Citizen Kane (1941)

By Vince Man
September 20, 2006

Citizen Kane tells the story of a deceased media baron, Charles Foster Kane, through the memories of those who were close to him. The recollections are sparked by a reporter, Jerry Thompson (William Alland), who is out to uncover the man behind the numerous daily newspapers, the money and the fame. At the root of this mystery is Kane's last word before dying, "Rosebud." This one word sets Thompson on a hunt which will spiral him back and forth into time, revealing more and more about the enigma that is Kane, while never concluding who he was.

As the viewer, we see the same things the reporter does. We hear the stories of Kane being given away by his parents, his success with the New York Inquirer, failed marriages and his extravagant castle, Xanadu. Still, we are left only to conclude that Kane was a highly complex man who never reached greatness despite his celebrity status.

The great mystery is Rosebud, and through searching for it, we meet wonderful characters such as Kane's second wife, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), his long-time friend, Jed Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his finance manager, Mr. Bernstein (Everett Sloane). Of these three characters that recall their time with Kane, Leland provides the most depth as he exposes the icon for having empty words. Ironically, the most sense Leland makes in his memories is when he, in an intoxicated state, confronts his friend for being shallow. Kane, who prides himself on representing the common man is taken a back, but exposed is the fact that Kane really never does put himself on the same level as the common folk, rather he coyly plays to them creating a faux celebrity.

Leland, who is interviewed in a nursing home, gives a great performance providing a dose of comic relief. He appears more interested in smoking a cigar in his sickly state, rather than reminiscing about his old friend Charlie Kane.

The title role played by director, Orson Welles, gives an outstanding performance. For someone who is known primarily for his radio broadcasts, Welles captures the essence of the character and his wide range of emotions. We literally see Kane go from being on top of the world, to losing everything. Welles looks like a movie star himself, but his character is truly charismatic as he carries around a toothy grin the Grinch would be jealous over.

In searching for Rosebud, Thompson is told that it could've been something Kane lost in his life that he was trying to find, after all, Kane was always in search of something. He seemingly was trying to find himself all those years after being given away by his parents. Kane searches for love, but just can't find it, never knowing what it means to love or to be loved. What the viewer ultimately discovers is that he learns this lesson in his youth, but far too late.

Entertainment 8/10

The story of Kane and his life is intriguing through the eyes of others. We continually learn more and more about him, both of good merit and selfishness. Because of the varying stories we hear, there is no clear-cut perspective held on Kane. He appeared to be admirable in that he fought to be the voice of the common people, yet he would print false stories so that his circulation would increase.

Kane asked to be loved, but always on his own terms, which strained all of his relationships. All he sought was love, but not knowing how to love in return grew thin on everyone in his world.

Innovation 9/10

The constant use of dissolve shots to connect scenes made for great visuals. Furthermore, the dissolve shots made clear that the stories being told were from years ago. The characters in the present would be faded in from their images in the past.

What's really innovative about the visuals in Citizen Kane are the focuses. The focus of images in the background are often as clear as those in the foreground, giving a false sense of distance. Similarly, Kane is often seen from a low angle, especially in the scenes involving his second wife Susan Alexander. These effects seemingly confuse the viewer as to who Kane really is. It seems to say that he is larger than life, but is within reach. The enigma however is Kane himself, and possibly like the common people who he constantly tried to reach out to.

Emotional Resonance 9/10

It is strange how you sympathize for a character who you barely know, but what you do know is that he is not a saint, and that he doesn't fully deserve sympathy. It is strange indeed, but this is how you feel for Kane. Being one of the richest men in the world, you would think that he has no worries, but obviously, we see otherwise. Knowing his childhood, we are further compelled to side with him despite his poor choices.

Social Context 8/10

The film says a lot about being a celebrity. Obviously, average folk will never know what their favourite celebrities are like no matter how much they are shot by the paparazzi. Even after interviewing several people close to Kane, Thompson still never figures him out. This is only to say that there is much more behind closed doors than the public ever gets to see.

Recall 8/10

A few memorable performances, great visuals and a great puzzle add up to another viewing of Citizen Kane required. There certainly are pieces to the puzzle that you can find upon an additional viewing to reveal more about Charles Foster Kane. On the surface, it appears to be about a man's life, but it is so much more in being a mystery and a tragedy.

Overall 84%

Running Time: 2 hours 24 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Orson Welles
Producer: Orson Welles
Executive Producer: George Schaefer
Screenplay: Orson Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz
Director of Photography: Gregg Toland
Editor: Robert Wise