Citizen Kane is a film that was released in 1941. Described as an American drama, it was directed by Orson Welles, who also starred in it. Even today, moguls in the movie industry consider 'CK' to be one the greatest films of all time. It is particularly acclaimed for its narrative technique, music, and its inventive cinematography.
Before the film was made, Welles was receiving accolades after his performances with the Mercury Players. He caught the attention of Hollywood moguls through his highly controversial radio program, War of the Worlds, in 1938. The next year he was signed on contract with RKO Pictures.
Although he was completely 'untried' as a film director, he was given a free hand to develop a story, pick the crew and cast, and even given 'final cut' privilege. After two disastrous first attempts, Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay for CK.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The movie is a roman a clef. This means that it describes real people and real life behind the disguise of fiction. CK scrutinizes the life of Charles Kane based on publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst. It also studies the life of Welles himself.
Kane began his career in the publishing business because of a passion for the industry. However, over time, the passion became an obsessive desire for power. CK is narrated with flashbacks, and the story is exposed through a reporter attempting to solve the obscurity of Kane's single dying word, 'Rosebud'.
Although the movie was critically acclaimed, it was a box office disaster. It faded into oblivion for some years until French movie critics declared it to be outstanding. This sparked new interest and CK enjoyed a major revival in America during 1956. As before, critics agreed that indeed it was 'the greatest film of all time'. It remained on leading film polls for another 50 years.
The cinematography was seen by film historians and scholars as Welles' way of creating a new method of film making. The most unique aspect of CK was the prolonged use of deep focusing. In almost every scene, the background, foreground, and all in between, are in focus. This was achieved by the cinematographer after experimenting with lights and lenses.
Another notable element of the film was the way which low angle film shots were used. Ceilings are visibly seen in the background of numerous scenes. At that time, all movies were filmed on sound stages. It was not possible to show a ceiling because sound stages had no ceilings. So how was it done in CK?
The Citizen Kane crew draped muslin above the set to give the illusion of a room with a ceiling. Microphones were concealed above the muslin. The crew even made trenches in the floor to facilitate low angle shots for the scene that shows Kane meeting up with Leland after the elections. The part of Charles Kane was played by Welles himself.
Before the film was made, Welles was receiving accolades after his performances with the Mercury Players. He caught the attention of Hollywood moguls through his highly controversial radio program, War of the Worlds, in 1938. The next year he was signed on contract with RKO Pictures.
Although he was completely 'untried' as a film director, he was given a free hand to develop a story, pick the crew and cast, and even given 'final cut' privilege. After two disastrous first attempts, Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay for CK.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The movie is a roman a clef. This means that it describes real people and real life behind the disguise of fiction. CK scrutinizes the life of Charles Kane based on publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst. It also studies the life of Welles himself.
Kane began his career in the publishing business because of a passion for the industry. However, over time, the passion became an obsessive desire for power. CK is narrated with flashbacks, and the story is exposed through a reporter attempting to solve the obscurity of Kane's single dying word, 'Rosebud'.
Although the movie was critically acclaimed, it was a box office disaster. It faded into oblivion for some years until French movie critics declared it to be outstanding. This sparked new interest and CK enjoyed a major revival in America during 1956. As before, critics agreed that indeed it was 'the greatest film of all time'. It remained on leading film polls for another 50 years.
The cinematography was seen by film historians and scholars as Welles' way of creating a new method of film making. The most unique aspect of CK was the prolonged use of deep focusing. In almost every scene, the background, foreground, and all in between, are in focus. This was achieved by the cinematographer after experimenting with lights and lenses.
Another notable element of the film was the way which low angle film shots were used. Ceilings are visibly seen in the background of numerous scenes. At that time, all movies were filmed on sound stages. It was not possible to show a ceiling because sound stages had no ceilings. So how was it done in CK?
The Citizen Kane crew draped muslin above the set to give the illusion of a room with a ceiling. Microphones were concealed above the muslin. The crew even made trenches in the floor to facilitate low angle shots for the scene that shows Kane meeting up with Leland after the elections. The part of Charles Kane was played by Welles himself.
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