A Fine,Solid Drama,But Not a Masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (2 August 2001)

The film,"Citizen Kane"(1941)is considered the greatest movie ever made on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 films of the twentieth century. I think this is a bit of an overstatement,but "Citizen Kane" is a fine,worth while drama that tells an interesting story. The film is based on the life of journalist,William Randolph Hearst. The beginning of the film starts out with news reels talking about the death of a 70 year-old,newspaper tycoon,Charles Foster Kane. Many reporters are wondering what "Rosebud",Kane's last word meant. One such reporter,Jerry Thompson,decides to find out what this means by interviewing people who knew him best and looking in records about his life. Thompson's interviewees include,Kane's second wife,singer Susan Alexander,his good friend,Jedidiah Leland,and Mr. Bernstein,a man who worked with him on his paper,the "Inquirer". Thompson also looks in the diaries of Walter Parks Thatcher,the man who adopted him from his parents to give him a better life in society. Thompson starts to realize that Kane,who seemed like he got everything he wanted in life,was not completely happy. We,as the audience,see Kane's life in a series of flashbacks. Except for the beginning,which drags,the film runs quite smoothly. All the actors fit their parts perfectly. Orson Welles does a fine job of directing the film and playing the part of Kane. He's a character you can love and hate. I do prefer Welles' performances in "The Stranger"(1946)as an escaped Nazi,who poses as a teacher and as the conniving Harry Lime in "The Third Man"(1949). He gives a more believable performance in these two roles. In my opinion,the supporting players give the film its' spark. Joseph Cotten does great justice to his role as Jedidah Leland,a man who probably knew Kane best. Agnes Moorehaed gives a small,but memorable performance as Kane's mother. Dorothy Comingore draws your attention every time she's in a scene and adds a little comic relief as Susan Alexander. The film in no way is a classic,but worth a look once in a while. I give it 7 1/2 out of the 10.