Whats the moral or underlying theme of citizen kane. The production history of citizen kane reads like a film script. Citizen kane is a 1941 film, produced by rko pictures and mercury films. Again, you do not have to love citizen kane, but at least respect it for what it is. It storms after us down the corridors of history like its own hero. Citizen kane is, simpliciter, the finest film ever made. Citizen kane serves as a filter into the mind of the american and the dream that fuels himher. The film begins with a news reel detailing kane s life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from kane s life. It was a landmark achievement in the artistic career of orson welles, as he made the leap from broadcast radio and offbroadway theatrical production into industrial.
Many critics argue that citizen kane, with itsinventive use of lighting and shadow, is the first film noir, or at least the direct predecessor of noir, a genre that employs dark, moody atmosphere to augment the often violent or mysterious events taking place. One of the best is a pbs documentary entitled the battle over citizen kane, though if youd like a fictional version, theres rko 281, starring liev schreiber as welles and james cromwell as hearst. Orson welless citizen kane 1941, which turns 75 this month, is donald trumps favorite movie. Subsequently, gary gravers 1993 documentary working with orson welles contained the trailer, and numerous dvd editions of citizen kane have contained the trailer as an extra, including the most recent 2011 bluray release. Doesnt it look like kane is in front of a giant poster of himself in a massive venue.
Unfettered by the constraints of the hollywood studio system, a boy genius is granted his wish to produce a film without studio interference, hire his theatrical friends and use the best technicians in hollywood. It has topped bbc cultures list of the greatest american films and many other polls before. In the final analysis, citizen kane is really like a greek tragedy where the hero is thwarted by his own super ego. As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a fascinating mans rise to fame, and how he eventually fell off the top of the world. The use of camera angles in citizen kane the movie citizen kane is a movie that portrays a man from birth to death and his rise in society. If this tells us anything, it should tell us that lead poisoning has had a much more baleful influence upon our civilization than previously citizen kane is, simpliciter, the finest film ever made. Hearst was the basis for the charles foster kane protagonist of the film, portrayed as selfabsorbed, powerhungry, and wounded as symbolized by the kanes famous deathbed utterance, rosebud. And we know this because, historically, it has garnered universal acclaim. In america in the dark, david thomson writes that citizen kane is the key work of the first american director to identify comprehensive fraud as a topic central to his culture. Before citizen kane, most films were organized chronologically. United states year 1941 language english production co. Nov 16, 2009 capra displayed all the scenes in bedford falls are displayed in broad daylight and all the scenes in pottersville are displayed at night to have an atmospheric effect on the viewer as in good vs. It is orson welles first feature, and he produced, cowrote with herman j.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Uncle john first saw citizen kane in 1967, projected on the living room wall of professor lowell bodger. Jul 07, 2015 orson welles, director of citizen kane, touch of evil and the lady from shanghai, was one of cinemas great innovators. The initial working draft screenplay of citizen kane, dated april 16, 1940, was titled american.
The movie is about the search for meaning of something what is rosebud. Citizen kane a masterpiece at 50 roger ebert roger ebert. Still regarded as an alltime great, its huge influence is matched only by its reputation as one of the most inventive and exuberant of movie. Citizen kane is the greatest movie youve probably never seen. Citizen kane changed the way films were made and influenced countless filmmakers. And this spring a bright, sparkling new restored print of citizen kane. Citizen kane and the meaning of rosebud film the guardian. Jul 20, 2015 it has topped bbc cultures list of the greatest american films and many other polls before. Look deeper into the story and try to connect with it on some level. Citizen kane introduced hollywood to the creative potential of cinematic technique. Why citizen kane is the most important american film ever made dan mecca february 10, 2009 because it is timeless, and that statement is more or less inarguable.
From there, the film moves back to kane s childhood, and tells the story of his life from the perspectives of five different people. At the very least appreciate how influential this film was and where the industry would be without it. In celebration of citizen kanes 75th birthday it was released in theaters on september 5, 1941, here are 15 facts about the groundbreaking film that can perhaps only begin to explain its historic, enduring impact. Sound montage in citizen kane emphasizes the abnormal and stressful lives of the characters with realistic soundtracks. No one can ever truly know who another person really is. And this spring a bright, sparkling new restored print of citizen kane will play in 50th anniversary engagements all over the country. Roger ebert may be more fun than any other great movie. Parents need to know that citizen kane is a serious, grownup film that will have little appeal for young kids. Aug 15, 2016 john fords western classic is another film on this list that does not bear any obvious resemblance to citizen kane and unlike many others it has not been repeatedly acknowledged to have had a profound impact upon the film. Mankiewicz, directed and played the leading role as charles foster kane inside his unfinished palatial mansion, media mogul charles foster kane lies dying alone, having lived in seclusion from the world for many years. There is no technical aspect, thematic element or socially relevant theme that is lifted and inserted into citizen kane.
Why does everyone think citizen kane is such a great movie. Citizen kane cinema and media studies oxford bibliographies. Title citizen kane director welles, orson country of prod. Oct 07, 20 with its use of deep focus, strange shot angles, and impossible crane shots, the cinematography of citizen kane is justly famous and has been hugely influential. I know, its a simplistic view of looking at the film, but follow.
