In 1941, Citizen Kane, an American drama film, was released. It starred Orson Welles who also directed it. Even today, movie magnates view 'CK' as one of the finest films in movie-making history. It was highly acclaimed for its music, its unique narration, and its ground-breaking cinematography.
Prior to the making of CK, Orson Welles had been enjoying personal acclaim after his success with the Mercury Players. In 1938 his controversial radio show, War of the Worlds, caught the attention of Hollywood. The film studio, RKO Pictures, subsequently signed a contract with Welles in 1939.
Even though he was an 'untested' film director, Welles was given complete freedom to write a screenplay, pick the cast and crew, and he was also allowed 'final cut' privilege. His first two attempts were disasters. Then, just in the nick of time, Welles and Mankiewicz collaborated and produced the screenplay for Citizen Kane.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The movie is a roman a clef. This means that it describes real people and real life behind the disguise of fiction. CK scrutinizes the life of Charles Kane based on publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst. It also studies the life of Welles himself.
Kane started his career in the newspaper publishing industry because he had a passion for journalism. However, over the years, this passion turned into a relentless quest for power. The film is narrated with the use of flashbacks. The story is unfurled through the research of a reporter trying to solve the mystery surrounding Kane's dying word which was simply 'Rosebud'.
Even though the film was a critical success, it did not recoup costs at the box office. It faded into insignificance until French film critics raved about it some years later. This did much to restore CK's reputation and it enjoyed a sensational American revival in 1956. Again, there was consensus amongst film critics that it was indeed the greatest film of all time. For almost half a century, Citizen Kane stayed on the major film polls.
Historians and film students saw the cinematography as an innovative new way to make films. Most significant was the protracted use of deep focus. In most scenes, the foreground, background and everything in between, is in focus. Gregg Toland, the cinematographer, achieved this by experimenting with lenses and lights.
Another unusual element in the film was the manner in which low angle shots were utilized. This enabled ceilings to be visible in the background of many scenes. Because films were shot on sound stages at the time, it was not possible to show ceilings simply because sound stages had no ceilings.
The crew of Citizen Kane managed to achieve this effect by putting muslin cloth over the set to give the illusion of a ceiling. Hidden on top of the cloth were the microphones. They then dug trenches in the floor to enable the use of low angle shots. This is particularly evident in the scene when Kane and Leland meet after the election loss. Welles played the role of Charles Kane. - 40730
Prior to the making of CK, Orson Welles had been enjoying personal acclaim after his success with the Mercury Players. In 1938 his controversial radio show, War of the Worlds, caught the attention of Hollywood. The film studio, RKO Pictures, subsequently signed a contract with Welles in 1939.
Even though he was an 'untested' film director, Welles was given complete freedom to write a screenplay, pick the cast and crew, and he was also allowed 'final cut' privilege. His first two attempts were disasters. Then, just in the nick of time, Welles and Mankiewicz collaborated and produced the screenplay for Citizen Kane.
Shooting took place in 1940, and RKO released it in 1941. It received no less than 9 nominations in the ensuing Academy Awards. To the delight of Orson Welles and Mankiewicz, CK received the award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The movie is a roman a clef. This means that it describes real people and real life behind the disguise of fiction. CK scrutinizes the life of Charles Kane based on publishing magnate, William Randolph Hearst. It also studies the life of Welles himself.
Kane started his career in the newspaper publishing industry because he had a passion for journalism. However, over the years, this passion turned into a relentless quest for power. The film is narrated with the use of flashbacks. The story is unfurled through the research of a reporter trying to solve the mystery surrounding Kane's dying word which was simply 'Rosebud'.
Even though the film was a critical success, it did not recoup costs at the box office. It faded into insignificance until French film critics raved about it some years later. This did much to restore CK's reputation and it enjoyed a sensational American revival in 1956. Again, there was consensus amongst film critics that it was indeed the greatest film of all time. For almost half a century, Citizen Kane stayed on the major film polls.
Historians and film students saw the cinematography as an innovative new way to make films. Most significant was the protracted use of deep focus. In most scenes, the foreground, background and everything in between, is in focus. Gregg Toland, the cinematographer, achieved this by experimenting with lenses and lights.
Another unusual element in the film was the manner in which low angle shots were utilized. This enabled ceilings to be visible in the background of many scenes. Because films were shot on sound stages at the time, it was not possible to show ceilings simply because sound stages had no ceilings.
The crew of Citizen Kane managed to achieve this effect by putting muslin cloth over the set to give the illusion of a ceiling. Hidden on top of the cloth were the microphones. They then dug trenches in the floor to enable the use of low angle shots. This is particularly evident in the scene when Kane and Leland meet after the election loss. Welles played the role of Charles Kane. - 40730
About the Author:
Never ever trust any "free scan"! It is better to rely upon what comes with google or yahoo toolbar. Family Movie Rental Bigger doesnt necessarily make you play any better! Highlight the whole sub-folder and copy and paste inside the SAVEDATA folder.
No comments:
Post a Comment