Citizen Kane Essay Example

being aired on television.

The film was criticized for making unfavorable comparisons to real-life situations. Gossip columnist Louella Parsons convinced her newspaper chief, Hearst, that RKO and Orson Welles' film were slandering him during the first preview. Therefore, Hearst-owned newspapers exerted pressure on theaters to boycott and threatened libel lawsuits. Hearst also instructed his publications to ignore the film entirely and refuse any advertising for other RKO ventures. However, the character Charles Foster Kane is predominantly a blend of many dominant and influential Americans who were individualists and financial magnates during the early 1900s.

In comparison, while Hearst was born into wealth, Kane was of humble birth in real life. Even though Welles' film received nine Oscar nominations, it only won the Best Original Screenplay award. Welles made history by receiving simultaneous nominations in all four Academy Awards categories. One of the many factors that contributed to the film's innovative and daring nature was the use of effective camera angles and shots. The inclusion of ceilings in shots was made possible by the use of a wide-angle lens, something that had not been seen before.

By eliminating the need for a roof, camera angles in films can originate from various locations to emphasize a character's strength or vulnerability and set the mood for a scene. This approach aids in characterization and atmosphere, as seen when Kane opens his gifts during Christmas. The camera's upward angle while shooting Kane creates an impression of being looked down upon, highlighting a sense of power and danger.

The implementation of deep focus in film was a groundbreaking technique that allowed the camera to capture both foreground and background in one shot.

This innovation was only made possible with the creation of the wide-angle lens. By utilising this technique, the relationships between characters on screen were emphasised, conveying distance between them. For instance, in the childhood scene of Kane's parents at the forefront of the shot and Kane playing outside seen through a small window, it is evident that the further away on screen a character is, the further they are from the other person in the film. Kane's carefree attitude is illustrated as he can be heard shouting over the foreground voices amidst the snow play outside.

The serious atmosphere of the foreground is juxtaposed strongly as Kane's parents discuss his future, while he remains unaware of the situation. The symbolic distance between Kane and his parents on screen reflects the emotional distance in their real-life relationships, particularly as Kane is about to be taken away to live with someone else. The film highly utilized numerous short and sharp shots in a montage to captivate the audience, providing an effective viewing experience. Since the film covered Kane's entire life, it had to depict years of his life in a brief period, which was accomplished through the use of montage.

By using snapshots, the newsreel conveyed the significance of a certain aspect or contributed to the story line. Through a montage of newspaper clippings, it revealed the news of Kane's death and highlighted his worldwide fame. This single shot not only conveyed part of the story but also emphasized its importance. Similarly, the newsreel utilized montage to showcase Kane's extravagant palace as his home.

The film utilizes various techniques such as unique camera angles and triangular shapes in certain

scenes. The shots are constantly changing, giving us a glimpse of the size of the location. In the opening scene depicting Kane's death, a mirror's reflection shows the maid entering the room, which was an innovative concept at the time. The ambiance and environment are significant to the film as they set the tone for each scene. The initial scene is obscure, dreary, and oppressive in nature.

Filming parts in darkness, the mist in the air underscores the mental confusion plaguing Kane's life. His extravagant purchases are a weak attempt at imbuing it with meaning. Symbolizing his isolation, the imposing 'K' on the gate and the 'No Trespassers' sign are mere displays of power, masking his vulnerabilities. Finally, fixing on a lone window with a flickering light, the slow and ominous music signals imminent danger.

After a sudden outage of the light, Kane passes away. The somber scene had already indicated that an unfortunate event was about to occur.