Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, produced and co-written by Orson Welles, who also stars in the title role.

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, produced and co-written by Orson Welles, who also stars in the title role. The film follows the life and legacy of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane through flashbacks after his death, and it is widely regarded as a landmark in film history.

Plot

The film begins with Kane’s death and the mysterious last word “Rosebud,” then uses interviews and flashbacks to reconstruct his life. The narrative traces his ambition, wealth, relationships and personal decline.

Production

Citizen Kane was made in Hollywood in 1940–1941 and marked Welles’s first feature film as director, producer and co-writer. It was developed with collaboration from Herman J. Mankiewicz and other key filmmakers including Gregg Toland and Bernard Herrmann.

Reception and legacy

Although the film was a commercial failure at first, it later gained a reputation as one of the greatest films ever made. Critics and historians frequently cite it for its influence on cinematography, editing, sound and narrative form.

Inspiration and controversy

The character of Kane was inspired in part by William Randolph Hearst, which contributed to controversy around the film. That real-life connection has remained one of the most discussed aspects of the movie’s history.