Citizen Kane [VHS]
![Citizen Kane [VHS]](/images/Citizen-Kane-VHS-6304119046-L.jpg)
|
List Price: Category: VHS Video See more movie releases |
|---|
![Buy Citizen Kane [VHS] at Amazon.com](/images/buy.gif)
(Click here)
Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
VHS Movie Reviews of Citizen Kane [VHS]
Movie Review: Two disc set of Citizen Kane
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, the second disc, I didn't really care for, the story behind the making of Citizen Kane, even though I've read about it before. The actual film itself, is one of the best films ever made. Welles and company were so innovated for the times, and even now with today's standards of film making, the cinematography, lighting and editing really shine through, but it's the structure of the film that is really interesting, the way the story is told, not in linear format, the many layers of the story and seeing Welles as Kane age before our eyes, really adds to the depth of the character and story as well.Movie Review: "Rosebud..."
Summary: 4 Stars
There are lots of movies we can argue one must see in his lifetime. Casablanca, Ben Hur, Star Wars, The Godfather, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with Wind... just to name a few, but few stand as high on that list of "Movies you should see at least once," quite like Citizen Kane. At the time of it's release in 1941, it was hailed as one of the movies which changed the industry. The reasons why are all but forgotten now. So all Citizen Kane has to stand on now is it's story, acting and script. All of which are fine. It's a movie that has aged somewhat well over the years. The debate over the greatest movie ever made will rage on fforever (but you mostly see Citizen Kane and Casablanca somewhere on that list). When Citizen Kane debuted, however, it was incredibly good craftsmanship for filming. Remember, film was fairly young at this time. There were still a lot of things that were being played around with and experimented with in film. Citizen Kane, upon release, was hailed as a technical achievement that, for many reasons may seem like they aren't such a big deal today. But they WERE a big deal then.
Almost everyone knows the story of Citizen Kane, but it doesn't hurt to recount it. The story begins on Kane's death bed. He utters one last word: "Rosebud..." before he dies. Because of this, people are in question as to what Kane's last word meant. What was the meaning behind "Rosebud" and who or what was it? As people investigate, the audience is treated to Kane's life. From being taken from his real parents to rising to being the best of the best in journalism. And ultimately his downfall. We see as Kane lives his life and becomes of the most iconic people in the world. We meet several people and learn to really appreciate Kane as a character. The movie keeps plowing forward until we the audience learn just what Rosebud really is. It may not seem like much from the get go, but the screenplay in and of itself really plays out really well. As we learn about Kane we're willing to be taken for a ride. The last scene in particular--when we learn what Rosebud is--is a really fantastic scene in and of itself.
Yet there were certain things about Citizen Kane that made it unique for its time. The first is that the movie is essentially a host of flashbacks telling the story of Charles Foster Kane. It spans so much time, but it gets through it quickly. Again, it seems like no big deal to us, but the way Orson Welles does it is still a technique very few do. Even though time is passing in Kane's life, we hardly get that sense. The time periods seem to mesh together because rather than tons of hardcuts we're mostly treated to it fading through his life, sometimes even in the same room. Another technique that was done really well that was introduced by Citizen Kane was using makeup to make the characters age. This, of course, is still done to this day. The final technique that was quite astounding was the film's camera work. Again, not a big deal in this day and age, but consider that Citizen Kane truly showed people you could do things with simple cuts and edits and pan shots. For example, being able to see everything in the background foreground etc. in sharp, clear focus. This was pretty amazing before. If you take film classes, I'm sure you may get someone who goes on about this. Citizen Kane's cinematography seems to be a favorite historical fact of many film buffs.
It may also seem strange that the cinematography is praised because for the first time in a shot you can see the ceiling of a home. This is because many films didn't get filmed on location. Seeing things like this was quite an amazing achievement when Citizen Kane came out. To put it simply, there's historical significance to what Citizen Kane did for film. Of course, you don't exactly think of that these days when you think of Citizen Kane. Most of us, of course, remember "Rosebud" and others of us remember that first scene. Many of us (myself included) weren't even around when Citizen Kane was the big influence it was. Put simple, Citizen Kane was like Star Wars. So innovative and different for its time that it sort of lives on as a result.
Of course, that also means that certain things about Citizen Kane are truly forgotten. Unless you actually study film or read up on it, those who watch Citizen Kane now might be scratching their heads wondering just what the big deal is. Indeed Citizen Kane does have things about it which might not bode well in this day and age. The first being that Citizen Kane just feels long. It's a two hour long movie, but I won't lie... it's boring. It's an amazing film that everyone should see at least once, but it can be boring. And it has little to do with special effects (which I'm not a big fan of anyway) or anything like that. It's because the movie just moves at a snails pace. It takes a lot of time to really develop Mr. Kane, but a lot of it can be very boring to watch. Yet at the same time there are many exchanges that are quite interesting to watch. The narrative in and of itself is very good. It's just that... like I said, it's boring. There are times when watching that you sort of feel like asking "Are we there yet?" It's mostly in the middle when the film begins to drag, but as we move on, especially that last scene, the brilliance of the film's screenplay can be seen.
