Yet another middle-aged man gone ROSEBUD-CRAZY

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2013)

Quite a few "Citizen Kane" fans now know, that the word 'rosebud' was a clever inside joke on the part of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (and Orson Welles), because it was a nickname William Randolph Hearst used for his high-profile public mistress, the hot and juicy Marion Davies (the nickname being a descriptive term for a part of the female anatomy). It's my understanding they'd have known this because Hearst referred to Ms. Davies by this nickname in front of others (and to what must have been the embarrassment of these friends, who might also be gossipers).
Who can say for sure whether this is true, but I believe it.
Because it makes the story of "Citizen Kane" more coherent and focused, when you consider that it is largely about a great and influential man who throws away all the goods things he has, simply because he's middle-aged crazy for a young juicy blonde.
And so now for me the central and key scene of the movie is where Kane has been confronted by his wife about his mistress (thanks to the hardball-playing Governor), he's caught in the "love nest" with the juicy young blonde... and what does he do, he throws everything away, a good and beautiful wife, a promising political career, and ultimately the respect and friendship of his closest friend, all because he's middle-aged crazy and foolish for ROSEBUD.
Another scene which now has a different significance I think, is the one in the screening room, where the producer of the newsreel charges the reporter with finding out what 'rosebud' means, saying "it'll probably turn out to be a very simple thing..."
And then immediately a FLASH OF LIGHTNING, showing Susan Alexander's face.
Anyway, no doubt about it, an amazing film to watch, containing many other insights too, such as a scathing (but true) critique of Hearst's manipulative use of the powerful capital of a newspaper.
And even if you don't think that Susan Alexander is Rosebud, it's still a real and common thing, many men, especially men of "money and property" (because of the greater independence and luxury it grants them), throw away everything at the onset of middle-age, in a mad and foolish and ridiculous pursuit of young juicy snatch.
Two things though: one, I don't know if it ever has anything to do with the man's mother, or his childhood, or least of all any toys he had as a boy... and two, it usually doesn't result in a movie made about the man (and his high-profile public mistress), let alone one that film critics consistently rate as perhaps the greatest ever made.