CITIZEN KANE (1941) Movie Review

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[@classicvideogoodies]

To those who haven't seen the film, it's about a guy who becomes rich as a child, grows up to be a successful businessman, becomes megalomaniacal, runs for office, claims to fight for ordinary working people, loses the election, and claims "fraud in election." It's vaguely familiar.

[@CEWIII9873]

Yeah, but Citizen Kane has acumen and works hard...

[@azula3906]

Incredibly familiar 🤔

[@jjdvideo]

Roger Ebert's audio commentary on the Citizen Kane DVD is one of the best I've heard. He knows just about every detail about that film.

[@deepfocuslens]

+jjdvideo Yup. That's what first got me into the film.

[@blinkzone1]

Peter Bogdonovich does a great job on the commentary as well

[@deepfocuslens]

blinkzone1 Yeah. I've seen his too.

[@wolekiyesi718]

On which DVD copy could I find his commentary? Or is it available on all copies?

[@deepfocuslens]

Wole Kiyesi I think it's on just the normal DVD. I have the special 70th anniversary blu-ray which includes several great commentaries.

[@MatthewLedZepfan]

Just realized that the whole idea of Kane controlling Susan was also done in vertigo

[@donwhite5129]

This lovely lady is so we'll informed and articulate. My favorite reviewer now. Clear and easy to understand, and a film expert.

[@capacola262743]

and she's sooooo HOT!

[@dredd456]

I love Citizen Kane one of my all time favorites, it has both visual appeal and a story with great depth. This is one of the first movies I saw to really make me take notice of and appreciate cinematography in films.

[@davedalton1273]

Welles at his "safest". I don't think there was anything safe about "Citizen Kane." A major reason for Kane's failure at the box office was that Hearst ordered his vast chain of newspapers to not accept advertisements for Kane. That pretty much killed the film's chances for commercial success. The "Magnificent Ambersons" was eviscerated by RKO, because they no longer trusted Welles. They cut out key scenes that were essential to the film. The result was a much reduced fragment of Welles' original conception. The man was a genius, but he was banished. I think "Touch of Evil" is also an underappreciated movie. Welles roamed the wilderness for the rest of his career. It was a crime.

[@jmclen7]

Wow! This may be the best review of anything I’ve ever seen on KZbin. Very well done. You’re on another level!

[@CEWIII9873]

s1mp

[@alanbehrens4231]

You are a great film critic/ reviewer. I love this film for the same reasons you do. Gregg Toland was the best black and white cinematographer.

[@MrCakir53]

I love your enthusiasm!!

[@alexwiththeglasses]

I’ve enjoyed the handful of your commentaries I’ve checked out so far, and it’s refreshing to see a young thoughtful person engaged in more than just f/x and traditional content - a big thx! A couple of quick thoughts… It’s a biopic in the “based on a true story” sense (a very early one) of maybe the most politically influential man in US history. The list of cinematic firsts and cutting-edge techniques makes it possibly the most influential movie of the “talkie era” although it may not be the director’s best film. The structure imho stems from the reconstruction efforts by the investigative reporters, which is rather ironic.

[@QuestionMark46]

This is one of those movies that really grew on me the second time I watched it. Really shows that paying attention to what your watching is important.

[@cash8797]

some of my favorite lines: BERNSTEIN You're pretty young, Mr. - (remembers the name) Mr. Thompson. A fellow will remember things you wouldn't think he'd remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on a ferry and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in - (slowly) - and on it, there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on - and she was carrying a white pastrol - and I only saw her for one second and she didn't see me at all - but I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl. (triumphantly) See what I mean? (smiles) KANE You're right. We did lose a million dollars last year.Thatcher thinks maybe the point has registered. KANE. We expect to lost a million next year, too. You know, Mr. Thatcher - (starts tapping quietly). at the rate of a million a year - we'll have to close this place in sixty years. NARRATOR. For wife two, one-time opera singing Susan Alexander, Kane built Chicago's Municipal Opera House. Cost: three million dollars. Conceived for Susan Alexander Kane, half-finished before she divorced him, the still unfinished Xanadu. Cost: no man can say.

[@SB-hc1nt]

Nice review. I know this is late, but I appreciate your review. Orson Welles was a creative genius. This film was way before it's time and I am glad it was released and the Hearst machine and Louella Parsons didn't kill it. I believe of course it's based on W.R. Hearst and Marion Davies. Davies actually was a funny comedian and gave it up for Hearst and stayed in the castle. I've been to the castle many times and every time I do Citizen Kane flashes in my mind immediately.Welles work in radio is where his element really shined and of course Citizen Kane.

