An incredible debut for an undeniable young talent.

Rating: 10/10 (13 May 2019)

Orson Welles made his extremely well regarded filmmaking debut with this interesting and compelling example of cinema. It's the fascinating, highly atmospheric yarn of Charles Foster Kane (played by Welles himself), a young man who comes into a lot of money and decides that his main goal in life will be to run a newspaper (the Inquirer). Over time, he becomes a major publishing magnate, and even throws his hat into the political ring. But there are some things that he will never quite be able to overcome, such as his hubris, and his inability to admit when he might have been wrong.
"Citizen Kane" is noteworthy for the way that it moves forward and backward in time, as a reporter named Thompson (William Alland) is among those who research Kanes' life story. As the film opens, Kane has just died, and journalists are determined to unravel the mystery of his final uttered word: "Rosebud". Yet, the film is never hard to follow. You always do have the proper sense of time and place. Welles' storytelling abilities are in full bloom, and he keeps his viewers utterly engrossed, as he is assisted by a rich gallery of characters and actors to bring them to life. The high-strung Bernstein (Everett Sloane) was a particular favourite of this viewer.
But the entire cast, with principals comprised of members of the Mercury Theatre, has their moment to shine: Joseph Cotten as the drama critic, Ruth Warrick as Kanes' first wife, Dorothy Comingore as his second wife, Agnes Moorehead as his mom, Ray Collins as the slimy politico Gettys, etc. And Welles is fantastic as the enigmatic character at the centre: a complex, flawed, but compelling individual whose influence stretched far and wide. He wasn't a one-dimensional picture of integrity - he starts out with morals and ideals, and they slowly melt away - and a viewer can see how a person like this might one day have it all and then lose it all the next day.
This begins on a wonderfully ominous note, and features striking cinematography by Gregg Toland and excellent music by Bernard Herrmann. Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote the utterly absorbing story, which won the sole Oscar among the nine nominations. And a young Robert Wise was the editor; his contribution cannot be overstated.
A film like "Citizen Kane" might not be everybody's cup of tea, but serious cinema buffs are advised to check it out. They won't be disappointed.
10 out of 10.