In 1941, Citizen Kane, an American drama film, was released. It starred Orson Welles who also directed it. Even today, movie magnates view 'CK' as one of the finest films in movie-making history. It was highly acclaimed for its music, its unique narration, and its ground-breaking cinematography.
Before CK was made, Welles was enjoying personal success after his stint with the Mercury Players. His contentious radio show called War of the Worlds caught Hollywood attention in 1938. One year later, RKO Pictures signed Welles on contract.
Although he was completely 'untried' as a film director, he was given a free hand to develop a story, pick the crew and cast, and even given 'final cut' privilege. After two disastrous first attempts, Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay for CK.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The film is a roman a clef, a story about real events and real people under the disguise of fictional characters. It looks at the life of Charles Foster Kane whose character is based on newspaper mogul, William Randolph Hearst, as well as on Welles' life. When CK was released, Hearst was so irate that his newspapers were prohibited from even mentioning it.
Kane started a career in the publishing industry because of his journalistic enthusiasm. However, as the years went by, his enthusiasm turned into an unrelenting search for power. CK is narrated with the clever use of flashbacks. The story is uncovered by a reporter who is trying to unravel the mystery of Kane's one and only dying word - 'Rosebud'.
Although the movie was critically acclaimed, it was a box office disaster. It faded into oblivion for some years until French movie critics declared it to be outstanding. This sparked new interest and CK enjoyed a major revival in America during 1956. As before, critics agreed that indeed it was 'the greatest film of all time'. It remained on leading film polls for another 50 years.
Historians and film students saw the cinematography as an innovative new way to make films. Most significant was the protracted use of deep focus. In most scenes, the foreground, background and everything in between, is in focus. Gregg Toland, the cinematographer, achieved this by experimenting with lenses and lights.
Another unique element of the movie was the achievement of certain low angle shots. In the film, one can see ceilings in the background. Like all movies at the time, the film was shot on a sound stage which does not have a ceiling. How did they do it in CK?
The crew of Citizen Kane managed to achieve this effect by putting muslin cloth over the set to give the illusion of a ceiling. Hidden on top of the cloth were the microphones. They then dug trenches in the floor to enable the use of low angle shots. This is particularly evident in the scene when Kane and Leland meet after the election loss. Welles played the role of Charles Kane. - 40731
Before CK was made, Welles was enjoying personal success after his stint with the Mercury Players. His contentious radio show called War of the Worlds caught Hollywood attention in 1938. One year later, RKO Pictures signed Welles on contract.
Although he was completely 'untried' as a film director, he was given a free hand to develop a story, pick the crew and cast, and even given 'final cut' privilege. After two disastrous first attempts, Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wrote the screenplay for CK.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The film is a roman a clef, a story about real events and real people under the disguise of fictional characters. It looks at the life of Charles Foster Kane whose character is based on newspaper mogul, William Randolph Hearst, as well as on Welles' life. When CK was released, Hearst was so irate that his newspapers were prohibited from even mentioning it.
Kane started a career in the publishing industry because of his journalistic enthusiasm. However, as the years went by, his enthusiasm turned into an unrelenting search for power. CK is narrated with the clever use of flashbacks. The story is uncovered by a reporter who is trying to unravel the mystery of Kane's one and only dying word - 'Rosebud'.
Although the movie was critically acclaimed, it was a box office disaster. It faded into oblivion for some years until French movie critics declared it to be outstanding. This sparked new interest and CK enjoyed a major revival in America during 1956. As before, critics agreed that indeed it was 'the greatest film of all time'. It remained on leading film polls for another 50 years.
Historians and film students saw the cinematography as an innovative new way to make films. Most significant was the protracted use of deep focus. In most scenes, the foreground, background and everything in between, is in focus. Gregg Toland, the cinematographer, achieved this by experimenting with lenses and lights.
Another unique element of the movie was the achievement of certain low angle shots. In the film, one can see ceilings in the background. Like all movies at the time, the film was shot on a sound stage which does not have a ceiling. How did they do it in CK?
The crew of Citizen Kane managed to achieve this effect by putting muslin cloth over the set to give the illusion of a ceiling. Hidden on top of the cloth were the microphones. They then dug trenches in the floor to enable the use of low angle shots. This is particularly evident in the scene when Kane and Leland meet after the election loss. Welles played the role of Charles Kane. - 40731
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