The 23-year-old Orson Welles had built a deserved reputation. In the theater and was highly regarded for his adaptations of Shakespeare and other classics. And the October 30, 1938, with his radio version of " The War of the Worlds " like a live report they were, had managed to sow panic from one end to the U.S..
reason enough for the producer RKO decided to open the doors of the movie. Welles's contract with RKO gave him unprecedented freedom for a new director. I would write, produce, direct and act in two films for the company, with full autonomy in hiring actors, technicians and final assembly. The other film would be, a year later, "The Magnificent Ambersons", another classic gem that also starred his friend Joseph Cotten.
Carole Lombard was offered role of a melodrama called "Smiler with a knife", which was to be directed by Orson Welles, a newcomer to the RKO. She refused, opting to return to comedy with "Mr. & Mrs. Smith. " Welles then discarded to make the film without Lombard and began work on "Citizen Kane ."
Orson Welles always claimed that "Citizen Kane " there was no biography of a specific individual, but a composite of the American character time. The design of Xanadu, the mansion of Charles Foster Kane was inspired by the home of William Randolph Hearst and although it is universally recognized that this film is based on the life of journalist and newspaper magnate U.S., there are also story elements that apply to the life of Samuel Insull tycoon enterprise sector public service concessions Chicago.
Herman J. Mankiewicz, brother of film director Joseph Leo Mankiewicz, signed with Orson Welles to the brilliant screenplay for this film. Several years ago Welles had written a play, never produced, which was carried out exploration of a public figure through the testimonies of people who knew him throughout his life. Mankiewicz wrote the first draft of the screenplay for "Citizen Kane " from this story, giving way after he and Welles and turning it into a masterpiece of cinema.
The wonderful images through which we are told this movie came from the hand of a true master in the art, Gregg Toland , great American cinematographer and we had caught visually with titles like "Rivals", "Wuthering Heights" or "The Grapes of Wrath." Come on, a genius of the image. For "Citizen Kane " Toland used a photographic technique that focused simultaneously all the objects in the foreground, middle or bottom of the image, giving it a sense of depth not seen before on the big screen.
And the use of the camera angle shot showed strong characters like Charles Foster Kane. By contrast, the position of the camera showed us the sharply weaker character of Susan Alexander Kane, the second wife. This was a technique that Orson Welles made by John Ford, who had used two years earlier in "Stagecoach." Welles privately saw this mythical title of western about forty times while filming "Citizen Kane ."
The assembly of the film was flawless artwork of Robert Wise who, before this title, had signed a production of "Esmeralda the Gypsy" and then to "The Magnificent Ambersons", the title he Wise management also provided additional scenes, starting his career here as a film director, which gave us such gems as "The Day the Earth," "West Side Story" or "The Sound of Music."
And to round out the technical team would join the film, his debut feature film composer Bernard Herrmann New York, which later would corroborate his musical excellence with his great work in such classics as "The Magnificent Ambersons," "The Man Who Knew Too Much, "" The Wrong Man, "" Vertigo, "" With the North by Northwest "or" Psycho. " Total no.
The site of luxury in the technical aspect of the film could only be completed with a lineup of first line in the artistic. The cast of " Citizen Kane "was almost completely integrated the company that Welles Mercury Theatre founded in 1937 with John Houseman. There are radio plays works like "Les Miserables", "Tale of Two Cities," "Treasure Island", "39 Steps", "Abraham Lincoln", "The Count of Monte Cristo" ... and "The War of the Worlds" .
" Citizen Kane" was more than brilliant debut after famous actors on the big screen as Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins, Ruth Warrick, Everett Sloane George colourised or.
And Joseph Cotten here in the role of Jedediah Leland, the best friend of Charles Foster Kane. Leland's character was based on the famous columnist Ashton Stevens, theater critic for the San Francisco Examiner and Chicago Herald, and the brother of actor Landers Stevens, who made a cameo appearance in this film. Ashton was also the uncle of director George Stevens, the son of Landers.
Joseph Cotten made here, therefore, its entry into the cinema through the front door. Personal friend of Orson Welles, was again led by him in "The Magnificent Ambersons" and was also with him later a most memorable couples in the history of cinema in "The Third Man."
Joseph continued to reap success leaving his acting career titles and classics in film history as "The Shadow of a Doubt," "Duel in the Sun", "Jennie," "Torn" "Niagara" and "Lullaby for a corpse."
In "Citizen Kane " Cotten was also extra work to also lend his voice and presence to one of the journalists who see the news in the projection room in the dark, which also included all male actors in the film, himself included Orson Welles.
And other fun facts of the film. Which Welles broke his ankle during the filming of the movie and had to be led for two weeks in a wheelchair. Or a phrase Kane in the movie (" not believe everything you hear on the radio ") might be as clearly interpreted as a sly wink director alluding to his own War of the Worlds radio.
" Citizen Kane" was ready for launch in February 1941. But the controversy surrounding the issue that the film was delayed his debut and, among other things, that the circle of William Randolph Hearst tried to buy it to avoid its release and pressure the RKO to not take him out.
Fortunately, May 1, 1941 ago today and 70 years, was premiered in New York " Citizen Kane", one of the most essential qualifications of the big screen. Was just awarded the Oscar for best original screenplay, but was also nominated for best picture, director, actor (Orson Welles), photography, editing, soundtrack, art direction and sound.
Orson Welles was only 25 when he directed " Citizen Kane, "his first film, now one of the best classics of cinema history.
" If it were not so rich, have become a great man "
(Charles Foster Kane )
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