"Citizen Kane" (1941) - Movie Classics

A life of millionaire in the days of early century is the first and probably will be the learning curriculum for the all the film aspirants all time. “Citizen Kane” is an approach in taking a peek at this personality of astounding enormity in monetary aspects and how well it went ahead as that of principles and values he kept for himself. Ever since I started watching movies out here in US, one movie always popped up almost unanimously saying to view it if someone is a movie buff and still view it even if some one is not one. I never did research on it because I want to keep it for my opinion. When a movie is voted as an AFI’s (American Film Institute) all time number one movie in the top 100 list of US movies, there is a constraint of peer pressure to love it and in fact obsess over it. Having all this thoughts in, the film opened and at the end of it, I did like it. If I viewed it again to start noticing the technical nuances implied it is an eventuality to get obsessed over it, which is yet to be seen.

The movie starts off with showing the enormous structure of palace erected by Charlie Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the Xanadu. There is a light in the window and they focus towards it. The light goes off and the next frame carries the window as its backdrop from inside with outside light entering in to it. The transformation is almost unnoticeable. While we still think the window is being viewed, it takes a while to realize it is showing inside of it. Film Critic Roger Ebert’s commentary said it which struck me to notice it even more closely. I did not watch the movie again with the commentary but some day I will. The film carries editing something far fetched in those times. “Rashomon” consolidated the idea in a different perspective to symbolize the dishonesty humans have with themselves. Ten years earlier to it, “Citizen Kane” manufactures the concept of flash back for its own symbolization of everything and nothing. “Rosebud” is what Kane utters before he dies. Journalist Thompson (William Alland) on the advice of his producer starts to talk with the people Kane had personal and professional relationship with to understand the meaning out of it. The rest of the film is the chapters of his life starting right from him as a kid till the point of destruction which marks his final down fall in his personal life.

The film might carry the suspense of the word, Rosebud. But it is the dissection of his life as such to come on it. The classic shots, the grandiose sets or model structures fits as it should. The film carries the character of Kane. Kane as a millionaire did what he wanted as man of principles. Many view those as fascism and his spillage of exorbitant amount of money for non-essential concerns. The movie might be looked upon like that. Some of them might say that the sets and costs are put in attachments. The story of him could have been told in simpler terms. Exactly how the other characters understand Kane. For me it fits and it is necessary to show that a man capable of doing all this is also a man of respect and honesty.

There are four prime characters who narrate the chapters one by one of Kane’s life. The guardian of Kane, Mr. Thatcher (George Coulouris), his financial assistant, Mr. Bernstein (Everett Sloane), his long time friend, Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotton) and his second ex-wife, Susan Alexander Kane (Dorothy Comingore). These four chapters cover his life. For all the reason, the perspective of each might be different and far from truth. They might very well say that they are the victim of Kane’s actions. They do emerge in such way but something else transpires in every section. That is Kane is a man of principles and honesty. Every one agrees on that. Jedediah does not believe that. He sees Kane as a changed man from the promises he made. There seem to be not much of evidence rather than jealousy and negation over Kane. Yet, we get the character of Kane. Mr. Thatcher’s view is given on his journal with Thompson perusing it. Therein we see the small happy life of a kid in the loving hands of his mother. Not much is said out there than few words but we come to know how much he loved it in the end. Mr. Bernstein’s appear to be the truthful of the four chapters but he loves the man. And that may have added Mr. Bernstein’s manifestation of it. Still his is more neutral. But wait. Why am I checking the authenticity of each and every story? May be it is the influence of “Rashomon” but that’s how the movie has grown in these past sixty six years. I do not think Orson Welles and his crew would have thought something which gets in number one in all time movie lists. They made the movie which moulds and shifts itself with the time and people and keeps growing day by day. Even after so many years, the movie justifies itself regardless of its period and content. Applying all the physics of logic, movie making and application proves the equation perfectly with only remainder of content.

The four stories are the prime evidence of his existent life and hence we are made to believe it. Of course we take what we want to. This is the story of a man’s life that had everything from the start and yet spent a life of longing love till his death bed. I guess that is the reason he wanted the whole America to love him. He expects that in a remote way and not relies on it. The people he loved thought he changed and the truth is that they changed as well. Kane’s actions of principles never faltered. The only thing he takes for granted is his second wife who seems to be get the life he designed and wanted to. A man who had every conviction in his own could not claim the conviction from his personal life.

The technical aspect as said earlier is, has and will be followed in the movie making. Generally in the classic movies of all time, it is not the story telling alone which makes it one. The team work of the entire department having unison on the screen. The hard work and creativity getting realized by the viewer in every aspect of it is unmistakably true. My first viewing of this is definitely interesting and classy. The employment of the suspense in a search of a soul which continuously got crucified is something been tried upon all the time now in the movie making. It comes down to what “Rosebud” means for every one and when Thompson says those last before the final scene, we are withered out from the curiosity of knowing it. The next scene of course reveals something which may be nothing and everything authenticating Thompson’s statement.