Citizen Kane: Classic Hollywood
The film “Citizen Kane”, challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. At the time his film was released, May 1st, 1941, films generally followed a certain style and were somewhat predictable. However, “Citizen Kane” broke this pattern and took viewers by surprise.
Prior to the release of “Citizen Kane” in 1941, films traditionally moved forward in time following a chronological sequence. However, this film was the first to start at the end and then go back in time. Additionally, the narrative was unlike any film of its time as well. The story of Kane’s childhood was actually told through the five different people. Orson Welles, the creator of the film, stated that "they tell five different stories,
each biased, so the truth about Kane, like the truth about any man, can only be calculated by the sum of everything that has been said about him." (Cellania) One well known sequence that also included an innovative technique was set at the breakfast table with Kane and his wife. One again it was a technique of conveying passing in large amounts of time. “The first shot shows the newlyweds madly in love with each other; over the next several scenes, they age gradually, denoting the passage of time, and become increasingly distant. In the last scene, they sit at opposite ends of a long table in stony silence”. (Cellania) The film was unique for its cinematography as well. Cinematographer Gregg Toland “used ‘deep-focus’ camera techniques, including special film, lenses, and lighting developed especially for Citizen Kane, that made everything on screen appear in focus at the same time, an unheard-of practice in Hollywood”. (Cellania) Using special film, lenses, and lighting, some scenes took weeks to prepare for which in itself was unheard of at this time in the film industry.
The film “Citizen Kane”, challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. At the time his film was released, May 1st, 1941, films generally followed a certain style and were somewhat predictable. Clearly, “Citizen Kane” broke this pattern and took viewers by surprise.
Prior to the release of “Citizen Kane” in 1941, films traditionally moved forward in time following a chronological sequence. However, this film was the first to start at the end and then go back in time. Additionally, the narrative was unlike any film of its time as well. The story of Kane’s childhood was actually told through the five different people. Orson Welles, the creator of the film, stated that "they tell five different stories,
each biased, so the truth about Kane, like the truth about any man, can only be calculated by the sum of everything that has been said about him." (Cellania) One well known sequence that also included an innovative technique was set at the breakfast table with Kane and his wife. One again it was a technique of conveying passing in large amounts of time. “The first shot shows the newlyweds madly in love with each other; over the next several scenes, they age gradually, denoting the passage of time, and become increasingly distant. In the last scene, they sit at opposite ends of a long table in stony silence”. (Cellania) The film was unique for its cinematography as well. Cinematographer Gregg Toland “used ‘deep-focus’ camera techniques, including special film, lenses, and lighting developed especially for Citizen Kane, that made everything on screen appear in focus at the same time, an unheard-of practice in Hollywood”. (Cellania) Using special film, lenses, and lighting, some scenes took weeks to prepare for which in itself was unheard of at this time in the film industry.
The film “Citizen Kane”, challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. At the time his film was released, May 1st, 1941, films generally followed a certain style and were somewhat predictable. Clearly, “Citizen Kane” broke this pattern and took viewers by surprise.