Communications & Personal Development Contact me: Colman McMahon

“Citzen Kane” The story is a roman à clef that criticizes the life and legacy of William Randolph Hearst, an American newspaper magnate. The film traces the life and career of the enormously wealthy media magnate, Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), a man whose career in the publishing world is born of idealistic social service, but gradually evolves into a ruthless pursuit of power. Narrated principally through flashbacks, the story is revealed through the research of a newspaper reporter seeking to solve the mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud."

Plot Kane has lost his power, been abandoned by his loved ones, and has been living alone in his vast palatial estate Xanadu for the last years of his life, with a "No trespassing" sign on the gate. Kane's death becomes sensational news around the world. Reporter Jerry Thompson (William Alland) tries to find out about Kane's private life and, in particular, to discover the meaning behind his last word. The reporter interviews the great man's friends and associates, and Kane's story unfolds as a series of flashbacks...

Film’s Success Despite numerous positive reviews from critics at the time, the film was not a box office success, just making back enough to cover the budget, but not enough to make a profit. Due to the Second World War, Citizen Kane was little seen and virtually forgotten until its release in Europe in 1946, where it gained considerable acclaim. In the United States, it was neglected and forgotten until its revival on television in the mid-1950s, and its critical fortunes have been significantly transformed since then. There is a semi-official consensus in film circles that Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made. It topped both the AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies list and the 10th Anniversary Update, as well as all of the Sight & Sound polls of the 10 greatest films for nearly half a century.

William Randolph Hearst William Randolph Hearst ( ) An American newspaper magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Entered the publishing business in 1887 after taking control of “The San Francisco Examiner” from his father. Moved to New York City, he acquired “The New York Journal” Engaged in a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's “New York World” which led to the creation of yellow journalism — sensationalized stories of dubious veracity. Through his newspapers and magazines, he exercised enormous political influence, and is sometimes credited with pushing public opinion in the United States into a war with Spain in He was also a prominent leader of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party from 1896 to 1935, although he became more conservative later in life.

Hearst’s Reaction Hearing about the film enraged Hearst so much that he banned any discussion of it in any of his publications. Louie B Mayer, presumably at Hearst's request, offered RKO Pictures $800,000 to destroy all prints of the film and burn the negative When RKO rejected Hearst's offer to suppress the film, Hearst banned every newspaper and station in his media conglomerate from reviewing — or even mentioning — the movie. He also had many movie theaters ban it, and many didn't show it through fear of being socially exposed by his massive newspaper empire. Although Hearst's efforts to suppress it damaged the film's success, they backfired in the long run, since almost every reference of Hearst's life and career made today typically includes a reference to the film's parallel to it. The irony of Hearst's efforts is that the film is now inexorably connected to him. Welles and Hearst were both very similar in that they both were ambitious, willing to bend the rules, and do whatever it took to shock and be the best. The feud became so big that it destroyed both men's careers.

Hearst Castle Beginning in 1919, Hearst began to build the never-completed Hearst Castle, on a 240,000- acre ranch at San Simeon, California, which he furnished with art, antiques and entire rooms brought from the great houses of Europe.  Hearst later paid $120,000 for an H-shaped Beverly Hills mansion in 1947, now perhaps the "most expensive" private home in the U.S., valued at $165 million (£81.4 million).

San Simeon, CA