The two films Citizen Kane by Orson Welles (1941) and Sullivan’s Travels by Preston Sturgis (1941) were both created in the same year, and are both considered “Classical Narrative Hollywood”. However, though both of these films follow the basic mold of classic Hollywood, they break the mold as well. Both movies incorporate new and innovative technology, shots and concepts that are new to this time, and essentially introduce them, changing the fil m industry forever. Though “Citizen Kane” is a drama, it incorporates a lot of different genres into the film. Including film noir, which was made popular during this time. A technique of film noir is having very little light. A lot of scenes in the film follow this. A very iconic scene that includes
The use of light sets the mood for the entire movie. Welles begins this from the first scene in Citizen Cane where the dark and spooky shade of light sets the mood for the rest of the movie. The spooky light offers a dramatic feel and catches the audience’s attention so that they want to pay attention to the film. He uses the gloomy lighting in the opening scene because he illustrates that overall his idea of the American Dream is not as great as people make it out to be. Welles also uses a technique of lighting that singles certain things out. For example, when they go to look at the document hoping to find out something about “Rosebud” he uses light to shine down onto the single document lying on the table. He positions everything and everyone else in the background so the audience focuses on the document. Welles uses the different lighting techniques to show the happy points of living as well. In the scene where Kane and his workers are partying in the newspaper office, he brings out bright lights that promotes the American Dream by showing how it represents the high point of being
The 1940s film industry favored films that were based on reality, such as Citizen Kane. Orson Welles is the director of the 1941 film, Citizen Kane, which uses the cinematic techniques of long takes and deep focus shots. Long takes and deep focus shots are associated with space and time. I will be writing about scene D where Susan, the second Ms. Kane, is in the middle of a singing lesson. Scene D contains examples of long takes, deep focus takes, and camera movements.
One such flashback begins when the reporter Thompson enters a large room in Thatchers building and begins reading about Kane. This is cues the flashback which can be considered one of the most poignant in the film. It’s one of many scenes that exhibits Citizen Kane’s most significant contribution to cinematography, as cinematographer Greg Toland’s deep focus technique of filming and use of unique lighting.
Why was Citizen Kane so different from the traditional Hollywood Films? Citizen Kane defies the traditional narrative and classic elements of Hollywood cinema by uniquely setting up the story in a different fashion from what the typical storyline would usually follow. It took on an approach of arranging the events of the story as it unfolds in a nonlinear pattern, while using multiple narrators while leaving the suspense of what did the meaning of a dying man’s last word open to the audiences’ interpretation.
The debate over Casablanca and Citizen Kane has been a classic argument between film critics and historians alike, and this is because both of these pieces are timeless pictures that have managed to captivate audiences well after their era. On a broad spectrum analysis this is an apples and oranges debate as the two films both have great cinematographic value but for different reasons. However, the real question at hand is which film is the greatest? Which film transformed the future of American film making? It is these questions that I as many others have, will attempt to answer in the following essay as I explain why I believe Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made.
Two of the first film noir pieces, The Maltese Falcon and Citizen Kane, share many similarities in structure and style. Their biggest similarities are the plant and payoff technique, and meaningless quests the main characters embark upon.
The movie Citizen Kane brings in the audience into the life of Charles Foster Kane who is the main focus of the story and gives information on his life via a parody of the old “March of the Times” newsreels that were commonly used in the
Film critics, scholars, and organizations all over the world tend to select Citizen Kane as the the greatest film ever made. While some may argue that this claim is utterly subjective, it raises the question of what makes a movie great. It is undeniable that elements such as the plot, cinematography, and acting can make films better than one another but two rather unspoken elements are a film’s influence and implementation of new traits. This is where it ultimately garners its reputation. Citizen Kane is one of the greatest and most influential cinematic films made because of its creative originality, exceptional coherence, underlying message, and innovative camerawork.
Not one stone is left unturned when it comes to making Citizen Kane like any other blockbuster movie; it embodies all the fundamental pieces that go into making a classic Hollywood film. The setting may not be our current era, but it is considered to be set in present day. It has numerous point-of-view and flash back shots along with a multitude of other unique filmmaking techniques. There are one or more characters on personal journeys that are filled with conflicts along the way to screw everything up, clear and unclear repercussions to specific actions, and it even offers a sort of closure at the end of the film.
