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Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane Patrick McGilligan Harper, 2015 The universally acclaimed Citizen Kane (1941) alone would have assured Orson Welles a solid place in entertainment history. That the 25 years leading up to that unique cinematic achievement were fi read more

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the theatrical premier of CITIZEN KANE. I don't think I need to tell you that this is one of the most renowned and famous films of all time. Orson Welles' magnum opus remains a stunning cinematic achievement, and the title of the film itself has become a gener read more

Citizen Kane (1941), starring Orson Welles, is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). Throughout May, I'll celebrate the 75th anni read more

“That’s all he ever wanted out of life… was love. That’s the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane. You see, he just didn’t have any to give.” – Jedediah Leyland It might seem rather trite to attempt to write anything on Citizen Kane, but as someone who can admitte read more

“That’s all he ever wanted out of life… was love. That’s the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane. You see, he just didn’t have any to give.” – Jedediah Leyland It might seem rather trite to attempt to write anything on Citizen Kane, but as someone who can admitte read more

“That’s all he ever wanted out of life… was love. That’s the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane. You see, he just didn’t have any to give.” – Jedediah Leyland It might seem rather trite to attempt to write anything on Citizen Kane, but as someone who can admitte read more

Orson Welles was a mammoth personality whose life and times have been the subject of countless books, none more comprehensive than Patrick McGilligan’s Young Orson. Focused purely on Welles’ life from birth to 1940 – up to the making of Welles’ definitive work, Citizen Kane ( read more

Orson Welles was a mammoth personality whose life and times have been the subject of countless books, none more comprehensive than Patrick McGilligan’s Young Orson. Focused purely on Welles’ life from birth to 1940 – up to the making of Welles’ definitive work, Citizen Kane ( read more

Here's a roundup of my posts for Citizen Kane (1941), our movie of the month. A feature about Hearst Castle, which was the model for Charles Foster Kane's palatial estate Xanadu. Old Hollywood songs entries on Charlie Kane and In a Mizz. Character actor Everett Sloane played Mr. Bernstein read more

Orson Welles and the brilliant cast and crew of Citizen Kane (1941) forever changed American film. Today, I'll make the case for why Citizen Kane was influential on the film noir genre that became so popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Citizen Kane certainly isn't a standard film noir. There's no ha read more

In Citizen Kane, director Welles ties everything together–not just the story (he does wrap the narrative visually), but also how the filmmaking relates to the film’s content. Kane’s story can’t be told any other way. That precision–whether it’s in the summary seq read more

Orson Welles in 1938 on CBS radio Orson Welles was a media renaissance man. As an actor, director, writer and producer, he experimented with several entertainment art forms. His work such as making the United States believe they were under alien attack to making a critical film about one of the mos read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst   Orson Welles was at his best when his art created controversy; we see that in practical application with his 1938 radio production of “The War of the Worlds”, gendering panic at the most and at the least confusion. Then with his first film proj read more

Historically, I feel there is a major discrepancy when it comes to watching films. Audiences flock to theaters across the country and all over the world to see the next big movie in order to be entertained for two and a half hours.  Then, in their own way film critics and theorists look at the art read more

Historically, I feel there is a major discrepancy when it comes to watching films. Audiences flock to theaters across the country and all over the world to see the next big movie in order to be entertained for two and a half hours.  Then, in their own way film critics and theorists look at the art read more

Citizen Kane Directed by Orson Welles Written by Orson Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz 1941/USA RKO Radio Pictures Repeat viewing/Warner Home Video Special Edition DVD #150 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die What do you say about “The Greatest Movie Ever Made”? If you are reading read more

As a host of Turner Classic Movies, Ben Mankiewicz is accustomed to interviewing living legends. Yesterday in New York City, he turned the mic on a legend he knows better than any other: his dad, Frank Mankiewicz. “There aren’t many fathers who have started the show Morning Edition on National read more

  Gregg Toland: The Second Genius of Citizen Kane There is a basic theory in film criticism called the auteur theory. It was developed in the early 1950’s by French critics and was presented in the famed film periodical Cahiers du Cinéma, with future film director Francois Truffaut developing read more