With it's reputation of being among the greatest films ever made, it may surprise people to know that Citizen Kane didn't take home that Oscar for Best Picture. In fact, of all the awards it was nominated for at the Academy Awards... it only won one. For screenplay. Despite all it's innovations in cinematography, art direction, and editing, Citizen Kane was never honored with an Oscar for any of these categories. And when reading up on Citizen Kane you sort of get the feeling that perhaps the film was cheated out of those awards.
In spite of it all, Citizen Kane is a movie worth viewing at least once if you're a big movie lover. It's one of those movies that ought to be viewed not just for enjoyment, but perhaps for historical purposes as well. It is nice to say that the story and narration have aged incredibly well and are still fondly influential. It's just a shame that the innovations of Citizen Kane aren't realized in quite the same manner.
Movie Review: A realistic review from a semi-serious film viewer.
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm no movie buff but I think I take movie viewing more seriously than the typical person. Avoiding the argument of how historically significant it is (as nearly every review seems to do) I would just say that it is a pretty good film. That's it. It's not life changing, not one of my favorites just a pretty good film. It essentially works like an allegory film where at the end it got me to think a little bit. I said "Hmm..." and then I moved on. That's all there was to it for me. If you like old films with a moral to ponder then you'll probably find the film interesting. If you don't then watching this film is not going to make you "enlightened" or "hip" so just watch what you like.Movie Review: I like movies
Summary: 5 Stars
I like to watch classic movies. Specially the good ones. I prefer to see them in english.Movie Review: "Rosebud"
Summary: 5 Stars
RKO Radio Pictures Inc. presents "Citizen Kane", released May 1, 1941.
Very simply, the film begins with the infamous scene every movie buff has seen. An older man with his last breath says, "Rosebud" and drops a snowglobe. It shatters on the floor. He has died in his enormous mansion.
And now the story begins.
For those impatient movie watchers: It is important to see the "mock" documentary during the beginning of this film to get the idea how Kane (Orson Welles) became so rich. After a newsreel has been reviewed, they try to investigate why Kane said, "Rosebud" on his deathbed.
Just who is "Rosebud". Does this "Rosebud" inherit a fortune?
They begin to interview every imortant person in his life since he became rich to locate "Rosebud". Along the way we discover his miserable childhood. As an adult with the help of his guardian, Mr Thatcher, he decides it would be fun to run a newspaper.
i will not spoil the rest of the story for you, but you will discover how Charles Foster Kane became the world's richest tychoon. However, in his personal life, his life wasn't always a bed of roses.
Also in the cast: Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Joseph Cotten, Sonny Bupp, Buddy Swan, Joseph Cotten, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Comingore, Renee Godfrey, Paul Stewart.
Every movie buff should see this black & white classic film and notice the way it was filmed. The blacks, the greys, the shadows, the camera angles.
Easter Egg #1: Special Features. Press "right" Button. Snow sleigh will turn red. press "Enter".
Easter Egg #2: Special Features. Go to "The Production Notes", now press "right" button. Snow sleigh turns red. Press "Enter".
Trvia: Many thought this film was based upon the real-life weathy newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, to which Orson Welles denied to aviod lawsuits.
Orson Welles was only 25 years old at the time of filming. During the scenes of Kane destroying Susan's room, Orson Welles' hand was really bleeding as his threw himself into motivation. He continued his scenes like a pro.
Orson Welles wanted Lucille Ball for the lead, but RKO vetoed it. Lucy repaid his kindness by having Orson appear on her hit CBS tv series, I Love Lucy - The Complete Sixth Season in 1956.
In 1958, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz would buy RKO and changed the title to Desilu.
Orson Welles and Lucille Ball would meet again on Dean Martin's Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart, televised in 1978.
You may have first heard of Orson Welles from his CBS Radio program, "The Mercury Theater on the Air" dramatization, The War of the Worlds - Original Broadcast, October 30, 1938.
People who listened to the above broadcast thought it was real and it caused a mass panic. People were calling the operators, the police, and emergency because they were upset. People called into CBS Radio not realizing it was only a radio dramatization, not an actual news report. People were sensitive because of the war.
This is dramatized in the tv-movie, The Night That Panicked America (1975).
For a movie about Orson Welles, the making of Citizen Kane, and William Randolph Hearst, see the cable movie RKO 281 - The Battle Over Citizen Kane (2000) starring Liev Schreiber as "Orson Welles, with Roy Scheider, James Cromwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich.
May I suggest other films with Orson Welles you might enjoy:The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Stranger (MGM Film Noir) (1946),The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (Restored to Orson Welles' Vision) (1958), Casino Royale (40th Anniversary Edition) (1967), It Happened One Night (1977-tv).