[@Johnnybtv3]

I agree with everything you said, but I look at Citizen Kane in a sort of simpler fashion. When one is first looking into older films there is a certain wow factor involved in this movie. It's like, whoa! This movie has so obviously been incredibly influential on so many future filmmakers. And not just in film techniques, of which you are far more informed than I am. But also in story and the method of telling it. There are possibly other great examples of this in the early "talkies" days, but this movie really hits you over the head with a brick. To me (a more casual movie fan than you) Citizen Kane is a film in which one can watch it and just be overwhelmed by the clear inspiration it brought. Some of the greatest movies ever made owe a clear debt to Citizen Kane and Orson Welles.

[@grahamh.4230]

You mention loving The Trial. Although I wouldn't consider it greater than Kane, I agree that it is an absolutely masterful and severely underappreciated film. I'd love to see a video of your thoughts on it, as it's a very complex cinematic work with a lot to discuss and unpack.

[@HamzaTalksFootball]

Finally watched this. Have you reviewed Touch of Evil and Lady From Shanghai on your channel?

[@thatfilmguy232]

Would love to hear you talk about the Trial! I admired it but didn’t connect on first viewing

[@saigokun]

Great and interesting analysis of this master piece. I agree with you that Citizen Kane is his most accessible movie.

[@BlazerManiacNumber96]

I think the "best" film ever made constantly changes because quality should be judged in a vacuum and not based on what it did for the industry. But I do think Citizen Kane is the most important movie ever made.

[@crabbySm4ck3r]

The only other Welles film I've seen is Touch of Evil and it had a problem that was in Citizen Kane, too, which is that some of those scenes are only in the film, because they're set pieces and don't at all feel true to that world. It bugged me, I guess. Please keep making these videos.

[@RichTheObscure]

The trial is one of my favourites, the book is certainly worth reading too!

[@BrianTheVoice]

Rosebud is the most significant word and known word in all of American film. He longs for the simplicity of his childhood. The excess of wealth isolates people, puts their guard up constantly, and does not fill a deep void we all have. The meaning of life? Kane cannot find this because he searches outward, not inward. We see this with his relationship with his wife. His constant want for gain is to fill the emptiness inside.

[@philipdubuque9596]

I can only hope that this intelligent and creative reviewer has reviewed the film, "The Lady From Shanghai". Her (your) review of "Citizen Kane" is 'note perfect'. I couldn't agree with you more. Great review! Please review "Touch Of Evil" if you haven't reviewed it already. I will wait with baited breath. (What does that even mean?)

[@CEWIII9873]

What does Google say about what it means? Loser.

[@4tCa4mzUPqRZZo]

Great review, subbed right away! Just curious, what are your thoughts on John Ford? And in particular "how green was my valley"(one of my personal favorites), that actually beat citizen kane for best picture in 1941.

[@deepfocuslens]

+slayerming1 Love Tom Ford, but I never saw How Green Was My Valley.

[@patrickmartin897]

You need to see it, it is certainly one of the best pictures of 1941.

[@TheG00se81]

@deepfocuslens . Why your video mirror-inverted? I am just curious :)

[@deepfocuslens]

+NewShatterhand My old camera that I used had a mirror effect. Now it has just become a habit.

[@TheG00se81]

Oh, I thought is was an artistic choice. Keep on the good work. I realy enjoy your videos.

[@VanessaDaiana23]

You are so good! Lástima que no muestres ninguna escena de Citizen Kane.

[@CEWIII9873]

How does one say "simp" in Spanish, "el simpo?"

[@uhdudewhy7980]

hmm, no mention of Hearst. Nice review. It would be great if you did a review of Smile (1975).

[@donvito2682]

In January 1941 Orson Wells invites the press for a sneak preview of Citizen Kane. Critics praised the film but there was one person who was unimpressed. It was newspaper magnet William Randolph Hearst. It was clear to people that the character of Kane was a portrayal of Hearst himself. Hearst was furious and vowed to stop Citizen Kane from ever making it to the silver screen. Hearst used his influence thru his papers to conduct a smear campaign labeling Wells as a communist and also threatened not to carry the advertising for any theater who showed Citizen Kane..this would cause theaters to lose alot of business. When Citizen Kane was released in May it only played in a handful of theaters and barely registered at the box office. As a result the film was considered to be a flop and put back into the RKO vaults and forgotten. In 1951 Hearst died. 5 years later Citizen Kane was rescued from the vaults and found a new audience with television. As television became more popular there became a need for more content. One of the ways they created content was by going to the Hollywood studios and asking them for prints of their films to show on television. Citizen Kane was one of them that was purchased by the networks. This gave Citizen Kane a new life when people reevaluated it and saw the genius of this film for what it was. In 1962 international movie critics named it the greatest motion picture ever made. When it comes to the greatest song..the greatest actor..the greatest actress..the greatest movie..theres no such thing!! It's all a matter of opinion.

