In class we discussed the many camera angles, lighting techniques, meanings behind this film. We also talked about how this 1941 film was almost not released. The film was so controversial that the studio that owned it almost burned the negative and it was not going to release it. This film from 1941 by Orson Wells was rated the number one (American) film of all time by the American Film Institute.. After it was released it was nominated in several categories like best original screenplay, best actor, and best director just to name a few. The only winner was best original screenplay.
The story is written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles himself. Staring Wells as a young man, a middle aged man, and an old man. This is known as the an “auteur” approach meaning one is in charge.
The film is about Charles Kane, a wealthy powerful man who ran a popular successful newspaper. Kane dies an old man, in the beginning of the film; the film opens as an old man dies uttering the word “rosebud”. The rest of the movie goes on to find out what that term means as it shows the life of Kane.
The article I chose is an article from the Chicago Sun Times written by Roger Ebert. The article is an analysis of the film’s major question: What is “Rose Bud”? The article goes on further of discussing the life of Orsen Welles and his successful drive for success. The article goes with the screening as well because its an article that focuses on the plot of the film.
Citizen Kane is not a painful movie to sit through. This is one if the better movies we have watched this year. It brings a little mystery into the classroom for us to solve too. As the movie clues in on the real meaning of “rose bud” we can sit there and try to figure it out ourselves. I have no problem with this movie and now understand the impact it had on the film industry. I also think it should have won every award it was nominated for.
