Guide Note
Orson Welles' debut film, Citizen Kane tells the story of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane as he becomes a renowned and reviled American figure. Kane achieves wealth and political influence, but by the end of his life realizes that all of his possessions do not equal a life fulfilled.
Fast Facts
- Original Release: May 1, 1941
- Director: Orson Welles
- Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore and Ray Collins
- Cinematographer: Gregg Toland
- Screenwriters: Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles
- Running Time: 119 minutes
- Awards and Recognitions: Nominated for 8 Academy Awards; Won 1 for Best Original Screenplay; AFI Top 100 Films List; British Film Institute Top 10
Making and Releasing the Film
Herman Mankiewicz had the idea to write a film about a popular figure and reveal the character through the stories of the people who knew him. Welles and Mankiewicz developed the screenplay, basing the character of Kane on William Randolph Hearst, who continually attempted to block release of the film.
Upon the film's release, it received positive reviews but was not a financial success. It gained acclaim upon release in Europe after World War II and achieved a revitalized interest in the United States in the 1950s.
The Greatest?
Citizen Kane tops the American and British Film Institutes' list of the greatest films of all time. Roger Ebert has also cited it as his favorite film.
Citizen Kane used innovative (at the time) photography methods to tell the story. Notable is cinematographer Gregg Toland's use of deep focus photography, which keeps several elements of the frame in focus at the same time, achieved through accurately estimating the light and depth of field necessary for a particular lens.
Several special visual and sound effects were used to create the impression of large crowds, oversized fireplaces and exotic locations. The technical innovations utilized in Citizen Kane assert its immense influence on modern cinema.
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