Reappraising
Hearst
, the villain of ‘Citizen Kane’
Why does Kane fire Jedediah Leland?
Over time, Kane’s questionable morals and paternalistic attitude disturb Leland to such an extent that Leland eventually requests a transfer to Chicago to escape Kane. Kane ultimately
fires him for writing a negative review of Susan Alexander’s disastrous operatic debut
.
What is the conflict in Citizen Kane?
major conflictKane
tries to control press coverage of his political career and suppress his affair with Susan Alexander
. rising actionKane’s political rival, Jim “Boss” Gettys, forces a showdown between Kane, Kane’s wife, and Susan Alexander in an attempt to force Kane from the governor’s race.
Who or what was Rosebud in Citizen Kane?
“Rosebud is the
trade name of a cheap little sled on which Kane was playing on the day he was taken away from his home and his mother
. In his subconscious it represented the simplicity, the comfort, above all the lack of responsibility in his home, and also it stood for his mother’s love, which Kane never lost.”
Who is the protagonist of Citizen Kane?
“Rosebud” is the last word spoken by Citizen Kane’s protagonist,
Charles Kane
, on his deathbed at the beginning of the film. The meaning of the word remains a mystery for much of the film, until “Rosebud” is eventually revealed to be the name of Kane’s beloved sled from his childhood.
Why did Kane’s mother gave him up?
Welles’s mother gave him
an inflated sense of his own importance that
was encouraged by his school administration and his guardian after her death. As an actor, Welles naturally imbued Charles Foster Kane with some of his own experiences and characteristics.
What does Charles Foster Kane want?
Charles’ second wife, Susan Alexander, expresses to him most explicitly that he doesn’t really love her, or anyone. He gives to others to make himself feel better, or more in control, or to manipulate their opinions of him. He wants
to be loved without loving in return
.
Why was Citizen Kane so controversial?
Mayer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was said
Hearst was particularly angry over the movie’s depiction of a character based on his companion
, Marion Davies, a former showgirl whom he had helped become a popular Hollywood actress.
What does the snow globe mean in Citizen Kane?
The snow globe
that falls from Kane’s hand when he dies links the end of his life to his childhood
. The scene inside the snow globe is simple, peaceful, and orderly, much like Kane’s life with his parents before Thatcher comes along. The snow globe also associates these qualities with Susan.
Why does Citizen Kane matter?
Five essays by five enthusiasts that follow the rise and fall of controversial Renaissance man, Orson Welles. Film critic Peter Bradshaw shares his own Rosebud theory in his personal take on Citizen Kane. Produced by Gemma Jenkins.
What is Rosebud slang for?
(slang)
the indentation of a surface caused by an incorrect hammer strike
(missing the nail) (vulgar, slang) The anus.
What is the moral of Citizen Kane?
Kane has the plutocrat’s obsession with trying to control those around him in the way that he controls his media empire, whose purpose in turn is to control the way people think. And this is the final unspoken moral of Citizen Kane:
a terrible tragedy of ownership and egotism
– a narcissistic drowning.
Is Mank a true story?
The True Story Behind Mank. David Fincher’s film, streaming now on Netflix, follows screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz and his struggle to pen Citizen Kane. … Mank is so crammed with Hollywood trivia that every line of dialogue could be the opening words of a whole other historical epic, from Louis B.
What killed Orson Welles?
Orson Welles, the Hollywood ”boy wonder” who created the film classic ”Citizen Kane,” scared tens of thousands of Americans with a realistic radio report of a Martian invasion of New Jersey and changed the face of film and theater with his daring new ideas, died yesterday in Los Angeles, apparently
of a heart
…
What drops from Kane’s hand when he dies?
A man, Charles Kane, whispers two final words, “Rose bud”, and the hand holding the snow globe goes limp, dropping
the ornament
to the ground where it shatters. The palace montage into the snow globe is a foreshadowing sequence, signifying that on Kane’s mind are happier times from his childhood in Colorado.
Why did Kane hate Thatcher?
Kane resents Thatcher for ripping him away from his family
, and spends most of his early adult life rebelling against him. … To finance the fledgling Inquirer, Kane uses his personal resources, reasoning that this would allow him to operate it, even at a million-dollar annual loss, for 60 years.
