The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-04-23
Hollywood Shorts
By JOHN R. CHAPLIN

Despite all OF the publicity in adj
vance of the preview. no one could
have imagined that Orson Welles'
Citizen Kane would have turned out
to be the masterpiece that 1t is.
All of Hollywood's glittering super
latives take on a dull and sickly hue
in the light of this amazing produc-
ton. The only word left is genius"
from the magnificently silent OPEN
ing title, to the modest and unprece-
denied closing titles in which Welles
credits this actors and associates.
That the film is the life of William
Randolph Hearst can hardly be
doubted. 1t misses none of the deep
importance and historical significance
of the publishers career. But the
foremost artistic contribution of the
picture is the reaching of new heights
in the use of sound, photography, mon
tage and all other attributes of a good
production.
Citizen Kane also Introduces new
technique in story-telling-one that Is
20 years ahead of the best novel or
stage play you know. For the cinema
it presents an entirely new art form:
adult mature, honest, straightforward
and thrilling
1t is not too much to say that prior
to Citizen Kane there has never been
a real film made This picture does
not revolutionize film-making-it is
the first real emotional experience
that the screen has ever presented to
us. 1t is the first film which has
raised the movies to the level of great
art.
The story traces the search Of
reporter who, In the week
after Kane's death, tries to recon
struct the publishers life in order to
solve the mystery Of the last words
uttered by the great man. From this
search the facts of Kane's life develop
in Kaleidoscope fashion.
The portrait energies as the most
honest and complete picture OF hu-
man being ever offered on the screen.
Egomaniac that he is, Kane remains
human and real, mixture of good
and bad. After his defeat for gov
ernor, for example, Kane is confronted
by a drunken friend, who says about
this:
"You have spouted a great deal
about the workingman, and how you
are the friend of the workingman. |
But this workingman is no longer
simply a workingman. He has be- |
come organized labor. He will no |
onger be satisfied with what you are |
willing to give him as gift. He will
demand his rights, not his privilege. |
And the result will be something you
wont like at all"
1t is a sad confession that your
hollywood reporter has used up all |
possible words on lesser films. There |
S none left for this unbelievable /
achievement
Welles gets credit for the produc-
ion and direction, and In addition
hares writing honors with Herman
T. Mankiewicz. Outside of his per-
VI Ctl Inc 81 SchSos ehO
Green has yet witnessed, 1t Is fair to
ingle out those of Everett Sloane, the
ruest Jewish character ever filmed II
Joseph Gotten, Dorothy Comingore,
lay Collins, George Couloupris, and
indeed every member of the cast
own to the last extra.
Under Welles' direction they have
lrned in an inspired job Of rare cali
err. Gregg Toland has outdone even
is own work In the photography. II
nd Bernard Herrmann's musical
core is perfection.
Although R.K.O. says the film will
0 on the road, no dates for theaters
ave been announced. Let US wait
nd watch. Citizen Kane is some
hing so new, both as art and social
tatement, that it Is still possible the
tudio will not have the courage to
elease it.
Released or unreleased, 1t Is proof
nat great talent, when accompanied
Y social understanding, can free this
-orld of time-rusted shackles and
reate a commonwealth Of workers In
hitch all of our dreams may yet be
called.