Citizen Kane
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Citizen Kane is lauded as one of the greatest films made due to its ground-breaking techniques of “montage, deep- focus photography, wide-angled lenses, key lighting, long tracking shots and sets with ceilings”
The most evident technique used in Citizen Kana will be the deep-focus shots. The technique of depth of field was used to perfection. It allowed the cinematographer Greg Toland to capture backgrounds with as much precision as foregrounds. It also allowed the actors or subjects to remain in focus, regardless
of how far they were from the camera.
Long and uninterrupted shots and lengthy takes of sequences provided the audience with greater realism, instead of cutting the scenes into shots in edit.
Together with Toland, Orson Welles, developed ground-breaking methods of lighting that removed the obligation of avoiding low-angle shots in fear of getting the lights in shot. With this freedom, it was possible to achieve great low-angle shots, which were accentuated with greater reality by capturing the ceilings in shot. Ceilings in shot gave a more 3D look to shots and better depth.
Daring angles were made possible by digging a trench in concrete floor, and this allowed the camera to be placed below the norm of 180 line.
Other notable technique handled will be the use of subjective camera shots, dissolves and wipes, flashbacks and overlapping dialogues.
[2] The contribution that Citizen Kane made to the motion-picture industry at the time and place it was produced.
Citizen Kane was an unsentimental drama during an era of love and romance stories. In 1941, Citizen Kane paved the way for such tough stories.
Orson Welles was a young man in his mid-twenties and Citizen Kane was his first motion-picture. The name Orson Welles and Kane became synonymous to legendary Hollywood history. Orson Welles was “central to the French auteur critics, championed by independent filmmakers, cited by anyone who wants to make an argument for film art over film commerce.”
Citizen Kane was a film that was produced in a major Hollywood studio with total independence. Crew and cast came together under the reign of a new and fresh director. Unlike previous productions under experienced directors, designers and technicians were able to put across their artistic ideas without fear or repercussions. The result was the technical excellence that Citizen Kane boasts. Most of the stylistic efforts were not new or unknown. But the ways they were put together and presented broke new grounds. This film would have been a great example of how excellent films could be made with the collaboration of an entire crew, instead of the oppressive Studio-regiment productions that were in trend at that time.
[3] Citizen Kane as a work of art in terms of both its form and content.
“If any other film has come close to the nearly-perfect artistry of this one, I havent seen it”
During the days where there was no colour to films, Citizen Kane made use of monochrome to artistic perfection. The dramatic black-and-white shots are much more mystifying, rich and vivid. Lighting shadows and the famous deep-focus photography goes hand in hand to deliver an art piece. It is almost “impossible to envision this picture in colour” when monochrome has been dealt so superiorly. (
The films core plot is a simple story of a powerful man who achieved everything and who lost it. Refraining from the usual normal narrative, the film uses an intriguing opening with Kane uttering Rosebud. Reporter Thompson investigates the life of the powerful Kane trying to put pieces of the puzzle together. Thompson remains in the dark and without special traits of his own, remains as a non-protagonist. These well thought of nuances makes the film content artistic. Same scenes, seen from different perspectives, enhance the storys richness.
The film identifies what is Rosebud but never spells out what it means to Kane. Each film-viewer should piece their interpretation and feelings to identify what Rosebud means to them and how they construe it.
A scene in where Kane had torn apart is wifes room, is of particular artistic mention. After his rage Kane walks, in a trance, along a corridor lined with mirrors. His reflection is multiplied in the mirrors. This symbolic imagery of impressions and life is itself sufficient to place Citizen Kane on artistic pedestal.
Beginning the film, with the shot of “No Trespassing” was an almost artistic touch, to remind us later that by investigating Kane, we are trespassing into his personal realm.
[4] Citizen Kane as a political and ideological statement by Orson Welles.
Orson Welles was perhaps trying to base the story of Citizen Kane to media-magnate, William Randolph Hearst. The similarities are uncanny, but Welles has constantly denied this. During the research of this paper, I read many articles which say that Citizen Kanes central plot was about Hearst, although other aspects were “details were taken from other peoples lives, some details even from Welles life.” (
Hearst was particularly outraged at the portrayal of his real-life mistress, Marion Davies, as the untalented and drunk Susan Alexander in the film. Thus Hearst went to great measures to make sure the film was banned. Although he could not totally achieve this, he managed to ensure that the film was shown in very limited theatres during its time. It was