Citizen Kane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Citizen Kane is a 1941 drama film directed by Orson Welles, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
In a mansion called Xanadu, part of a vast palatial estate in Florida, the elderly Charles Foster Kane is on his deathbed. Holding a snow globe, he utters his last word, "Rosebud", and dies. A newsreel obituary tells the life story of Kane, an enormously wealthy newspaper publisher and industry magnate. Kane's death becomes sensational news around the world, and the newsreel's producer tasks reporter Jerry Thompson with discovering the meaning of "Rosebud". Thompson sets out to interview Kane's friends and associates.
Production
Written by Orson Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz, the film was produced by Mercury Productions. Bernard Herrmann composed the score. Gregg Toland handled the cinematography. The film runs 119 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $839,727, Citizen Kane grossed $23,218,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The film's influence spread across the century; its narrative and tone echo in much later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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