Citizen Kane (1941)

Screen LanguageFilm Foundation Degree

Citizen Kane has been considered as one the best American films ever made.

Who was Orson Welles?Actor. Director. Writer. Radio & Theatre Producer.

• When he broadcasted an adaptation of the science fiction novel The War Of The Worlds, listeners were convinced that America had been invaded by Martians, and there was wide-spread panic.

• The War Of The Worlds made him internationally famous/infamous.

The best contract

• RKO offered Welles the complete control over his own material directing, writing and acting.• RKO enjoyed a freer atmosphere

than the bigger studios.

Until the arrival of Welles - only Charlie Chaplin wrote, starred, directed and produced in Hollywood.

Directors were lowly creatures whose work was interfered with on every level by the heads of the studios.

Hollywood factory system

"Most big-studio movies were made in such a restrictive way

that the crews were hostile and bored and the atmosphere was oppressive. The worst aspect of

the factory system was that almost everybody worked

beneath their capacity"

Inexperience• Welles didn’t even know what a

medium shot was• Amalia Kent, an RKO continuity

supervisor, explained him the basic information about how films were made. • Wells asked Gregg Toland, a

celebrated cinematographer to work with him and teach him - didn't know anything about cinema.

Gregg Toland with Orson Welles on the set of Citizen Kane.

"Working on Kane in an atmosphere of freedom, the designers and technicians came forth with ideas they’d been bottling up for years; they were all in on the creative process.”

Orson Wells, the Tarantino of the 40s:

'Youth and genius'

Citizen Kane was his first film. He was 25. He co-wrote, produced, directed and starred.

What was so innovative of this film from others?

• Narrative • Technical innovations• Focus• Camera angles• Camera movement• Lighting• Sound and music • Transitions

• Acting

The LIFE Magazine review of Citizen Kane observed that Toland did "everything Hollywood has always said you couldn't do; They shoot into bright lights, they shoot into the dark and against low ceilings, till every scene comes with the impact of something never seen before."

Why did the film fail at the box office?https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jJCKMX42c