Citizen Kane (A or 3.5/4 stars)
'Citizen Kane' has, in many circles, been lauded as America's greatest film -- high praise, indeed. It also represents the pinnacle of Orson Welles' filmmaking career; as he directed, co-wrote & starred in this movie. It has been a highly influential & discussed film for the last 80+ yrs. and, also one that was controversial due to its barbed fictionalized representation of tycoon publisher, William Randolph Hearst. Basically, the film accuses him of "yellow journalism", among other things; which upset Hearst greatly. He would try to sink the movie and became a bitter lifetime enemy of Welles.
The film opens by setting a distinct mood with an unforgettable image of a fog-shrouded castle on a hilltop. This place is called Xanadu; the Floridian home of America's Charles Foster Kane (25 year old Welles), a one-time newspaper magnate who could have even become President if not for an extramarital affair (not-so-coincidentally, Xanadu would resemble The Ranch, William Randolph Hearst's real-life San Simeon abode).
Within moments of the film's eerie start, Kane is dead, uttering one last word: "Rosebud". Like his life, his death is big news and, the paper he owned - The New York Inquirer - is desperate to figure out the meaning of his cryptic dying word. Does it refer to a woman? A pet? An inanimate object?
After showing Kane's death, the film presents a 10 min. newsreel that details his grand life accomplishments. Then, as a reporter from the Inquirer digs into Kane's past to learn the meaning of Rosebud, the mogul's fascinating history unfolds in a series of flashbacks. We see Kane, aided by his noble college friend, Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), build his nationwide newspaper empire out of 1 local paper. To do so, he displays cruelty AND generosity, willing to lose $1 million per year to win circulation wars. His NY Inquirer specializes in splashy headlines that don't quite represent the truth. By the time Kane impulsively marries the president's niece, Emily (Ruth Warrick), he is a renowned personality with designs on the White House.
Eventually, his bid for the Governor of NY's office crashes & burns when his rival, James W. Gettys, exposes Kane's love affair with low-bred, aspiring singer Susan (Dorothy Comingore). Following this failure, Kane divorces his wife, marries Susan, then goes into deep seclusion in his unfinished Xanadu palace. As the yrs. go by, he endures a family tragedy & becomes progressively vicious, bitter & less sociable, until Susan finally bolts. Lonely & spurned, Kane awaits the hand of death.
The truth of "Rosebud", which is not revealed until the last scene, represents something that occurred in his Colorado youth (Agnes Moorehead plays his mother, Mary). "Rosebud" also represents one of the all-time great cinema ironies; leading us to believe that Charles Foster Kane really regretted not having led a simpler, gentler life. And while we get to know the answer, the news reporters in the plot never do find out the mystery of "Rosebud".
'Citizen Kane' is a powerful & dramatic tale about the ups & downs of wealth & power. It is a true classic American tragedy about a man of great fervor, vision, & gluttony, who pushes himself 'til he brings his own demise & to those around him. Craft-wise, Gregg Toland's landmark cinematography makes 'Citizen Kane' as memorable as it is. It is quite simply a visual masterpiece; with daring camera angles, stunning imagery, novel use of shadows & deep black-and-white compositions which highlight foregrounds & backgrounds with equal clarity. The look of the film follows in the tradition of German Expressionists. I also admired Bernard Herrmann's classic, haunting music score which aids the already-unsettling proceedings.
Funny -- the whole William Randolph Hearst thing. Much as he was offended by Welles' characterization, apparently, he was more livid over Welles' portrayal of his real-life mistress, Marion Davies {Susan, in the film}. To add insult to injury, "Rosebud" was allegedly Hearst's name for, ahem, Marion's nether regions. As for Welles, his real-life trajectory was not unlike Kane's; both men lived big lives, but descended into a pathetic & isolated end.