[@johnbonaccorsi]

That's the story: Rosebud explains everything. To reject that, as simplistic, is to reject the story itself. If Welles himself said anything that encouraged that to be rejected, he erred.

[@jriccioj]

Do you recommend any particular books on film?

[@deepfocuslens]

There's one that I really like, but I can't remember the name of it. Damn! I'll have to go find it when I get home.

[@jriccioj]

cool, thanks

[@kushanshah8040]

I've heard Truffaut - Hitchcock is good.

[@HassaanAhmadCh]

deepfocuslens you couldn't find it in a year. Comeon

[@anthonystam6867]

Kane was very much loved, Everyone respected him at first. His loneliness and controlling behaviour was a result of when life revealed to him that he does not have the power to sustain everyone's love continually, and is shown for his need to "fight against the crowd". This is when he breaks and meets Susan, a complete stranger on the street, and tries to convince himself that he is wrong about controlling other people's love. The tragedy in this film is that he knew he was going to grow into this lonely old man from the beginning, watch Synecdoche, NY !

[@deepfocuslens]

I've reviewed Synecdoche, NY.

[@TTM9691]

Fantastic review but small correction: The Stranger was the most commercial film Orson ever directed, both stylistically and also literally (It grossed the most). Excellent underrated Orson.....Welles at his most Hitchcockian!

[@johnhausler2706]

Great commentary on a fantastic movie....Very articulate and knowledgeable critique ...great job by beautiful and adorable lady......

[@CEWIII9873]

s1mp

[@crabbySm4ck3r]

You have one of those radio voices.

[@SuccessforLifester]

Nice tank top!

[@drewjeers3301]

Its at my Walmart now for $5, I may get it. Was on the fence but you could probably talk me into about anything.

[@CEWIII9873]

Wow 5 dollars. That is a big leap. Make sure to pay all of your bills first

[@123rockfan]

I've been dying to watch Citizen Kane for years, but watching it on television seemed like cinematic blasphemy. Fortunately my local arthouse theater finally played Citizen Kane and I'm so glad I experienced it on the big screen for the first time! Have you ever waited a long time to see a classic film in a theater? As for the film itself, I really think "Rosebud" should have been the nickname of a long lost childhood friend.

[@pointysidedown]

I think that rosebud was a catch all for all the things he never got to experience because of his life circumstances. So in that sense, rosebud could symbolize a friend he never had.

[@classicvideogoodies]

When a film has been called the "greatest of all time" for a long time, it attracts haters. That explains the high amount of troll comments and low-level hate comments that always seem to follow this film. Also, AFI made a prime-time 3-hour TV show in 1997 that revealed the top 100 American films of all-time, a list that was topped by Citizen Kane. This was how millions of people was introduced to the film, no doubt for the first time. Netflix was just starting out, and many people went to rent the film on Netflix, where I saw tons of hate comments unsurprisingly. Whenever you expose something like this to mass audiences, that is usually the result. Any attempt to "popularize" art movies always ends in failure.

[@capacola262743]

just like "the emperor's new clothes", only the SPECIAL people could see how wonderful they were.

[@classicvideogoodies]

@@capacola262743 The people in the Emperor's New Clothes like it because others do (herd mentality). But in appreciating art, sometimes we go against the common thinking and like what we like.

[@capacola262743]

@@classicvideogoodies and by pretending that "C.K." is the greatest film of all time, we are doing herd mentality with the herd of self appointed movie experts that the commoners aren't sophisticated enough to recognize as such. the same thing happens in the art world all the time. for example, only an ignorant peasant would point out that Jackson Pollock's paintings are CRAP that anyone could duplicate, whereas THE SPECIAL PEOPLE "know" what a genius he was!

[@classicvideogoodies]

@@capacola262743 There isn't really herd mentality regarding Citizen Kane, or in any film polls, since the number of voters is usually pretty small; and of that number, only a small percentage (albeit the majority) voted for Kane. And it's not the #1 film anymore, from the last Sight and Sound poll. There will always be a film that is (arguably) considered the best by many. If it's not CK, it'll be another. And wasn't Gone with the Wind generally considered the best film a few decades ago? Also, people may like the same film, but not necessarily for the same reasons.

