Citizen Kane: “a discourse on method” SYNTHESIS Citizen Kane: “a discourse on method”

Kane and Hearst Charles Foster Kane William Randolf Hearst New York Inquirer Multi-millionaire newspaper publisher Aspiring political figure – runs for NY Governor Palatial Florida mansion called Xanadu filled with priceless art objects Affair with Susan Alexander, a talentless singer Buys Susan an opera house William Randolf Hearst San Francisco Examiner, New York Journal Multi-millionaire newspaper publisher Aspiring political figure, NY Governor “The Ranch” palace in CA with priceless art collection Mistress – actress Marion Davies Bought Davies a film studio to promote stardom

Photography Lighting Spotlights Deep-focus photography High key Kane’s youth and as a young publisher Becomes darker, more harshly contrasting as Kane ages and grows more cynical Spotlights Used in closer shots for symbolic effects Deep-focus photography Symbolism of separation, alienation, and loneliness Lighting – the darkness shrouds an unspeakable evil Spotlights – what is concealed is often more important than what is revealed Deep focus photography – wide-angle lenses which tend to exaggerate the distances between people

Photography cont. 80% of movie required some kind of special effects work Scratched lines on film to make footage seem old Matte shots Double and multiple exposures Reprinting Matte shots – combining 2 separate shots on one print Double and multiple exposures – superimposition of two or more images simultaneously Reprinting – combining two or more separate images onto one through the use of an optical printer.

Mis en Scene Most of the images are tightly framed and in closed forms Proxemic patterns Layering of mis en scene is a visual accusation Proxemic ranges suggest shifting power relationships: (intimate, personal, social, etc.) Layering – Susan’s attempted suicide: the lethal dose was taken by Susan Alexander Kane because of Kane’s inhumanity

Movement Kinetic principles Camera movement is equated with the vitality and energy of youth High spirits Brisk traveling shots parallel the protagonist’s movements Static camera Illness, old age, death

Editing Parallel editing Classical editing Thematic montage Parallel editing – contrasts Susan’s terror on stage with Leland’s contemptuous boredom in the auditorium Kane’s argument with Susan over her disastrous reviews is cut according to classical conventions. Thematic montage is used to condense Susan’s national tour on the road. Welles used editing to condense a great deal of time, using sound as a continuity device.

Sound Sounds used to evoke images Almost every visual technique has a sound equivalent Sounds can be dissolved and overlapped Musical motifs Rosebud Leitmotif Long and extreme long shot sounds – fuzzy and remote Close-up sounds – crisp, clear, generally loud High-angle shots – high-pitched music and sound effects Low-angle shots – brooding and low-pitched sounds Welles overlapped his dialogue Musical motifs are assigned to several major characters and events. Rosebud motif – variation of musical motif underlines the dialogue. Leitmotif is a musical phrase attached to a character or symbol (Kane). As Kane and Emily’s relationship becomes more strained, the orchestration becomes harsher, more dissonant.

Drama The live theater was Welles’ first love. Costumes Kane as young publisher Favors white Later in life Black business suits and ties Favorite dramatist was Shakespeare. Formed his own company, The Mercury Theater. He financed his theater with his earnings as a radio star

Story Rosebud motif Prologue Newsreel Premise Flashback Coda Xanadu, Kane’s death Newsreel Premise Flashback Bernstein Jed Leland Susan Alexander Raymond, butler at Xanadu Coda Revelation of Rosebud Search for meaning of Rosebud shapes the narrative Welles introduced most of the major events and people of Kane’s life in a brief newsreel shown early in the film Premise – Thompson is told by his editor to find the meaning of Rosebud

Writing At this time a director was not allowed any writing credits unless he contributed 50% or more of the screenplay. Last line on credit as an actor Welles attracted to classic tragedy Welles considered himself a moralist 5 different storytellers Thatcher Susan Bernstein Raymond Leland Classic tragedy – downfall of a public figure because of arrogance and pride Moralist – central theme in Western Culture – the lost paradise Each storyteller tells a different story; each is biased. Example: Jed Leland’s account of Susan’s operatic debut is colored by his attitude toward her. Thatcher’s account is tainted by his belief that the rich and powerful are morally superior Bernstein’s story is meshed in the gratitude and loyalty he felt for Kane when they were young. He judges Kane by what he does rather than what he says. Susan is the most victimized of the storytellers, but she is compassionate and sensitive. Raymond pretends to know more than he does.

Writing cont. Symbolic motifs Low camera angles Fences Rosebud and Fragmentation 1st movie to have a dramatic story effect Dramatic story effect – must see from the beginning instead of a continuous loop. Hitchcock – 1962 – wanted a definite starting time with Psycho because of dramatic effect.

Ideology Welles was a liberal Citizen Kane is classified as liberal Film is filled with the messy contradictions of life Kane believes that environment is a stronger force than heredity Jed Leland represents the moral conscience of the film, Kane’s idealistic alter ego

Ideology cont. As a young man As an older man Feminist in sympathies Kane displays nothing but contempt for tradition, the past, and authority figures As an older man No longer consults his colleagues Feminist in sympathies Mary Kane Emily Norton Kane Susan Alexander Kane Young man – Kane emphasizes the communal; his newspaper is a collaborative effort; he identifies with the common workingpeople. Older man – seeks out the company of important world leaders, shakers, movers; surrounds himself with yes-men. Feminist – 3 female characters are all victimized. Mary Kane trapped in a loveless marriage; Kane betrays Emily; Susan is ill-used and suffers in the name of love.

Critique Masterpiece of formalism Promotional poster Sparked by controversy William Randolf Hearst Received rave reviews 9 Academy Award nominations Won for screenplay Consistently is in the top 10 greatest films Welles used ornate visuals, dazzling traveling shots, fragmented narrative, symbolic motifs – all are controlled Promotional Poster – sex and violence were common ploys to lure the mass audience Hearst – threatened the industry unless the picture was destroyed before release; pressured other studios to refuse to book the film in their theaters. Failed in the box office; Welles consistently receives the most votes as the greatest director in the history of cinema.