James Sleigh Red Group Cinematic Analysis Citizen Kane, which follows the incredibly lavish life style

of Charles Foster Kane, shows the struggle to achieve greatness. Kane uses his wealth and status to control corporations, and his image. In the process of trying to achieve greatness, he ends up alienating himself from his friends and his multiple wives. The movie opens with a scene from his childhood, the only time that Kane is truly satisfied and content, and is the only time that he is worry-free. However, his childhood is cut short when his mother sends him to live with a wealthy banker, Mr. Thatcher, to receive a more prestigious education, and be introduced to finances at an early age. Kane grows up to be a child that is constantly pampered, and receives the most prestigious education he could receive. Kane then comes into possession of the New York Inquirer stating that "it might be fun to run a newspaper." Kane uses every tactic possible to help the Newspaper grow, without regard to the newspapers reputation. Kane also uses the newspaper to portray his views and opinions, in order to increase his power and status. Kane then gets married to Emily Norton, daughter of the President of the United States, however Kane ends up having an affair with Susan Alexander, an aspiring singer. The affair ends up ruining his chances for running for governor, and his marriage with Emily. Kane decides to marry Alexander, and imposes a rigorous operatic career on her, using her as a way to promote himself and Alexander as a well known opera singer. After realizing that Alexander has no potential, he retreats to his grand estate, and attempt to buy back Susans love for him. However Susan leaves Kane to live the rest of his life alone in a vast mansion. The film ends with Kane uttering the word rosebud, a testament to his childhood, and

his innocence. Citizen Kane portrays Charles Foster Kane and his relentless struggle to show his power and his status, but in the process, alienates himself from everybody he knew. James Sleigh Red Period Cinematic Analysis Part B Although Citizen Kane is a fictional movie, the character of Charles Foster Kane is supposedly based on wealthy business tycoons during the 1920-1940s era. The character of Charles Foster Kane is believed to be based on William Randolph Hearst, a wealthy newspaper tycoon. Like Kane, Hearst uses all means necessary to bring the most profit and recognition toward himself and his newspaper, using tactics like yellow journalism, an exaggerated approach to draw a bigger readership. The film is set mainly in New York and at his estate in Florida. Kane takes over Mr. Fletchers newspaper The New York Inquirer, and uses his power and wealth to grow the papers circulation. The film showed the incredible wealth of the nations elite, and how the elite became rich and powerful. In the final scene of the film, the camera pans over the massive estate, and Kanes numerous statues, paintings and trophies, and all signs of his wealth. It also showed how even though he was rich and he had many possessions, Kane was never happy, and that he could never buy happiness, or love for his wife. Although Citizen Kane is a fictional movie, many think that the director, Orson Welles was influenced by William Hearst to create Kanes character. William Randolph Hearst married Marion Davies, and through her Hearst bought Cosmopolitan Pictures - a film studio - to promote Davies' stardom as a serious actress(filmsite.org). However, according to filmsite.org, Hearst had No breakdown in Davies'

relationship with Hearst. According to the L.A Times, another big difference was in the film's portrayal of Kane's love interest, a booze-soaked singer forced by Kane into a disastrous operatic career. Hearst's real-life mistress, Marion Davies, was a talented comic actress(Chawkins.) Orson Welles, the director decided not to make Kanes relationship as simple as Hearsts, to create a more dramatic effect of a failing relationship. Welles was biased because he wanted to show that just because a person is wealthy, they are not necessarily happy. James Sleigh Red Period Cinematic Analysis Part C There are many metaphors in the film Citizen Kane that make the viewer pay closer attention to detail throughout the film. The film begins with the introduction of Charles Kane when he was a child, playing with his sled in the snow near his house, an artifact that would remain important to him until his death. On Kanes deathbed he says rosebud, which the viewer later finds is the same sled that was introduced in the beginning of the film. The sled represents his childhood and his innocence, and the one truly happy memory that he had ever had. Although Kane seemed to be happy for most of the movie, there was always a sense Kane was never satisified with his work and his life. Kane always wanted the best, and he was never content and happy with what he had. Another metaphor that refers to Kanes childhood is the snow globe that is also present on his death bed. The snow globe connects the viewer back to the beginning of the film, when Kane was sledding in the snow. The snow globe is also a metaphor for his childhood and his innocence. Another metaphor shows Susan Alexander, Kanes wife, assembling a jigsaw puzzle, something that is associated with unresolved issues, which is

symbolic of Kanes relationship. The film Citizen Kane has many references to his childhood, a way to remind Kane of his childhood and his carelessness.

Works Cited Chawkins, Steve, ed. articles.latimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/23/local/la-me-citizen-kane-20120123>. filmsite.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. <http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html>.