[@capacola262743]

@@classicvideogoodies yeah, right.

[@drewevans3054]

I think that F for Fake is Welles' best edited film

[@RaikenXion]

Is that the one with the masterful camera work that goes through the window and straight across, I think. Pointless fact - Orson Welles voiced Unicron in the 86 Transformers movies. Insightful Fact - Orson Welles and the War of the World's radion broadcast was a Govt experiment to see how the public would react to a Alien Invasion, and the reaction was bad, many people believed it was real at the time, and some even committed suicide over it.

[@alejandro_bme]

wow. really good review

[@Mr06261984]

I think the point of the sled is to show how Kane has more fun when things ae cold. Oddly enough, isn't a sled and a cane both pieces on a monopoly boad. Is the monopoly man inspied by Kane. Your insight on this would be appreciated.

[@CEWIII9873]

Look it up yourself, loser.

[@toddmaniatoddmania9844]

Great review!

[@ap4949]

you r the most beautiful reviewer i have ever seen on youtube. love you so much.

[@CEWIII9873]

s1mp

[@user-eg2wt1xj2t]

Can't believe this was made in 1941, there are so many things better than some of the contemporary films, especially the camera work and editing.

[@diobrando8890]

do a review of Salo haha

[@sharonblack6450]

This is a thorough review of CK, but from a film nerd's pov. I've just watched the film again and found it turgid, boring and irritating. I get that it was pioneering, that the cinematography and other techniques were ground-breaking but that does not make it watchable. None of the characters were engaging and I simply didn't care what happened to them. There are many fabulous movies from the 40s - one of my favourites is Rebecca, 1940. Compelling, full of suspense and comedic. I studied film some time ago. I wasn't a fan of CK then and I thought 3 decades of life experience might alter my opinion. They haven't.

[@classicvideogoodies]

@Sharon Black You seem to have a very short checklist of things you prefer in a movie: engaging characters, suspense, comedy, etc. Not only does Citizen Kane have all of those things, but it also has a whole lot more. The greatness of a film is usually not what is in it, but *how* the filmmakers go about treating what is in it. I expect a former film student to understand this better. To be a more ideal film viewer, don't just "take inventory" in a film. That's low-level film criticism. Look more at a film's style, methods, etc., and their purposes in the film.

[@CEWIII9873]

Unfortunately, I have come to this point of view as the years have passed. I still respect the technical innovations, however...

[@oliverqueen9886]

Have you ever seen touch of evil, the stranger, or the lady from Shanghai with rita hayward? You should check those 3 of his out and review them on here. Besides that, i have seen also him in king of kings, moby dick, casino royale, and the animated snake and mongoose film. I hear he also did war of the worlds.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Kurosawa's "Rashomon" is Japan's "Citizen Kane", if you will. It also uses non-linear storytelling to depict human flaws, and it was also a groundbreaking, watershed moment in Japan's film history.

[@vidimur1977]

Citizen Kane is much better than Rashomon. Otherwise, Kurosawa took the narration's idea from the mexican classic "Two Monks" (Dos Monjes, 1934) by mexican director Juan Bustillo Oro.

[@capacola262743]

the problem with wells is his movies never made a dime. at the end of the day hollywood movies are a business. if your movies all lose money, they defeat their own purpose, like when you overcook a steak.

[@CEWIII9873]

Nice Raging Bull reference.

[@capacola262743]

@@CEWIII9873 I got no chooooice!!

[@Sunaki1000]

13:00 there is clearly one, but its just a lucky Case it exist. Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi is best.

[@MatthewLedZepfan]

Amazing film, but I much prefer Touch of Evil

[@MrRandomSam]

watchmen comic on the left?

[@deepfocuslens]

+MrRandomSam yup!

[@65g4]

+deepfocuslens so glad you reviewed this film i want to know roughly how many times have you seen it ive only seen it four times and plan and seeing it many more times and sometime soon its a masterpiece

[@65g4]

+deepfocuslens and ive also seen a few Welles films including The Trial i do feel that Citizen Kane was his best i also really like Touch Of Evil

[@diegocrack7697]

This movieeee is now availaaaable to watch here => twitter.com/da4fdfee3410d8ad8/status/795841908022984704 CITIZEN КАNЕ 1941 Mooovie Review

[@AudioGardenSlave123]

I'm sorry, he was 25 in the film? Did everybody look 45 at that age back then?

[@dylancooper3690]

Some people refuse to acknowledge this film simply because it is in black and white.

[@sagarmohanty9655]

You are an absolute beast...

