Film analysis of citizen kane

Sound montage in citizen kane emphasizes the abnormal and stressful lives of the characters with realistic soundtracks. You will need to consider what qualities go to make a. Instead of being told in a linear, completely chronological manner, kanes story unfolds in overlapping segments that add. The plot of citizen kane follows a journalist as he tries to make sense of rosebud this tycoons dying word. Scene analysis from citizen kane essay example for. But a mystery still lies at the heart of this masterpiece. Analysis of the film citizen kane 816 words 4 pages.

Film analysis of citizen kane in citizen kane welles, rko, 1941 the flash back scene in mrs. The camera lingers on a no trespassing sign and a large k wrought on the gate, then gradually makes its way to the house, where it appears to pass through a lit window. He speaks his last word, rosebud, as snow globe slips from his hand and shatters on the floor. Orson welles revolutionary film citizen kane 1941 examines the psychologically damaging effects of internal conflict brought on by parental neglect and the morally. The structure of citizen kane is circular, adding more depth every time it passes over the life. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. It tells the story of charles foster kane, a newspaper tycoon who died, but left the living with a puzzle. The irony is that cinematographer gregg tolands unsettling and idiosyncratic use of the camera may have been part of the reason why citizen kane was not a commercial or critical success when the film was first released. Having missed the 1991 fiftieth anniversary revival, i had only seen citizen kane on the small screen, and it didnt seem right somehow to discuss a picture of this magnitude without viewing it.

Film overview citizen kane essay 974 words 4 pages. The extent of the ingenuity shown by the film citizen kane by orson welles is. The titular protagonist of the film, played by orson welles. Because the film is blackwhite, first it is hard to observe these sound montages however, the characters, the sounds, and the changed mise en scene make it easier to follow up the scenes. When it comes to citizen kane, one question eclipses all others. Orson welles uses lighting, deep and low angle shots to show kanes isolation from the world. William randolph hearst was an american newspaper magnate and leading newspaper publisher. As if you would trust a bunch of film nerds who probably eat way too much movie theater popcorn to tell you why should see citizen kane instead, listen to us a bunch of film nerds who definitely eat way too much movie theater. When looking at the film citizen kane, it uses missenscene to help paint a better picture throughout the film. This is exactly what kane think of himself early in the film, as. Orson wells was an american film director, writer, actor and producer, who worked in film, theatre, television and radio.

Citizen kane was a rare film in that its principal roles were played by actors new to motion pictures. Perhaps the image of kane s failure became increasingly painful. His last word is rosebud, and the quest to find out what it means drives a newspaper reporter. Orson welles 1941 drama citizen kane is now widely considered to be the single greatest film ever made. Citizen kane a masterpiece at 50 roger ebert roger ebert. A group of reporters are trying to decipher the last word ever spoken by charles foster kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon. Citizen kane and the meaning of rosebud film the guardian. Orson welles was a young visionary whose career had been limited to stage production and radio until his first film, citizen kane. Its director, star, and producer were all the same genius individual orson welles in his film debut at age 25. Analysis of citizen kane at the age of twentyfive, orson welles produced, cowrote, directed, and starred in the film, citizen kane.

Through the perspectives of the people closest to him, the film depicts charles foster kanes journey from a man who had everything wealth, power, connections, women to an old, isolated man who. Citizen kane opens with the camera panning across a spooky, seemingly deserted estate in florida called xanadu. Mckee says the film cries out for critical recognition. Through the characters in the film we can observe how charles foster kane, an idealistic man with principles, can be changed and misguided by wealth and what accompanies wealth. The film citizen kane, directed by orson welles, is a great example of how a man can be corrupted by wealth. The movie opens with newsreel obituary footage that briefs us on the life and times of charles foster kane. Next, we see a newsreel of kane s life from the public view. Although it was a commercial failure, it was nominated for nine academy awards winning one for writing and was declared the number one movie of all time by the american film institute in 1998. As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a fascinating mans rise to fame, and how he eventually fell off the top of the world. In every scene of the movie the lights are manipulated to communicate something about the given setting or characters.

In the final analysis, citizen kane is really like a greek tragedy where the hero is thwarted by his own super ego. Orson welles produced the film citizen kane, and it is considered by some to be one of the greatest films of our time. The outline of the story is simplicity itself, almost like saying, once upon a time there. You should watch citizen kane because most critics call it the best film ever made. Citizen kane introduced hollywood to the creative potential of cinematic technique. Critical analysis of orson welless citizen kane shaped through a complex interaction between internal and external forces which form the basis of ones values and attitudes. The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, citizen kane 1941, is probably the worlds most famous and highlyrated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations in photography, editing, and sound. Michael aranda will try to help us through both of these.

