Film Forum

(1948) In the gloomy, claustrophobic atmosphere of a studio-shot primitive world, a feudal lord (Welles in the title role) decides to go for the kingship, with horrifically fated results. Re-edited by its studio – with the original Scottish brogues re-dubbed into American accents– this is Welles’ original 108-minute cut, brogues and all. 35mm print courtesy UCLA Film & Television Archive; funded by the Film Foundation and Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Approx. 107 min.

Reviews

“All atmosphere and movement, filmed on forthrightly stagy sets with a restlessly tracking camera… There is force in this rough, hasty rendering; the sheer speed of the pacing gives it a quality of crushing delirium.” 
—Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

“One of the director's most personal creations, it's a courageous experiment with a craggy barbaric splendor all its own.” 
– Elliott Stein, Village Voice

“PURE CINEMA!”
– Geoff Andrew, Time Out (London)

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