Citizen Kane is presumably the best that American Cinema has ever offered, impeccable from beginning to the end. Frequently rivaling Its a Wonderful Life for number one, Citizen Kane is in a group of its own and unmatched in artistry on a number of fronts. The innovative development and the specialized headways used during production, can be minimally viewed as inconceivable and amazing, for a 1941 film. Citizen Kane has stood the test of time for well over six decades, serving as a benchmark and wellspring of motivation to storytellers of all walks of life. Citizen Kane is a sad tragedy about the fictions character Charles Foster Kane, a business head honcho and a daily paper investor. Through this movie, Orson Welles deified Charles Foster Kane as well as showed his determination, as an author, chief, on-screen character and above all as an auteur. The scenes displayed as flashbacks, not simply show his flexibility as an on-screen character (dealing with the subtleties and the nuances anticipated that would depict the diverse stages and parts of Kane's life), additionally his narrating brightness. Kane's muttering of "rosebud" at the moment of his demise and him openly destroying his political adversary, Jim Getys, speak to the two extremes of human life, the low and the high, individually. The scenes in the middle of Welles and Joseph Cotton are a flat out treat to watch. Feelings of sensitivity and disdain towards his childhood friend,
The use of lighting in this film was very pretentious and was used to add good aspects to Citizen Kane. The lighting changed based off what the mood corresponded-for example, some scenes had a copacetic or pleasant mood. In the beginning, the scene was a very formidable scene. The lighting was dark which portrayed fear towards the audience. The mood was implying fear and almost an alarming mood for the viewers-the lighting helped entail this by giving dark, hair raising lighting.
Widely recognized as one of the most iconic films of its time, Citizen Kane made nothing short of a thunderous debut in May of 1941. An article from the NY times refers to it as “the most surprising and cinematically exciting motion picture to be seen” [1]. But why? What makes this film standout in what the article notes to be the “withering spotlight” of Hollywood? Let us start with the narrative itself.
The absolutely stunning film, Citizen Kane (1941), is one of the world’s most famous and highly renowned films. The film contains many remarkable scenes and cinematic techniques as well as innovations. Within this well-known film, Orson Welles (director) portrays many stylistic features and fundamentals of cinematography. The scene of Charles Foster Kane and his wife, Susan, at Xanadu shows the dominance that Kane bears over people in general as well as Susan specifically. Throughout the film, Orson Welles continues to convey the message of Susan’s inferiority to Mr. Kane. Also, Welles furthers the image of how demanding Kane is of Susan and many others. Mr. Welles conveys the message that Kane has suffered a hard life, and will
The party is roaring as the camera descends on the celebratory dinner at the Inquirer. As old and new reporters alike engage in merry conversation, the beloved publisher Mr Kane stands to make a toast. As all eyes fall on him, he envisions a beautiful future for the newspaper. After his old friend Mr Bernstein heckles him, Kane just smiles. “You don’t expect me to keep these promises, do you, Mr Bernstein?” Although this exchange is quite brief, it is quite telling about the personality of Kane, who is a man who will say (and do) anything to reach his personal aims. A drama brought to the world by renowned writer-turned-producer-turned-director Orson Welles, Citizen Kane (1941) was created by a team of visionaries, including producer George Schaefer, cinematographer Gregg Toland, and composer Bernard Herrmann. Made by no fewer than five screenwriters, Citizen Kane is an iconic film that stands the test of the time. Citizen Kane is the best film of all time as it features a gripping storyline, meaningful lighting and props in mise-en-scene, intricate cinematography, effective editing, and compelling sound design.
Citizen Kane incorporates a well-rounded variety of shots and angles that make the film more entertaining. This movie is significant because the American people will always be able to relate to it. There will always be a rich politician who wants to change things for the better. Sometimes, scandal and broken promises ensue. The American people will always want someone that they can trust to make their lives better. It is interesting to note that this film combines multiple genres, giving it a factor of intrigue. It combines “a mystery, a character study, a drama, a political thriller, a romance, a tragedy, etc.” (filmstudy). Part of what makes films truly great and have a lasting impact is their ability to connect with people and keep them