He was also the star and the director of citizen kane. Essay analysis of the film citizen kane citizen kane is perhaps known around the world and especially in the united states as one the greatest american films ever made, and created by one of americas greatest film directors that ever lived, his bold style and unconventional techniques made him a maverick, a genius, and rebel in the entertainment industry, and like the character. Citizen kane citizen kane opens with the camera panning across a spooky, seemingly deserted estate in florida called xanadu. Citizen kane breakfast scene analysis film studies essay. The combination of innovative techniques, not one individual technique, is what makes citizen kane such a cinematically important film. The mhm podcast network movie synopsis and film summary of citizen kane 1941 starring orson welles, joseph cotten, and dorothy comingore. If charles foster kane is in itself an impressive well of treasures, the film that depicts him has a very valuable intelligence and talents. In citizen kane welles, rko, 1941, the scene following kanes defeat in the election for governor takes great care using miseenscene techniques to add to the themes of the film. Even by todays standards, citizen kane is an extraordinary movie, and it is full of complex filming techniques. Orson welles is the director of the 1941 film, citizen kane, which uses the cinematic techniques of long takes and deep focus shots. The film is a fictionalized version of william randolph hearst, its this towering central character that gives the film its air of significance as well as its continuingrelevance as the parallels with citizen murdoch, citizen trump and citizen jobs are easy to spot. This post focuses on the elements of film style miseenscene, cinematography, editing, and sound providing a few examples of how welles citizen kane 1941 utilises these elements in and, in doing so.

Many critics argue that citizen kane, with itsinventive use of lighting and shadow, is the first film noir, or at least the direct predecessor of noir, a genre that employs dark, moody atmosphere to augment the often violent or mysterious events taking place. The camera lingers on a no trespassing sign and a large k wrought on the gate, then gradually makes its way to the house, where it appears to pass through a. The composition of the scenes, the lighting and the focus used by the director really uses the environment and space to give the viewer the desired emotion in the. Analysis of film citizen kane produced by orson welles 619 words 3 pages. It portrays the man as an incredibly wealthy publisher, with a penchant for seeking attention.

This becomes most apparent just after the news on the march segment of the movie. Kanes boarding house sets the mood and the meaning behind the main plot of the movie. Citizen kane is considered one of the greatest films ever made. On may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics. Citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and. Write about your expectations of a film voted the best film ever made. This is demonstrated in charles and emilys breakfast scene through masterful use of symbolism, perspective, costuming, the soundtrack, and even through. The 50th anniversary album includes many inside details from interviews with the participants. Long takes and deep focus shots are associated with space and time. Acting almost as a biopic biographical film, citizen kane portrays a long period of time realistically, allowing the characters to age as the story goes on.

The readers of sight and sound, the british film institutes monthly magazine, regularly vote for citizen kane as being the best film ever made. The iconic citizen kane welles, 1941, a biopic that traces the life of fictional newspaper magnate charles kane. Orson welles, who was cowriter, actor, and director of citizen kane, has said that bernard herrmanns film score was a very important element and accounted for 50% of the success of the film. Citizen kane film analysis critique jed leland, for many years a close associate of charles foster kane, provides in the eyes of a contemporary anecdotes of his own perception of kane, vastly differing from the accounts of both bernstein and susan alexander. Robert carringer, a welles expert at the university of illinois, has published the making of citizen kane, with much analysis of visual strategies and production details. Citizen kane, american film drama, released in 1941, that was directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, who also starred in the lead role. Citizen kane film analysis critique david leed wong. Milesenscene, better known as staging, is the overall look and feel of a movie barras. Citizen kane employs creative storytelling techniques as well. One of the main characters is jedediah leland, played by joseph cotten with his handsome, sensitive face. Now then, the citizen part of citizen kane has a less obvious significance.

As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a. Author and onetime film critic jorge luis borges, who loved citizen kane, thought the rosebud motif its single major weakness. Tierra glass citizen kane analysis march 26, 2010 1. The film begins with a news reel detailing kanes life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from kanes life. The film citizen kane is the story of charles foster kane and told using flashbacks from his life and using more that one narrator. Citizen kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. Experimenting with creative storytelling techniques and nonlinear plot construction, the director treated the time parameter sensitively, replacing time continuity of real scene by a subjective continuity, controlling the rhythm and pace of all scenes.

The 1940s film industry favored films that were based on reality, such as citizen kane. The term miseenscene is used to signify the directors control over what appears in the film frame 1 and covers such elements as setting, lighting, costume and the movement and actions of figures appearing within the film. Ten were billed as mercury actors, members of the skilled repertory company assembled by welles for the stage and radio performances of the mercury theatre, an independent theater company he founded with houseman in 1937. Pauline kael called it the one american talking picture that seems as fresh now as the day it opened, and francois truffaut called it the film that probably has started the largest number of. But the meaning starts to emerge if you think about what it means to be a citizen. We remember that this was kanes childhood sled, taken from him as he was torn from his family and sent east to boarding school. This is largely due to the vital precedent it set for contemporary cinema. With its use of deep focus, strange shot angles, and impossible crane shots, the cinematography of citizen kane is justly famous and has been hugely influential. Throughout the movie citizen kane 1941, the director, orson welles plays with lighting to give his settings dynamic gradients and strong shadows. Kane is depicted as a successful and dominant figure through usage of low angle shots as well yet his emotional. Citizen kane is a 1941 drama film directed by orson welles and praised for its innovative sound and editing methods in cinematography. Citizen kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. Citizen kane film analysis 1046 words 5 pages discuss to what extent citizen kane changed film and the golden era of cinema the film was made in 1941 and won best screenplay at the oscars and was also nominated for best picture, best director, best actor and best cinematography. A formal analysis of citizen kane amber shultz a student in my film experience class at belmont university, fall 20.