Mr. Arden had left us. Even IMDB.com doesn't list it, tho they are far from perfect. A google search on this produced just this site, which mentions his passing...

http://www.78rpm.co.uk/tvd.htm

[R Kadin]

Good question, dmolson. Thanks.

As a matter of fact, upon learning of Mr. Arden's passing from his agent in London, it was partly with a mind to getting IMDB to update its records that I set out to contact the family in the first place, with the aid of the fellow who runs the website you've linked in.

I look forward to reporting back, soon.

[TheMcGuffin]

Another great question would be if he was familiar with any of the other versions of the movie along with the different cast members of the spanish version of the film.

[Glenn Anders]

And one more: Does Mrs. Arden know of Sir Basil Zaharoff, "The Merchant of Death," whom Welles played on THE MARCH OF TIME (radio), and who seemed to have fascinated him?

My thought is that Arkadin is partly an updated version of that figure.

Glenn

[maxrael]

Did Mr Arden collect the various projects he appeared in, and if so do you know how many versions of Mr Arkain he might have in his collection?