This movie has a great plot, amazing acting and very dramatic scenes. Why citizen kane is the most important american film ever made. Apr 29, 2017 hearst was the basis for the charles foster kane protagonist of the film, portrayed as selfabsorbed, powerhungry, and wounded as symbolized by the kanes famous deathbed utterance, rosebud. Author and onetime film critic jorge luis borges, who loved citizen kane, thought the rosebud motif its single major weakness. The connections between hearst and kane were clear, as noted citizen kane scholar robert l. Orson welles, director of citizen kane, touch of evil and the lady from. Welles usually worked 16 to 18 hours a day on the film. Orson welless citizen kane has had a lasting impact on cinema and continues to influence directors to this day. For teens and any older kids who shows a budding interest in the art of moviemaking, however, it is the mustsee portrait of an early 20 th century media tycoon. When citizen kane finally opened in may 1941, it was a failure at the box office. That 70 years later, a film might exist that surpasses citizen kane as the greatest film ever made. Nicolas cages favorite films citizen kane is an examination of the personal character of a public man, a portrait according to the testimony of the intimates of his life.
Nov 11, 2016 citizen kane is the greatest movie youve probably never seen. Yet for all its renown, for all its acclaim, for all its influence, welles. The irony is that cinematographer gregg tolands unsettling and idiosyncratic use of the camera may have been part of the reason why citizen kane was not a commercial or. Wood, 292 the influence and impact of lighting in citizen kane is not limited to expressive use of shadows and light, one can even. Orson welles, director of citizen kane, touch of evil and the lady from shanghai, was one of cinemas great innovators. Martin scorsese, in his brilliant commentary on the film, said that cinema. The film begins with a news reel detailing kanes life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from kanes life. The citizen kane trailer was a fourminute, selfcontained, making of promotional featurette by orson welles and the mercury theatre, released in 1940 to promote the film citizen kane.
Citizen kane directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, mercury productionsrko radio pictures, 1941 is undoubtedly the bestknown and most critically celebrated narrative fiction film of the 20th century. When one thinks back to the turning points of film history, the first few events that come to mind are the first edited fiction film, jazz singer and the transition to sound or the first feature film in color. Why william randolph hearst hated citizen kane jstor daily. Jul 27, 2019 when citizen kane finally opened in may 1941, it was a failure at the box office. There is no denying that citizen kane is a cinematic monument. Several polls of film fans placed citizen kane at the top of the picks of. Why you should care about citizen kane richard brownell. Jan, 2014 the following is an article from the book uncle johns supremely satisfying bathroom reader. To be fair, citizen kane doesnt head every greatest films list. John fords western classic is another film on this list that does not bear any obvious resemblance to citizen kane and unlike many others it has not been repeatedly acknowledged to have had a profound impact upon the film. Even if you were to strip all of the political undertones and economic commentary from the film, kane still remains the best 2hour lesson in filmmaking money can buy. The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, citizen kane 1941, is probably the worlds most famous and highlyrated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations in photography, editing, and sound. Orson welles, the director, used camera angles and a variety of angles to place emphasis on certain important points in the movie.
Underscoring the films centrality to understanding orson welless film oeuvre, and, in the opinion of many film scholars, to the midcentury rejuvenation of narrative sound cinema, several booklength publications have been devoted exclusively to citizen kane, a distinction accorded few individual films. The use of camera angles in citizen kane online term paper. Citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly. Citizen kane, american film drama, released in 1941, that was directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, who also starred in the lead role. The citizen kane trailer was first made available to a home audience on the 1987 voyager laserdisc edition of citizen kane. Citizen kane is a great drama and i would recommend it to anyone who likes. Michael aranda will try to help us through both of these questions as we take a look at our first film in crash course film criticism, citizen kane. The following is an article from the book uncle johns supremely satisfying bathroom reader. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter, director and star. After some more minutes, i realized that citizen kane is a character study, actually, a very complex and compelling one. Kane famously begins at the end, when a dying charles foster kane whispers rosebud.
It took the rest of the world a while to catch up, but in 2000, kane was voted the best film of all time by the american film institute. Because the film is blackwhite, first it is hard to observe these sound montages however, the characters, the sounds, and the changed mise en scene make it easier to follow up the scenes. By the way, if you still havent watched citizen kane because you think its a pretty serious and bleak film, you better watch it asap. Citizen kane is an obituary about a fictitious charles foster kane, a business magnate and a newspaper tycoon. Unlike other standard theatrical trailers of the era, it did not feature a single second of footage of the actual film itself, but was a wholly original pseudodocumentary piece. Oct 26, 2017 orson welles 1941 drama citizen kane is now widely considered to be the single greatest film ever made. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. Sep 04, 2016 in celebration of citizen kanes 75th birthday it was released in theaters on september 5, 1941, here are 15 facts about the groundbreaking film that can perhaps only begin to explain its historic, enduring impact. This is largely due to the vital precedent it set for contemporary cinema.
Because if youve watched a movie since it was made, that movie probably used techniques developed in citizen kane. Pauline kael it made history in the literal sense the cinema, after the shock waves from. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of citizen kane and what it means. A group of reporters are trying to decipher the last word ever spoken by charles foster kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon. Apr, 2017 orson welless citizen kane 1941, which turns 75 this month, is donald trumps favorite movie. Some even mention the extensive use of deep focus in citizen kane and while all these. According to daily variety, the hearst ban on mentioning or advertising rko product ended on january 30, 1941 for all rko films except citizen kane. Often regarded as the greatest film of all time, orson welles 1941.
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