Reading the many accounts of citizen kane is a little like seeing the movie. As a film, citizen kane is a powerful dramatic tale about the uses and abuses of wealth and power. For any journalist, citizen kane is a glorious, subversive, pessimistic film. But a mystery still lies at the heart of this masterpiece. Manipulation of lighting and scene spacing in classical hollywood cinema. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. May 01, 2017 on may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics.
Why citizen kane is the most important american film ever made. Nov 12, 2019 citizen kane is a 1941 drama film directed by orson welles and praised for its innovative sound and editing methods in cinematography. Its also the last thing he was holding onto on the day mr. Aug 27, 2014 a formal analysis of citizen kane amber shultz a student in my film experience class at belmont university, fall 20. In 2016, donald trump shared his personal thoughts on citizen kane, the iconic film by orson welles. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of citizen kane directed by orson welles. Stewart, who were also accompanied by the composer, bernard herrmann, created the soundtrack for this film. We only find out in the final scene of the movie that rosebud is actually the sled that kane used to play with as a child. Sound analysis of citizen kane uploaded by bdogg on apr 25, 2007. Orson welles, who was cowriter, actor, and director of citizen kane, has said that bernard herrmanns film score was a very important element and accounted for 50% of the success of the film. Acting almost as a biopic biographical film, citizen kane portrays a long period of time realistically, allowing the characters to age as the story goes on. The characters seemed very real and believable making this movie very memorable.
Now then, the citizen part of citizen kane has a less obvious significance. On may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics. Orson welless citizen kane charts the stratospheric rise and startling fall. This scene leads us through kanes estate until we reach charles foster kane on his deathbed. When it comes to citizen kane, one question eclipses all others. It resembles also a docudrama, told like a biography, peppered with interviews of friends and acquaintances who once knew the man in question, charles foster kane.
Citizen kane essays are academic essays for citation. It has topped bbc cultures list of the greatest american films and many other polls before. Film analysis at the university of florida robinson, spring 2014. Jan 11, 2018 michael aranda will try to help us through both of these questions as we take a look at our first film in crash course film criticism, citizen kane. We open the movie with a long panning shot of a huge castle mansion with a big fence around it. A film analysis of the movie citizen kane 1656 words 7 pages. As old and new reporters alike engage in merry conversation, the beloved publisher mr kane stands to make a toast. In this program, mckee skewers the content of cinemas sacred cow and charges orson welles with artistic overkill, dubiously praising the movies cinematic effects as a virtuoso display of camera technique, declamatory symbols. Ahead of its release, the hollywood reporter appraised. We remember that this was kanes childhood sled, taken from him as he was torn from his family and sent east to boarding school.
Film overview citizen kane essay 974 words 4 pages. In charlies view, hearst was more distressed by the movies insinuation. Citizen kane is a classic american film that falls in the category of drama tinged with a bit of tragedy. Seconds before his death, kane said the word rosebud. After his old friend mr bernstein heckles him, kane just smiles.
As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a fascinating mans rise to fame, and how he eventually fell off the top of the world. In the final analysis, citizen kane is really like a greek tragedy where the hero is thwarted by his own super ego. Why citizen kane is the most important american film ever made dan mecca february 10, 2009 because it is timeless, and that statement is more or less inarguable. The story, along with the revolutionary cinematography, made it a movie years ahead of its time where orson welles, charlie kane, takes several controversial steps on his road to greatness. It is a gripping story of a man of his epoch who rises and falls, and whose actions impact the society around him making a memorable tale of the period. The witnesses all have opinions, but often they disagree, and sometimes they simply throw up their hands in exasperation. Citizen kane, american film drama, released in 1941, that was directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, who also starred in the lead role. Experimenting with creative storytelling techniques and nonlinear plot construction, the director treated the time parameter sensitively, replacing time continuity of real scene by a subjective continuity, controlling the rhythm and pace of all scenes.
