In search of "Rosebud"

 

Citizen Kane (1941)

Adam’s rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)

Director: Orson Welles

Rated: none. 119 min.

No. 1 on AFI 100

No. 1 on AFI 100 reissue

No. 36 on IMDB Top 250

Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten,
Agnes Moorhead

"Citizen Kane" No. 1 on AFI 100;
No. 1 on AFI 100 (2008); No. 36 on IMDB 250

Often heralded is the best American film ever made, “Citizen Kane” introduced filmmakers and audiences to many different techniques in storytelling, camera work, photography and how to make a movie. In addition to the technical aspects of the film, its legacy as a cultural icon is still visible today.

No doubt, a countless amount of words, text and ink has been used to discuss this film -- and it’s quite unique for its time. “Citizen Kane” tells the story of Charles Foster Kane through the eyes of everyone who knew him. Yet, the information is gathered from journalists trying to put a newsreel together. They have all the highlights of his industrious and lavish life, except one detail: his last words, “Rosebud.” So a journalist sets out to talk to everyone who ever knew Kane, a powerful newspaper magnate who was very influential in American politics.

It’s loved by journalists, as almost anyone I’ve ever talked to in my field who has seen this film raves about it. In fact, if you ever ask a journalist about “Citizen Kane,” they’ll almost always claim it’s one of the best films ever made – despite the fact that they usually can’t tell you why. It’s heavily based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, so much that he became infuriated by the idea of the film being made. In fact, rumor has it that “rosebud” was his name for his lover, Marion Davies’ vagina – and when he found out about Welles’ use of the word, he went through the roof. And because of all that, this film barely saw the light of day – as Hearst was an extremely powerful and influential newspaper magnate and CEO of the Heart media empire. Hearst had the film either pulled from theaters or his writers gave the movie poor reviews.

But aside from the politics and story of this film, what I want to touch on for what I like about this movie is the technical aspects.

The film has a very film noir feel, in the sense that it’s almost like a detective mystery with an unnamed person retracing the steps of Kane’s life in addition to the technicality of the shots: black and white film, rich blacks, high contrast and lots and lots of shadows and lighting techniques.

Quite possibly my favorite scene in the entire movie is the confrontation between Kane (Welles) and old friend and drama critic, Jed Leland (Joseph Cotten) in the newspaper office after Kane lost his election bid. Always the underrated 1940s actor, Cotten is magnificent in this scene with the always enigmatic Kane (at least at this point in his career). But the technical aspects of “the shot” are what to look for. To get the right feel, Welles and photographer Gregg Toland put the camera on wheels and in a small “pit,” so that the lens shot the action facing upward and providing a sense of authority and foreboding during the argument. The effect also makes both Cotten and Welles appear taller, too, as the ceiling appears lower in this scene – which also has an effect on the scene’s mood and tone.

The acting is of the typical quality for the 1940s, the storyline OK, the storytelling unique for the day and the technical shots: the close-up of Kane’s lips while he says “Rosebud” before he dies and drops the snow globe he’s holding, the high-crane shots, the low shots, the tracking and the panning shots and the magnificence of Kane upon accepting the nomination at Madison Square Garden – all of these are great aspects of the film.

But it’s lasting legacy and impact on pop culture is simply amazing and this review cannot be considered complete without mentioning it. It also is another reason that gives credence to why this could be the best American film ever made.

Granted, all of my pop culture examples take place in the TV show, “The Simpsons,” but here’s a short list of “The Simpsons” episodes that have notable and obvious “Citizen Kane” parodies:

•          Two Cars in Every Garage, Three Eyes on Every Fish
•          A Streetcar Named Marge
•          Marge Gets a Job
•          Mr. Plow
•          Rosebud
•          Sideshow Bob Roberts

As the longest-running TV series of all time (what are they up to now? 22 seasons and counting?), “The Simpsons” ability to keep old films in the lexicon is indicative of a film’s legacy on pop culture today. Yeah, the show parodies several films, many times over. But to parody “Citizen Kane” this significantly in only a handful of episodes – in addition to “Kane’s” place on the AFI and IMDB and other “best” lists, is proof of this film’s lasting legacy, nearly 70 years after its release.