Theatrical passion, using every cinematic trick to its advantage...

Rating: 6/10 (2 October 2005)

Orson Welles made his directorial debut and stars in this thinly-disguised expose of newspaper czar William Randolph Hearst (who later sued Welles for libel). Chronicle of paper tycoon's rise and lonely demise is exquisitely presented, with beautiful black-and-white photography and excellent performances, but second-half of the story meanders, and portions of the film are smug or callow. Welles won an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz, the film's only award out of nine nominations. Perhaps it was felt that Welles was too talented for his own good, and indeed the picture is heavy on self-importance. Entertaining, to be sure, and voted the best film ever made by the American Film Institute in 1998.