[@gouvyrock]

nice lady- in fact the story don't have me feel in joy(boring)- i love more the technical stuff- my favorite movie is "pink floyd the wall" by alan parker

[@frankpolo2088]

....do you think you understand the core message of citizen kane?

[@EduardoERivolta]

do u have latin American ancestors??? By The way i agree with u with this movie, its awesome!!!!

[@deepfocuslens]

+Eduardo E. Rivalta Thanks! I'm part hispanic.

[@EduardoERivolta]

+deepfocuslens i asked u because... 1° im curious; 2° u are so perfect The way u are and u look :)

[@CEWIII9873]

@@EduardoERivolta simpo

[@meesalikeu]

f for fake is better than than kane snd is orsons best. ambersons could have been but it was taken from him. and yes the trial. but like welles himself kane is just an awesome force of nature and a groundbreaking and entertaining movie.

[@blinkzone1]

Great film

[@Mr06261984]

Do you think the old man touched him when he was a kid.

[@CEWIII9873]

Touch of Evil? What would Frank Reynolds say to this?

[@gabrielbizzlebop4702]

citizen meme

[@usergently]

Judt bought the box set in blue-ray. I'm savy right now.

[@lamegoldfish6736]

"We will serve no wine before its time. "

[@uhdudewhy7980]

lol

[@UKgamer87]

I've wanted to watch it for some time and have a copy of it but can't get past the fact that its black and white. I will probably try to get over it to watch it after this review. These great classics should get colour added digitally.

[@jjdvideo]

+Uk Gamer Horrible idea to colourize Citizen Kane. Unfortunately, you miss out on a lot of great films if you can't get past them being black & white.

[@UKgamer87]

jjdvideo Well it makes no sense not to do it. I doubt a purist like you watched it on anything other than those archaic vhs tapes or even older projectors on a film reel... In all seriousness there are blu ray versions now with better or restored sound higher def images and so on. Why modernise it in some ways but not in others? Would prefer a remake along the way instead of colourisation?

[@franesustic988]

Lol, you know that you can't make up color if it wasn't shot in it? When they remaster the film it is cleaned up and scanned, that is called preservation, what you are suggesting is not only silly but also impossible. And if someone would do it it would look like shit.

[@UKgamer87]

Frane Šustić People add realistic colours to dated photos all the time...

[@jjdvideo]

+Uk Gamer Restoring the movie involves bringing back the picture and sound quality to it's original form. Colourizing changes a black and white film completely. The other problem is that no matter how good today's technology is, colourizing never looks realistic.

[@Kraflyn]

geezus christ, girl! :D

[@flamingocupproductions5329]

charles foster = foster childen

[@flamingocupproductions5329]

*charles foster = foster child

[@Mumbabeal]

Film wouldn't be the same today? It certainly wouldn't but being more into 1930s film, it doesn't apply to me. Any early, precode film I'll check out and it's my favorite decade next to the 70s. Still Citizen Kane is a cinematic masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made but not nearly #1 but up there like The Beatles are to music.

[@CEWIII9873]

Unfortunately, as the years have passed, I have liked this movie less and less, and besides from the technical innovations, I now find it to be quite boring.

[@flamingocupproductions5329]

W for Wonderful

[@robbieitalia1473]

fantastic 😘

[@seanbillington3287]

First

[@StaticBlaster]

Congratulations 🎊

[@offspringfan1288]

Most definitely not the greatest film of all time, not even in the top 500 films. Hell to the NO.

[@famousashtray]

Says someone called offspring fan. Lmao

[@jamesclyne7240]

Citizen Kane has a CRAPPY screenplay--cinematography saved it--it's way overrated

[@mudzibaba]

Citizen Kane is terrible waste of time, it was a good movie 70 years ago, maybe.

[@elbigboy123]

Your a turn on!!!! God Daaaammm

[@CEWIII9873]

s1mp

[@devilzdandruff9199]

Four minutes in and still no sign of a film review. The Welles fanboyism is apparent. Kane is a technical marvel... however, one watches it like a newsreel.. far from fun. Shouldn’t the greatest film of all time be fun to watch? I’ll take Chinatown 1974 & Casablanca 1942. I cannot find one weakness between the two.

[@jessikatharp-mccreary3032]

your neck is longgggggggg!!!!!!!!

[@OirichEntertainment]

😐

[@howard33072]

Thumbs down

[@diobrando8890]

citizen Kane is fucking boring.... Deadpool is better!!!

[@jessikatharp-mccreary3032]

stop talking with your hands.... its kinda distracting... I'm trying to learn something.....

[@OirichEntertainment]

😐

[@aldriel8274]

The most boring film I have ever watched.