Arguably one of the greatest films ever made, Citizen Kane has been both put on the pedestal of film history and has been widely criticized as well for being exaggeratedly praised and for its clear relationship to the publishing mogul, William Randolph Hearst. The movie tells the story both of an individual and the field of journalism during the 1940s, covering the growth of the press, the birth of radio, the power of political machines, the rise of fascism, and the popularity of celebrity journalism (Ebert, 1998.) These events are covered in a newsreel that appears within the first 15 minutes of the film, following the death of Kane in his fantastic castle, Xanadu, where he has been surrounded by his treasures, and just before he utters the dying word, “Rosebud.” The newsreel summarizes his biography beginning with Kane as a poor boy who suddenly becomes extremely wealthy, and rises to become the publisher of a newspaper. He also has political aspirations, which are dashed because of a personal scandal. The film demonstrates that a man filled with ambition can end up surrounding himself with material possessions but in the end, he dies alone, soulless, because of the way he has lived his life and hurt those around him.
The reporter who is sent to discover the meaning of “Rosebud” learns all about the life of Kane from his childhood guardian, some of his associates at the newspaper and his mistress, all of whom agree that Charles Foster Kane was an egomaniac of epic proportions. His selfishness was frightening and eventually he himself was consumed by it but throughout the movie, the mystery remains exactly what it is that tortures him, its origins, and whether he really is a villain or simply a social parasite (Crowther, 1941.) When in the last moment of the film, the meaning of “Rosebud” is finally revealed as a sentimental and touching reference to his youth, humanizing him in a way that has not occurred for most of the movie, Kane continues to be even more of a puzzle.
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"Citizen Kane: The Greatest Movie Ever Made?".
Whether or not one believes that the movie is the greatest film ever made, as many critics and audience members believe, Citizen Kane certainly must be given credit for the way that Orson Welles used techniques that were forward- thinking and unique for the times in which it was released, 1941. These are methods that are widely used in film today, but were innovative and genius given the absence of such techniques in the other movies that were released around the same time. Because Welles made holes in the floors of the set for the crew of the film to sit in, he kept the angles low and often steep (Dawson, 2009.) At a certain part in the film, Kane is actually beside the camera which is nearly angled vertically, creating a presence that seems bigger than it really is. Another aspect of the film is the way that Welles made use of shadows, frequently lighting up one character perfectly while leaving another completely dark, and often symbolizing which character knows more than another one. For example, the reporters who are seeking to find the meaning of “Rosebud” remain in the dark physically as well as metaphorically during the whole movie.
The film demonstrates that it is nearly impossible to know who a person really is, especially after that person has died. Even though Charles Foster Kane was a man of many possessions, wealth, ambition, and significant actions he was clearly motivated by something much deeper, as represented by his muttering of the last word, Rosebud. The sled is a symbol of a life that was much simpler and happier, and represented a turning point when his life was altered forever, ostensibly in a positive way because he became a success materially. However, he eventually understands that none of this means anything because in the end, he is alone and vulnerable.
- Crowther, B. (1941, May 2). Movie Review: Citizen Kane. Retrieved from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com
- Dawson, M. (2009). Is Citizen Kane the Greatest Film Ever Made? Retrieved from Left Field Cinema.com: http://www.leftfieldcinema.com
- Ebert, R. (1998, May 24). Great Movie: Citizen Kane. Retrieved from Roger Ebert.com: http://www.rogerebert.com
