Citizen Kane

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2009)

This is acclaimed by critics and film-makers everywhere as the greatest film ever made, topping many polls and lists, so naturally I had to see this essential classic from Oscar nominated director Orson Welles. Basically one of the richest and most powerful in America, if not the world, Charles Foster Kane (Oscar nominated Orson Welles) has died in his mansion Xanadu, uttering his last word "Rosebud" (number 17 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes). Reporter Jerry Thompson (William Alland) is trying to find out what Kane was referring to when he said this last word, so he goes to all the people who knew the multimillionaire newspaper tycoon. Through many flashbacks we see Kane marry the niece of the Presidential candidate, buy many big city newspapers and grow to assume power in many other business fields, to the point where he loses soul. In the end Thompson never finds out what Rosebud was and the reason Kane said before dying, but we see what it was when all his stuff is being burned, it turns out to be his prized childhood sled. Also starring The Third Man's Joseph Cotten as Jedediah Leland, Dorothy Comingore as Susan Alexander Kane, Agnes Moorehead as Kane's mother Mary, Ruth Warrick as Emily Monroe Norton Kane, Ray Collins as James W. Gettys, Erskine Sanford as Herbert Carter, Everett Sloane as Mr. Bernstein, Paul Stewart as Head Butler Raymond, George Coulouris as Walter Parks Thatcher, Fortunio Bonanova as Signor Matiste, Gus Schilling as Head Waiter John, Philip Van Zandt as Mr. Rawlston, Georgia Backus as Bertha Anderson and Harry Shannon as Kane's Father. I was impressed with Welles' acting and directing skills, the then experimental camera angles and movements that have become staples, and it is a story with some great moments to keep you hooked. So while I can't see fully why it is excellent and most recommended film, it is certainly one I would recommend, and it deserves to be in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before. It won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Herman J. Mankiewicz and Welles, and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music for Bernard Herrmann, Best Sound and Best Picture. Orson Welles was number 16 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, and he was number 45 on The World's Greatest Actor, the film was number 19 on The 100 Greatest Films, and it was number 1 on 100 Years, 100 Movies (twice). Very good!