Charles Foster Kane
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Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed by Orson Welles, based on the life of media mogul Charles Foster Kane. The film is widely regarded as a masterpiece of cinema, with innovative techniques and a complex narrative structure.
Directed by and starring Orson Welles, the film follows the life and death of a newspaper tycoon and his mysterious last word "Rosebud". IMDb provides cast and crew information, user and critic reviews, trivia, goofs, quotes, and more for this influential and acclaimed film.
- (469K)
- Drama, Mystery
- Orson Welles
- 1941-09-05
Dec 27, 2022 · Watch the classic drama film directed by and starring Orson Welles, based on the life of a media mogul. See the reviews, topics, and details of this 1941 masterpiece on Internet Archive.
- 119 min
- 7.8K
- FRRUNKIS
- Overview
- Production notes and credits
- Cast
- Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
The plot of Citizen Kane centres on the rise and fall of publishing magnate Charles Foster Kane. Following Kane’s death at the start of the film, a reporter interviews those who knew Kane in an attempt to better understand his life and the meaning of “Rosebud,” his last word. Flashback episodes of Kane’s life are shown in correspondence with the interviews.
Where does Citizen Kane take place?
Based on flashbacks of discrete episodes in Kane’s life, Citizen Kane mostly takes place in three different settings: Colorado during Kane’s childhood, New York at the height of his success as a media magnate, and finally Florida as Kane nears his demise.
Who is the protagonist of Citizen Kane based on?
The protagonist of Citizen Kane is said to have been based on real-life magnate William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was an American newspaper publisher who built up the nation’s largest newspaper chain and whose methods significantly influenced the practice of American journalism. He fought the production of Citizen Kane from the start and reportedly barred mention of it in his newspapers.
Why is Citizen Kane such an important film?
•Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
•Director: Orson Welles
•Writers: Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles
•Music: Bernard Hermann
•Orson Welles (Charles Foster Kane)
•Joseph Cotten (Jedediah Leland)
•Dorothy Comingore (Susan Alexander Kane)
•Agnes Moorehead (Mary Kane)
•Ruth Warrick (Emily Kane)
•Ray Collins (James W. Gettys)
•Picture
•Director
•Lead actor (Orson Welles)
•Screenplay*
•Editing
•Cinematography (black and white)
Learn about the 1941 film by Orson Welles that is widely regarded as the greatest movie ever made. Explore its plot, characters, themes, production, and legacy in this comprehensive article from Britannica.
- Lee Pfeiffer
May 24, 1998 · A classic analysis of the 1941 masterpiece by Orson Welles, inspired by the life of William Randolph Hearst. The film explores the rise and fall of a media mogul, his personal tragedies, and his mysterious last word "Rosebud".
When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who...
- (134)
- Drama
- PG
A classic film about the life and death of a newspaper magnate, Charles Foster Kane, whose last word "Rosebud" becomes a mystery for a reporter to uncover. The film uses flashbacks, newsreels, and interviews to reveal Kane's rise and fall, his loves and losses, and his impact on American politics and media.
