Citizen Kane

1941 - Dir: Orson Welles
Shown at the FeckenOdeon on 27th November, 2010

What can one write that hasn’t already been written a thousand times about Citizen Kane? "The greatest film ever made"... a debatable assertion but who can deny that this is a remarkable piece of work. Roger Ebert, distinguished critic of the Chicago Sun Times has analysed the film more than 30 times over the years and still can’t help being drawn back. Perhaps it’s best to let him introduce it:
"The origins of "Citizen Kane'' are well known. Orson Welles, the boy wonder of radio and stage, was given freedom by RKO Radio Pictures to make any picture he wished. Herman Mankiewicz, an experienced screenwriter, collaborated with him on a screenplay originally called ``The American.'' Its inspiration was the life of William Randolph Hearst, who had put together an empire of newspapers, radio stations, magazines and news services, and then built to himself the flamboyant monument of San Simeon, a castle furnished by rummaging the remains of nations. Hearst was Ted Turner, Rupert Murdoch and Bill Gates rolled up into an enigma. "Citizen Kane'' covers the rise of the penny press (here Joseph Pulitzer is the model), the Hearst-supported Spanish-American War, the birth of radio, the power of political machines, the rise of fascism, the growth of celebrity journalism...."

• William Randolph Hearst was infuriated by this movie, obviously based on his life. "Rosebud" was Hearst's pet name for a certain part of the anatomy of his long-time mistress Marion Davies.
• The film flopped when it first opened - this may have had something to do with the panning Hearst’s papers and radio stations gave it. Hearst also ordered his advertising departments not to accept ads for theatres showing the film.
• Ted Turner had plans to "colorize the film. Welles hear about it and roared ""Tell Ted Turner to keep his crayons away from my movie!". The film has never been tampered with.