Visual Elements in Citizen Kane

Rating: Null/10 (17 April 2006)

Visual Elements in Citizen Kane
When a viewer watches a movie, the primary reason in most cases is probably for the overall entertainment experience of the film as a whole. Casual viewing does not always include a critical breakdown in one's head of all the various aspects that go into producing the finished product. Some might argue that if one notices too many of the "parts" that the overall value of the "whole" has lost some appeal. Nevertheless, filmmakers take great care in putting together their masterpieces; often micro managing down the finest detail that is hardly noticed.
Casting, plot and script are obvious elements that almost any viewer will have a good recollection of after having seen a movie. One can relate the story, repeat the memorable lines of dialogue and tell who starred in the film. But what about the sound, the lighting, shot selection, camera angles and editing? How much of that is remembered or lost? These are important parts of the director's work. There is hardly a detail that has no meaning, right down to the set dressing. Everything means something. One may not be able to discern the meaning of every minute detail the director feels is important. However, the observer can still perceive the visual clues that set the mood and tone of scenes and story lines even if they cannot interpret the filmmaker's deepest thoughts.
One film which uses some of these "less obvious" components as a key ingredient in the overall story is Citizen Kane (1941), a landmark cinematic achievement starring, and directed by Orson Welles. Specifically, the use of lighting to create shadows, and camera angles to convey the status of the characters are key elements which have an affect on viewers, whether consciously or subconsciously.
In Citizen Kane, shadows contribute to the feeling of mystery that hangs over the story from start to finish. In the newsreel scene, when the lights come up there are shadows all around the smoke-filled room. Voices seem to be coming right out of the dark at times as they discuss what Charles Foster Kane's life meant and what the last word he uttered, "rosebud," may have meant. In the final scene, the main investigator admits that he "didn't find out much" and that still does not know what "rosebud" meant. His face is in shadow, as are all of the people to whom he is speaking. They are in the dark literally and figuratively because the mystery of Kane's final word is no closer to being solved.
Lighting and shadows are also used in other ways in this film. For instance one way is to differentiate the status of characters in particular scenes. An example of this is seen in the exchange between Kane and his wife Susan in a Chicago hotel room. After reading the bad notices from her operatic debut, fully lit, she screams to him that she is quitting singing. Kane approaches her, casts a shadow which totally engulfs her, and insists that she will continue her career. The lighting effect reinforces who has the upper hand in the scene. Shadows are also used to foreshadow future events. One instance in Citizen Kane stands out among many. When Kane reads his "declaration of principles," which he has just written, detailing his promises to present the news honestly, accurately and fairly  he is totally in shadow, while men on either side of him are completely lit. This indicates that Kane will ultimately, not keep his lofty promises the people.
Camera angles also have a lot to do with how characters are perceived. During the political rally speech scene there is a low angle shot of Kane at the lectern, with a huge poster of himself as a backdrop. The shot begins at the back of the hall and gradually zooms in. As the shot gets tighter and tighter on Kane, he appears higher and higher in the frame, giving the sense of his rising power to the viewer. The shot angle also tells one which characters are more powerful compared to each other. In the previously mentioned scene where Kane's wife tries to quit singing, the camera angle on her is high making appear small and powerless. Kane is seen from a low angle which emphasizes his control over Susan at the time.
Lighting, the use of shadows, and camera shot selection are vital parts in the total picture of Citizen Kane. Imagine seeing this film lit up like the average sitcom on television today. It would not even resemble the classic movie that Welles envisioned and produced. Many elements of the story would be changed, or lost altogether. This movie was far ahead of its time, and by many accounts continues to be the standard by which all films are measured against.