'Citizen Kane' is an enigmatic film that invites questions about art, corruption, vanity, the media, & The American Dream. It is an essential film that gets richer with subsequent viewings. Orson Welles is simply volcanic as the titular Kane; an intellectual with a dangerous Sado-Masochistic personality who both charms & instills fear in people. Joseph Cotten is as effective in a wholly opposite portrayal. And so, with extravagant direction, production values, & storytelling {the flashback technique was new, too} ... I see why many people, though not quite me, consider this film to be the G.O.A.T.
The film opens by setting a distinct mood with an unforgettable image of a fog-shrouded castle on a hilltop. This place is called Xanadu; the Floridian home of America's Charles Foster Kane (25 year old Welles), a one-time newspaper magnate who could have even become President if not for an extramarital affair (not-so-coincidentally, Xanadu would resemble The Ranch, William Randolph Hearst's real-life San Simeon abode).
Within moments of the film's eerie start, Kane is dead, uttering one last word: "Rosebud". Like his life, his death is big news and, the paper he owned - The New York Inquirer - is desperate to figure out the meaning of his cryptic dying word. Does it refer to a woman? A pet? An inanimate object?
After showing Kane's death, the film presents a 10 min. newsreel that details his grand life accomplishments. Then, as a reporter from the Inquirer digs into Kane's past to learn the meaning of Rosebud, the mogul's fascinating history unfolds in a series of flashbacks. We see Kane, aided by his noble college friend, Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), build his nationwide newspaper empire out of 1 local paper. To do so, he displays cruelty AND generosity, willing to lose $1 million per year to win circulation wars. His NY Inquirer specializes in splashy headlines that don't quite represent the truth. By the time Kane impulsively marries the president's niece, Emily (Ruth Warrick), he is a renowned personality with designs on the White House.
Eventually, his bid for the Governor of NY's office crashes & burns when his rival, James W. Gettys, exposes Kane's love affair with low-bred, aspiring singer Susan (Dorothy Comingore). Following this failure, Kane divorces his wife, marries Susan, then goes into deep seclusion in his unfinished Xanadu palace. As the yrs. go by, he endures a family tragedy & becomes progressively vicious, bitter & less sociable, until Susan finally bolts. Lonely & spurned, Kane awaits the hand of death.
The truth of "Rosebud", which is not revealed until the last scene, represents something that occurred in his Colorado youth (Agnes Moorehead plays his mother, Mary). "Rosebud" also represents one of the all-time great cinema ironies; leading us to believe that Charles Foster Kane really regretted not having led a simpler, gentler life. And while we get to know the answer, the news reporters in the plot never do find out the mystery of "Rosebud".
'Citizen Kane' is a powerful & dramatic tale about the ups & downs of wealth & power. It is a true classic American tragedy about a man of great fervor, vision, & gluttony, who pushes himself 'til he brings his own demise & to those around him. Craft-wise, Gregg Toland's landmark cinematography makes 'Citizen Kane' as memorable as it is. It is quite simply a visual masterpiece; with daring camera angles, stunning imagery, novel use of shadows & deep black-and-white compositions which highlight foregrounds & backgrounds with equal clarity. The look of the film follows in the tradition of German Expressionists. I also admired Bernard Herrmann's classic, haunting music score which aids the already-unsettling proceedings.
Funny -- the whole William Randolph Hearst thing. Much as he was offended by Welles' characterization, apparently, he was more livid over Welles' portrayal of his real-life mistress, Marion Davies {Susan, in the film}. To add insult to injury, "Rosebud" was allegedly Hearst's name for, ahem, Marion's nether regions. As for Welles, his real-life trajectory was not unlike Kane's; both men lived big lives, but descended into a pathetic & isolated end.
'Citizen Kane' is an enigmatic film that invites questions about art, corruption, vanity, the media, & The American Dream. It is an essential film that gets richer with subsequent viewings. Orson Welles is simply volcanic as the titular Kane; an intellectual with a dangerous Sado-Masochistic personality who both charms & instills fear in people. Joseph Cotten is as effective in a wholly opposite portrayal. And so, with extravagant direction, production values, & storytelling {the flashback technique was new, too} ... I see why many people, though not quite me, consider this film to be the G.O.A.T.