A brief overview of the history of Orson Welles' 1941 film Citizen Kane and its innovations.

1. OOrsonrson WWelles &elles & CCitizenitizen KKaneane

2. A bit about Orson
Actor, Director, Writer and Producer of theater, radio and filmActor, Director, Writer and Producer of theater, radio and film..

3. October 30, 1938October 30, 1938

4. On Sunday, Oct. 30th
1938,
23 year old Orson Welles’
broadcast, a dramatization of
War of The Worlds on the
radio.
His all too realistic retelling of
the H.G. Wells' classic alien
invasion story caused a nation
to panic but also led to
international fame and
Hollywood welcoming the
young golden boy.

5. 5

6. RKO offered Welles “what generally is considered the greatest contract offered
to an untried director: complete artistic control”.

7. “A film is never really good
unless the camera is an eye in
the head of a poet.”
Orson Welles, 1915 - 1985

8. 8
Welles’ first film wasWelles’ first film was
the 1941 Citizen Kane.the 1941 Citizen Kane.
He co-wrote,He co-wrote,
produced, directed andproduced, directed and
starred in the film.starred in the film.
It is considered byIt is considered by
many the best moviemany the best movie
ever made.ever made.
But it was a financialBut it was a financial
Disaster because ofDisaster because of
controversies.controversies.

9. 5 times voted Sight & Sounds polls5 times voted Sight & Sounds polls
of critics best film everof critics best film ever
Topped the American Film InstitutesTopped the American Film Institutes
100 Year-100 movies list in 1998100 Year-100 movies list in 1998
and 2007and 2007
Has a 100% rating by critics onHas a 100% rating by critics on
Rotten Tomatoes.Rotten Tomatoes.
Orson Welles as
Charles Foster Kane
CITIZEN KANECITIZEN KANE

10. Orson Welles & Citizen Kane 10

11. 11
Actor: Joseph Cotton
Actress: Agnes Moorehead
Orson Welles
Robert Wise- Editor Gregg Toland: Cinematographer
Herman Mankiewicz
Screenwriter

12. 12
Citizen Kane is noted for its Technical InnovationsCitizen Kane is noted for its Technical Innovations
Lighting, camera focus, optical & sound effects
Story Development

13. Innovations in Story Development/Narrative:Innovations in Story Development/Narrative:
The film examines the life of Charles Foster Kane, a character basedThe film examines the life of Charles Foster Kane, a character based
largely on William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate.largely on William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate.
The film is narrated mostly through the use of flashbacks and flash-The film is narrated mostly through the use of flashbacks and flash-
forwards, an innovative approach to storytelling. The use of theseforwards, an innovative approach to storytelling. The use of these
elements helps us see Kane change from an idealistic and innocent childelements helps us see Kane change from an idealistic and innocent child
into a ruthless, power-hungry old man.into a ruthless, power-hungry old man.
The narration is done by a newsreel reporter seeking to solve theThe narration is done by a newsreel reporter seeking to solve the
mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud". Kane’smystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud". Kane’s
story is told through multiple points of view.story is told through multiple points of view.

14. 14
Citizen Kane is a history of a period. It covers the rise of the penny press (Joseph Pulitzer is the
model), Hearst-supported Spanish-American War, the birth of radio, the power of political
machines, the rise of fascism, and the growth of celebrity journalism.
“You provide the prose
poems; I’ll provide the war.”
Charles Foster Kane

15. Lighting InnovationsLighting Innovations
The inventive use of lighting and
shadow, backlighting and high
contrast lighting

16. Camera InnovationsCamera Innovations
Crane Shots
Low camera angles
The use of deep focus-
everything in the frame,
even the background, in
focus at the same time.
Dissolves and curtain
wipes
Long uninterrupted shots
Welles use of wide-angle and deep-focus lenses, pointed to the
development of action within a single frame and innovations in sound.

17. 17
Citizen Kane Technical Innovations: CameraCitizen Kane Technical Innovations: Camera

18. 18
Citizen Kane: Camera
Welles used of wide-angle and deep-focus lenses, pointed to the development of
action within a single frame and innovations in sound.

19. 19
Hearst vs. Citizen
Kane
Link with William Randolph
Hearst was Controversial
Any Brilliant Work of Art is a
Composite of Many Stories:
How the work was made,
The people involved,
The work itself, and
The work's legacy.
Kane, acted by Welles, is a
fictional version of real-life
multimillionaire newspaper
publisher William Randolph
Hearst (1863–1951).
William Randolph Hearst with Marion Davies

20. 20
Hearst vs. Citizen Kane
Randolph Hearst (1863–1951).
was outraged at the
unauthorized, unflattering
interpretation and tried to
prevent the film’s release.
When that failed, Hearst used his
newspapers to prevent the film
from becoming popular refusing
ads for the film and threatening
to stop advertising and reviewing
RKO films in the future.
There were also personal attacks
made on Welles
All these actions were effective.
The film failed badly at the box
office.
.
Welles and Dolores Del Rio

21. Citizen Kane was nominated for 9
Academy Awards but won only one
for Best Original Screenplay