Citizen Kane Analysed
Citizen Kane- Dissecting the Classic
ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
This is an analysis of the American Film Institute’s greatest American film of all time - Citizen Kane. The goal of this dissertation is to understand the facts, the controversies and how this film has become one of the best and highly rated films. This paper will concentrate on the history behind the two figures commonly linked to the film as well as have explore Charles Foster Kane’s life from the perspective of those around him. I will also take a look at two poignant scenes from the film that made a huge effect in Kane 's life, namely, the "breakfast table" and "the picnic".
1. Introduction
Citizen Kane is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular films, creating a huge hype even before its release in 1941 (The Battle Over Citizen Kane, 1996). The film has twice topped the American Film Institute’s best American films list in 1998 and 2007. Orson Welles, the director, first came to prominence through his Mercury Theatre’s broadcast production of the radio drama War of the Worlds, intended as a Halloween prank. The drama caused near pandemonium as listeners believed Martians had really invaded New Jersey (Vivian; pg383). Orson Welles, apart from directing, also wrote the film, produced and starred in it.
The film was inspired by the William Hearst, a newspaper tycoon, a fact that critics attribute to the film’s commercial failure as he is thought to have had influences on the bad publicity served to the film and its studio RKO.
Nearly everyone who previewed the film realised that Citizen Kane was a work of brilliance and Hearst had influenced the failure of the film, with many of his newspapers and other media outlets side-stepping the film. Hearst is reported to have attempted to buy the film rights so that he could burn the negatives, as he claimed it was malicious and defamatory towards him. However, the film did indeed draw some similarities between Hearst and the film 's character
ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
This is an analysis of the American Film Institute’s greatest American film of all time - Citizen Kane. The goal of this dissertation is to understand the facts, the controversies and how this film has become one of the best and highly rated films. This paper will concentrate on the history behind the two figures commonly linked to the film as well as have explore Charles Foster Kane’s life from the perspective of those around him. I will also take a look at two poignant scenes from the film that made a huge effect in Kane 's life, namely, the "breakfast table" and "the picnic".
1. Introduction
Citizen Kane is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular films, creating a huge hype even before its release in 1941 (The Battle Over Citizen Kane, 1996). The film has twice topped the American Film Institute’s best American films list in 1998 and 2007. Orson Welles, the director, first came to prominence through his Mercury Theatre’s broadcast production of the radio drama War of the Worlds, intended as a Halloween prank. The drama caused near pandemonium as listeners believed Martians had really invaded New Jersey (Vivian; pg383). Orson Welles, apart from directing, also wrote the film, produced and starred in it.
The film was inspired by the William Hearst, a newspaper tycoon, a fact that critics attribute to the film’s commercial failure as he is thought to have had influences on the bad publicity served to the film and its studio RKO.
Nearly everyone who previewed the film realised that Citizen Kane was a work of brilliance and Hearst had influenced the failure of the film, with many of his newspapers and other media outlets side-stepping the film. Hearst is reported to have attempted to buy the film rights so that he could burn the negatives, as he claimed it was malicious and defamatory towards him. However, the film did indeed draw some similarities between Hearst and the film 's character
Bibliography: A Welles Biography. (2002). http://www.bway.net/~nipper/biobirth.html [accessed December 2, 2011] About the program, the American Experience Dirks, T. (2002). Citizen Kane (1941). http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html [Accessed 23 November 2011] Emery, R Epstein, M. & Lennon, T. (Producers & Directors). (1996). The battle over Citizen Kane. United States: Lennon Documentary Group. Lodge, J., Russell, J. & et al., (1991). Hollywood : 50 great years. Surrey: Colour Library Books Mankiewicz, H.J Vivian, J. (1999). Media effects. In J. Vivian, The media of mass communication. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.