The Trial *** (1993, Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins, Jason Robards) – Classic Movie Review 7007

In a clash of the literary titans, Pinteresque meets Kafkaesque to disappointingly little avail in The Trial (1993). But, nevertheless, this is a respectable Harold Pinter-scripted version of the Franz Kafka novel by director David Jones, with Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins and Jason Robards starring.

MacLachlan stars as Joseph K who wakes to find two strange men in his room, telling him he has been arrested and gets stuck in a nightmare of legal red tape, apparently being tried in court by unnamed accusers of an unspecified offence.

Hopkins plays The Priest and Robards plays Doctor Huld, with Juliet Stevenson as Fräulein Burstner, Polly Walker as Leni, Alfred Molina as Titorelli, David Thewlis as Franz, Jean Stapleton as the Landlady, Michael Kitchen as Block, Tony Haygarth as Willem and Douglas Hodge as the Inspector.

There is of course already an ideal, surrealistic Orson Welles version of The Trial (1962), but this 1993 version makes the mistake of trying to proceed realistically, employing a gaggle of well-known fine actors to come on and do their showy turns and then get off screen quickly.

Pinter’s screenplay is a constant outpouring of dialogue, which sounds like a radio play that does not dare to have pauses for fear the audience will switch off.

Director David [Hugh] Jones’s game plan to try to make his film cinematic is by moving it along through as many rooms and streets as possible. Though is plenty of high-class talent involved, alas, there is no particular inspiration here, and it ends up just a worthy movie run through a literary classic. Welles’s film is still remembered and this one is forgotten.

Also in the cast are Paul Brooke, Roger Lloyd Pack, Trevor Peacock, Patrick Godfrey, Robert Lang, John Woodvine, Andrew Tiernan and Don Henderson.

The Trial is directed by David Jones, runs 120 minutes, is produced by BBC and Europanda, is written by Harold Pinter, based on the Franz Kafka novel,  is shot in Eastmancolor by Phil Meheux, is produced by Louis Marks and scored by Carl Davis, with Production Design by Don Taylor.

Studio facilities are provided by Barrandov Studios. It is shot in Prague, Czech Republic.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7007

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