Orson Welles’ adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Trial was screened at the Capitol Cinema Film Club near my house. What an amazingly stylish film – it really played up the “nightmare” aesthetic. Everything looked a bit surreal, including Anthony Perkins who played the protagonist Josef K. The sets were incredible — where did Welles find them?
The action translated quite well to the new American setting — the police were suitably hardboiled and sinister. The ending was changed a bit from the original story though – a bit more cinematic and less awful and harrowing. But overall still memorable and effective. A great film.