In this sense, rosebud symbolizes everything that kane. Orson welles in citizen kane orson welles in citizen kane 1941. Citizen kane citizen kane opens with the camera panning across a spooky, seemingly deserted estate in florida called xanadu. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Narrative innovations in citizen kane narrative film technique. Ten were billed as mercury actors, members of the skilled repertory company assembled by welles for the stage and radio performances of the mercury theatre, an independent theater company he founded with houseman in 1937. Trump identified the film back in 1992 as his alltime favorite movie, and said the. Scene analysis citizen kane, opening scene xaviers. Citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made.
Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter, director and star. However, citizen kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. Simple viewing guide with questions that go along with the sequence of the movie. All the content of this work is his research and thoughts on citizen kane analysis and can. The 1941 film, citizen kane directed by orson welles is a phenomenal example of the exploration of innovative uses in photography, sound and editing. Preparation for an initial viewing of citizen kane task the readers of sight and sound, the british film institutes monthly magazine, regularly vote for citizen kane as being the best film ever made. We all know what newspaper journalists are supposed to be like in the movies.
Among the many great films of the previous century, citizen kane is the one that stands out from the rest due to its original plot and talented acting and directing. Citizen kane was very dramatic and all who took part in the movie played their roles well. The technique of telling the story of kane from multiple points of view dispels the illusion that we are learning the truth about. Analysis of the film citizen kane citizen kane is an american film written, produce, directed and starring orson welles. Kane tells susan that before he ran into her, he was on his way to a manhattan storage warehouse to look through all the things his mother left behind when she died. He paid for voice lessons, built an opera house in chicago cost. Citizen kane opens with the camera panning across a spooky, seemingly deserted estate in florida called xanadu. The notorious battle was detailed in thomas lennons and michael epsteins oscarnominated documentary the battle over citizen kane 1996, and it was retold in hbos cabletv film rko 281 1999 the films title refers to the project numbering for the film by the studio, before the film was formally titled. Yellow journalism was in an era from the 1880 to the 1900 and it featured flashy journalism of that time, which made editors write about invented stories. Analysis on happiness and money if charles foster kane is in itself an impressive well of treasures, the film that depicts him has a very valuable intelligence and talents. Orson welles directs and also plays the role of the principal character in this. Citizen kane is an assembly of beautifully arranged scenes, and one of these days i might write about every single one of them. Sep 07, 2018 the mhm podcast network movie synopsis and film summary of citizen kane 1941 starring orson welles, joseph cotten, and dorothy comingore. Burger kane ist ein usamerikanisches filmdrama des.
In many ways, the storyline tells us more about ourselves than anything else and it relates to each one of us who has ever wished for a blah blah life. Jul 20, 2015 it has topped bbc cultures list of the greatest american films and many other polls before. An analysis of the movie citizen kane by orson welles. By the end of the movie, kane is completely doomed to isolation, and its only in his final moments that he realizes he isnt a good person at all like abel, but a bad dude like cain. Orson welles uses staging, shadows, lowkey lighting, deep focus and overlapping dialogue to emphasize various aspects of the film.
Scene analysis from citizen kane essay example for. The movie debuted in 1941, eventually becoming one of rkos most prevalent films of all times. The romantic fragment of orientalism in samuel taylor coleridges kubla khan and citizen kane by orson welles. If charles foster kane is in itself an impressive well of treasures, the film that depicts him has a very valuable intelligence and talents. The structure of citizen kane is circular, adding more depth every time it passes over the life. The questions have been designed to focus on plot, figurative devices used in the movie, as well as some reflection on the cinematic value of this film. Instead of being told in a linear, completely chronological manner, kanes story unfolds in overlapping segments that add more information as each narrator adds his or her story. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of citizen kane and what it means. But the meaning starts to emerge if you think about what it means to be a citizen.
Orson welles film citizen kane 1941 is significant in the movie world because of the innovations it made not only in technique, but also in how films were conceptualized. Citizen kane a masterpiece at 50 roger ebert roger ebert. This sample paper is done by joseph, whose major is psychology at arizona state university. He wants to make a sentimental journey back in time.
