Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane (1941), regarded by many to be one of the greatest motion pictures of all time, was the first feature film directed by Orson Welles (1915–1985). Its innovative use of narrative structure, camera angles, and deep focus photography marked the film as a groundbreaking effort in cinematic history. At the time of its release, the film was highly controversial for its alleged portrayal of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951). Citizen Kane recounts the life and death of a similarly powerful newspaper owner, Charles Foster Kane. In the film, Kane's deepseated psychological flaws compel him to seek political influence through manipulation of the press, ultimately resulting in his defeat and disappointment.

Prior to his motion picture directorial debut, Orson Welles had received national notoriety for ...