Citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. Hill washington post staff writer sunday, november 14, 1999. The outline of the story is simplicity itself, almost like saying. Citizen kane a masterpiece at 50 roger ebert roger ebert. Citizen kane is a 1941 movie by writer and director orson welles about a man who is corrupted by power and money. Nov 11, 2016 citizen kane is the greatest movie youve probably never seen. Gregg toland, the cinematographer welles chose for citizen kane, had used the technique in an earlier film he had worked on, the long voyage home, but citizen kane marked the first time it was used so extensively or effectively.
After citizen kane purportedly portrayed marion davies as a talentless golddigger, writers and historians accepted the fiction as fact. I find it very interesting that this film was a complete dud and not considered remotely impressive when it was released and it wasnt until 20 years later, when the 60s produced pseudo artistes, and, in turn, they began teaching in colleges, that this film gained its popularity. Mgm film history movie documentary vhs lot of 5 gone with. Welles also produced and coscripted the film with herman j. Oct 14, 2009 citizen kane literally changed everything about film. One such innovation was a technique known as the wipe, where one image is wiped off the screen by another. Nominated for nine oscars, citizen kane won only one a shared best screenplay award for mankiewicz and welles and welles and the film were actually booed at. 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. Along the way, he was telling the life story of charles foster kane played by. As a landmark work in the history of cinema, it ranks among the few films ever. He hired his own film crew and cast and he had the right to make the final cut. Nov 26, 2019 in early 1971 pauline kael published a pair of essays in the new yorker about citizen kane, on the 30th anniversary of that films creation. Citizen kane was the feature film debut of ray collins, joseph cotten, agnes moorehead and everett sloane all of whom had worked with welles on his theater productions or radio broadcasts as members of his mercury theatre. Even apart from the controversy the film stirred, a multitude of innovations made citizen kane the most exciting movie in the history of cinema at that time.
Details about mgm film history movie documentary vhs lot of 5 gone with the wind citizen kane. Citizen kane 1941 is arguably the greatest movie ever to come out of hollywood, and it is surely one of the mostimpressive debuts by any director. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, co screenwriter. Welles submitted a joyfully energetic performance as charles foster kane, the newspaper. It had risen to the top of sight and sound magazines authoritative onceadecade poll of film critics and scholars in 1962, and would keep its place in 1972and then in 1982, 1992. Is citizen kane the most writtenabout film in history. The most lauded american movie ever, citizen kane was controversial even before it premiered 75 years ago.
Citizen kane literally changed everything about film. Sep 04, 2016 orson welles was just 25 years old when he directed, cowrote, starred in and produced the film, his very first feature. Gone with the wind, the world of 007 cut box in clamshell case and mgm. Citizen kane is the greatest movie youve probably never seen. This movie has a great plot, amazing acting and very dramatic scenes. Sure, movies would have progressed into today with or without kane, but orson welles masterpiece was leapsandbounds ahead of its time and furthered the advancement of the film industry by an indescribable amount. Jul 27, 2019 when citizen kane finally opened in may 1941, it was a failure at the box office. From citizen kane to the post, a history of newspaper. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of citizen kane and what it means. Citizen kane 1941 the best movies in cinematic history. Its director, star, and producer were all the same genius. A masterpiece of technique and storytelling, the film helped to change hollywood film making and still exerts considerable influence today. The generation of filmgoers for whom citizen kane was produced were unable to see it. The film is about a megalomaniac newspaper mogul called charles foster kane, played by welles.
As if you would trust a bunch of film nerds who probably eat way too much movie theater popcorn to tell you why should see citizen kane. In short, it emphasizes potential of the average citizen. Nominated for academy awards in nine categories, it won an academy award for best writing original screenplay by herman j. How fitting that a film about the elusiveness of truth is the subject of endless argument. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Orson welles masterpiece speaks as loudly now as it ever did. 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. However, about 5 minutes into the film these thoughts stopped. Kanes final word, rosebud, which sets up the mystery. The greatest film of all time remembering citizen kane. In the final analysis, citizen kane is really like a greek tragedy where the hero is thwarted by his own super ego. Citizen kane introduced hollywood to the creative potential of other cinematic techniques as well.
By this time kane was widely considered the greatest film ever made. Author and onetime film critic jorge luis borges, who loved citizen kane, thought the rosebud motif its single major weakness. The story behind citizen kane hbo film traces struggle between welles, hearst. William randolph hearst stops citizen kane ads history. In 1946, a french cinema historian, georges sadoul, dismissed citizen kane as an encyclopedia of old techniques, and, while he was hoping to dent welles reputation for groundbreaking. And this spring a bright, sparkling new restored print of citizen kane.
The skeleton around which the plot of citizen kane is built is thompsons search for the meaning of rosebud, charles foster kanes last word. As the anniversary of the premiere approaches, a look at how the movie changed the industryand what happened to orson welles in the. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter. The story of charles foster kane is a troubled one. 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.
