Behind the Scenes of Anthony Perkins in Orson Welles’ The Trial (1962)

On the set of Orson Welles’ 1962 adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Trial, Anthony Perkins experienced what he later described as his ‘greatest professional pride’. Behind-the-scenes photographs by Nicolas Tikhomiroff reveal moments of laughter and camaraderie between Perkins and Welles despite the film’s dark, surreal tone. Welles directed Perkins to approach the role of Josef K. as a black comedy, blending nervousness and stuttering to convey the character’s confusion within an oppressive, bureaucratic world. Some of Perkins’ lines were even dubbed by Welles, challenging the actor to distinguish them, which he could not. The production primarily took place in the massive, abandoned Gare d’Orsay train station in Paris, giving the film its signature vast and haunting visual style. Although a key scene involving an ‘electronic brain’ and a scientist was cut from the final film, Perkins’ performance is widely regarded as the stabilizing force that kept the abstract, nightmarish production grounded. The role also marked Perkins’ transition from American typecasting toward European art-house cinema, influencing his career through the 1960s. Overall, their collaboration combined meticulous direction with a nuanced performance, resulting in a film that Welles considered his best work.