Three versions of Welles’ troubled ‘Mr. Arkadin’

Film historians and preservationists are still looking for the 45 minutes of footage RKO cut from Orson Welles’ 1942 film, “The Magnificent Ambersons,” but “Ambersons” wasn’t the only ambitious Welles production that was taken away from the legendary actor-writer-director. In 1955, the producer of his unusual mystery “Mr. Arkadin” removed Welles from the editing room because he was taking so long. Because Welles lost control, there are many versions of “Mr. Arkadin” drifting around -- the American version was released as “Confidential Report.”

The new Criterion Collection three-disc set “The Complete Mr. Arkadin” ($50) features three versions of the film about a penny ante American smuggler (a colorless Robert Arden) hired by an eccentric billionaire, Gregory Arkadin (Welles), to investigate his forgotten past. The fascinating but flawed thriller also features Patricia Medina, Akim Tamiroff and Katina Paxinou.

The DVD includes the “Cornith” version discovered by Peter Bogdanovich in the early 1960s, “Confidential Report” and an all new “comprehensive” version created by film archivists Stephen Droessler and Claude Bertemes, which they believe best approximates Welles’ vision.

The absorbing collection features forceful commentary from Welles scholars Jonathan Rosenbaum and James Naremore on the Cornith version; interviews with Welles biographer Simon Callow, the late Arden, Bogdanovich and Droessler and Bertemes; three 30-minute installments of Welles’ radio series, “The Lives of Harry Lime,” on which “Arkadin” is based; and a documentary, “On the Comprehensive Version.” The set also includes exceptional outtakes of Welles.

Also new this week

“Mrs. Henderson Presents” (Weinstein Co., $29): Judi Dench received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for her performance as a wealthy widow, Laura Henderson, who opens a nude revue in London in the late 1930s. The digital edition features better than average featurettes and commentary from director Stephen Frears.

“Moonstruck: Deluxe Edition” (MGM, $20): Norman Jewison directed this enchanting 1987 romantic comedy starring Cher in her Oscar-winning performance as a plain widowed bookkeeper who falls for her fiance’s brother (Nicolas Cage). Olympia Dukakis also received an Oscar as her mother, as did John Patrick Shanley for his screenplay.

Extras include an entertaining retrospective documentary, a look at the use of music in the film, an interactive tour of Little Italy and nostalgic commentary with Cher, Jewison and Shanley.

“Hostel” (Sony, $29): The unrated edition of writer-director Eli Roth’s bloodcurdling horror hit is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. In his director’s track, Roth talks frankly about the aftermath of the success of his first film, “Cabin Fever”; he also is compelling in his discussion with the film’s executive producers Quentin Tarantino, Boaz Yakin and Scott Spiegel.