The film begins with a news reel detailing kanes life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from kanes life. Orson welles directs and also plays the role of the principal character in this movie. Nominated for academy awards in nine categories, it won an academy award for best writing original screenplay by herman j. The extent of the ingenuity shown by the film citizen kane by orson welles is so vast that one cannot draw an exhaustive analysis.
And the movie stands there before them, a towering achievement that cannot be. Scene analysis from citizen kane essay example for students. The work susan stars in is identified as salammbo in the newspaper coverage, but its a fictionalized version the music was written specially for citizen kane. Citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. The extent of the ingenuity shown by the film citizen kane by orson welles is. Citizen kane and the meaning of rosebud film the guardian. And the movie stands there before them, a towering achievement that cannot be explained yet cannot be ignored.
Citizen kane breakfast scene analysis film studies essay. Citizen kane after watching the movie citizen kane i realized why this movie was named one of the best films ever. The mhm podcast network movie synopsis and film summary of citizen kane 1941 starring orson welles, joseph cotten, and dorothy comingore. The citizen kane film is a biopic of william randolph hearst showing how a millionaire journalist, who was the role model and champion of the underprivileged, becomes also dishonored to desire for power, and wealth. The camera lingers on a no trespassing sign and a large k wrought on the gate, then gradually makes its way to the house, where it appears to pass through a lit window. Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. With its use of deep focus, strange shot angles, and impossible crane shots, the cinematography of citizen kane is justly famous and has been hugely influential. Then for some reason, we see two monkeys hanging out at the top of the fence, which makes us wonder where this castle is located. As a landmark work in the history of cinema, it ranks among the few films ever produced for which a remake, in the opinion of most critics, is all but unthinkable. The film citizen kane is the story of charles foster kane and told using flashbacks from his life and using more that one narrator. Michael aranda will try to help us through both of these. Kane asks susan how old she is and she answers that shes twentytwo. This film has features that every movie should try to incorporate.
According to outspoken film critic robert mckee, any greatness of citizen kane must lie in its style. The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, citizen kane 1941, is probably the worlds most famous and highlyrated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations in photography, editing, and sound. Citizen kane, written, produced, directed and played by orson welles, is probably the most exciting film that has come out of hollywood for twentyfive years. Apr 25, 2015 citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. Its a classic american tragedy about a man of great passion. The irony is that cinematographer gregg tolands unsettling and idiosyncratic use of the camera may have been part of the reason why citizen kane was not a commercial or. An analysis of the accuracy of william randolph hearsts portrayal in the movie citizen kane. The noise and the nonsense that have attended the release of citizen kane may for the time being befog the merit of this extraordinary film. The movie opens with newsreel obituary footage that briefs us on the life and times of charles foster kane. Citizen kane is a 1941 drama film directed by orson welles and praised for its innovative sound and editing methods in cinematography. Citizen kane was a rare film in that its principal roles were played by actors new to motion pictures. A summary of filmic elements in orson welless citizen kane.
Apr 19, 2020 citizen kane s narrative strategy, in which the whole story is told in flashback from slightly different points of view the equivalent of the unreliable narrator in fiction, was unprecedented in a hollywood film. Sep 19, 2016 orson welless citizen kane charts the stratospheric rise and startling fall of its titular protagonist, charles foster kane, a domineering and deeppocketed public figure who reigned supreme in early twentiethcentury america as both feared newspaper tycoon and modernday kublai khan before his personal, professional, and political. Whether a fan of the story or not, every true admirer of movies can appreciate the cinematic techniques utilized by welles to capture the life of his enigmatic. Citizen kane is a movie that can be rewritten and implemented into any film created today. Sound analysis of citizen kane citizen kanes soundtrack is a reason why this movie is considered one of the greatest pictures of all time. It tells the story of charles foster kane, a newspaper tycoon who died, but left the living with a puzzle. A formal analysis of citizen kane amber shultz a student in my film experience class at belmont university, fall 20.
1279 1376 22 584 453 1144 1201 275 546 113 1295 241 714 1003 423 1147 1220 843 453 1469 242 1009 1273 158 539 559 90 173 762 1318 311 1087 1477 1207 1013 1223 1463 666 1333 642