Goes Beyond 10 Stars

Rating: 10/10 (16 March 2005)

There's not much I can add to what's already been said about this much-discussed classic, but I would like to comment on the revisionist trend of Best Movie lists to downgrade this film from its traditional #1 position. For instance, the original list compiled by "Entertainment Weekly" critics rated "Citizen Kane" #1, but then a subsequent list moved "The Godfather" into #1 position.
Well, I've watched "Citizen Kane" with pleasure at least 25 times, but 3 times around with "The Godfather" is enough for me! And if critics are just sick and tired of rating "Kane" #1, then I can think of better replacements than "The Godfather" -- for instance, any hilarious comedy written & directed by Preston Sturges -- "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" springs to mind -- or Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot" (#1 on AFI's comedy list). I think comedy is ultimately more profound than tragedy, so I don't see why a comedy can't be considered for the top spot. Comedies also tend to be overlooked at Acadeny Award time.
But I suppose I'm unusual in that I think "Citizen Kane" has many fine comedic touches (the flustered vocal coach and prompter during the opera sequences would be one instance). I realize that, overall, it's a tragic drama, but there are quite a few comic highlights along the way. It's a very entertaining film.
Finally, in the interests of "truth-in-advertising," I should mention that I have a personal reason for my interest in "Citizen Kane" --- I am related (not by blood, but by the marriage of one of my dad's sisters) to members of the Missouri branch of the Hearst family. So 3 of my cousins are, in turn, distant cousins of Patty Hearst. And my late uncle, Richard Hearst, told me of family visits by the real Citizen Kane, William Randolph Hearst, who handed out silver dollars to the kids (my uncle was one of the kids). All my Hearst cousins like the film --- but I suppose some of the California Hearsts might be less enthusiastic about this classic film.