Citizen kane 1941 this feature is not available right now. Jul 20, 2015 citizen kane is an encyclopedia of techniques. When welles scratched the film with sandpaper to imitate newsreel footage, in the famous march of time sequence at the start of citizen kane 1941, he was acknowledging what very few. And while the anticipation of seeing a film with such overwhelming acclaim may be quite exhilarating, actually watching it is ultimately an intimidating and somewhat disappointing experience. Why citizen kane is the most important american film ever made. The story is told after kanes death, in documentary style, through the recollections of those who knew him. Oliver stones epic biography nixon 1995 could have been titled citizen nixon its a modernday citizen kane story about another tragic figure, filmed in a disjointed, nonlinear or nonchronological fashion with unexpected flashbacks and the use of newsreel footage as welles did, and including an argument between nixon and his wife at the dinner table resembling the famed breakfast table scene in citizen kane. 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. After citizen kane purportedly portrayed marion davies as a talentless golddigger, writers and historians accepted the fiction as fact in the roaring twenties, marion davies was a superstar. This isnt to say that i thought citizen kane was a bad film. You should watch citizen kane because most critics call it the best film ever made.
Orson welles was just 25 years old when he directed, cowrote, starred in and produced the film, his very first feature. Jul 07, 2015 when welles scratched the film with sandpaper to imitate newsreel footage, in the famous march of time sequence at the start of citizen kane 1941, he was acknowledging what very few. Although thompson never discovers the meaning of the word, welles reveals the secret to the audience when, at the end of the film, there is a shot of kanes old childhood sled being thrown away and. Burger kane ist ein usamerikanisches filmdrama des. Citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. The production history of citizen kane reads like a film script. Citizen kane is a portrait of one citizen who obtains the american dream and then some, but is perhaps changed for the worse in achieving the goals of the american citizen.
A masterpiece of technique and storytelling, the film helped to change hollywood filmmaking and still exerts considerable influence today. You can tell the preproduction planning was meticulous due to the nature of the story telling in the film. In the roaring twenties, marion davies was a superstar. Citizen kane is a great drama and i would recommend it to anyone who likes.
Orson welles citizen kane 1941 was the first film score to composed by the legendary bernard herrmann, who had spent much of the previous decade working with welles in radio. The story is told after kanes death, in documentary style, through the. Orson welles, who was cowriter, actor, and director of citizen kane, has said that bernard herrmanns film score was a very important element and accounted for 50% of the success of the film. As if you would trust a bunch of film nerds who probably eat way too much movie theater popcorn to tell you why should see citizen kane instead, listen to us a bunch of film nerds who definitely eat way too much movie theater.
Citizen kane and the meaning of rosebud film the guardian. Instead, citizen kane, now revered as one of the greatest movies in history, made its debut at the smaller rko palace theater on this day in 1941. Orson welles film citizen kane has been consistently ranked as one of the best films ever made. It is arguable, however, that had the film been on major release in 1941 it would not have done good business because contemporary audiences would have found its themes too bleak and its hero too decentered. Joseph mcbride is the author of three books on orson welles, most recently what ever happened to orson welles. On the criterion collection dvd of orson welles classic citizen kane there is an original theatrical trailer where welles cleverly advertises the film by introducing us to the cast including the chorus girls, whom he refers to as some nice ballyhoo. Mgm film history movie documentary vhs lot of 5 gone with the wind citizen kane. Includes reflections on citizen kane, lions roar video magazine, the making of a legend. Months before its release, orson welles landmark film citizen kane began. Citizen kane was a rare film in that its principal roles were played by actors new to motion pictures. 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.
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. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. With a career of nearly four dozen films, both silent and talkies, davies was everywhere. This asset contains classroom discussion questions about this film. Citizen kane is largely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. The contract was deeply resented in the film industry, and the hollywood press took every opportunity to mock rko and welles. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter, director and star. Using arguments from its cinematography, its editing and use of sound, make an argument for whether or not you think citizen kane deserves this position in cinema history. The film begins with a news reel detailing kanes life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from kanes life. One of the most famous closeups in film history in a film that rarely gives them at all. But a mystery still lies at the heart of this masterpiece. In early 1971 pauline kael published a pair of essays in the new yorker about citizen kane, on the 30th anniversary of that films creation. When citizen kane finally opened in may 1941, it was a failure at the box office. Jan 06, 2020 nominated for nine oscars, citizen kane won only one a shared best screenplay award for mankiewicz and welles and welles and the film were actually booed at the 1942 academy awards ceremony.
Orson welles used methods of cinematography, editing and use of sound that was the first of its kind for the time. Feb 28, 2020 citizen kane deserves the position as one of the greatest films of all time. To be fair, citizen kane doesnt head every greatest films list. Citizen kane cinema and media studies oxford bibliographies. Though the title of greatest movie ever is impossible to possess, citizen kanes praises have become so commonplace that, unfortunately, some tend to take its cinematic command for granted even though the film proved orson welles. Dec 22, 2017 orson welles citizen kane 1941 was the first film score to composed by the legendary bernard herrmann, who had spent much of the previous decade working with welles in radio. Citizen kane, american film drama, released in 1941, that was directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, who also starred in the lead role. In the midst of the worst recession since the great depression, citizen kane serves as a filter into the mind of the american and the dream that fuels himher, not once shying away from the blatant contradictions. Its certainly plausible, at least in academic arenas.
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