Film Analysis Of Citizen Kane - 1143 Words

Citizen Kane was rife with innovations in cinematic technique and introduced many new and unique aspects of mise-en-scà ¨nà © that would thrive in films to come. Orson Welles was a young visionary whose career had been limited to stage production and radio until his first film, Citizen Kane. Uniquely, as someone new to the film industry, he retained full creative control of his very first project, co-writing, producing, directing, and starring as Kane himself. This unfounded level of trust for a newcomer allowed Welles to trail blaze and experiment with techniques few other directors were willing to risk such as a non-linear story, narrative from multiple unusual character perspectives, unique blocking and lighting, deep focus, and†¦show more content†¦Additionally, the use of low camera angles required sets to be built with ceilings which was very different from typical Hollywood conventions. Studios usually had large sets of lights above the the set to illuminate the scene, but with the low camera angles used, the lighting had to come from other sources, primarily atmospheric lighting. The presence of lighting and how it is used in Citizen Kane is unique and was influenced greatly by the low camera angles used, but after eliminating the overhead lighting effects afforded by not having a ceiling, Welles and Toland used this absence of light to their advantage. The use of focused light to illuminate the subject of a shot in deep focus still allowed the viewer to pick out whatever he wanted to see, but the director still had control over that focus using lighting and shadows. Shadows played a particularly strong part in Citizen Kane. A notable scene is when the opera ends and Kane alone is standing to applaud. In this scene Kane is backlit so we see his shadow standing out in stark contrast to those around him who remain seated. Using light and dark in stark contrast like this is called chiaroscuro and is frequently an element of film noir. Citizen Kane can be called the first film noir. Film noir is a style characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, and stories that often include a mystery or investigation. Welles delivers those things with his story of CharlesShow MoreRelatedFilm Analysis : Citizen Kane Essay2071 Words   |  9 Pagescreate his debut film Citizen Kane, Orson Welles assembled a talented group of artists and technicians who together produced a film that redefined cinema forever. During the film’s production process, Welles himself stated that making a film â€Å"is the biggest electric train set any boy ever had.† By this he meant that the production studio was his playground and he intended to use every tool at his disposal. Starting from the film’s very first shot; he proves this to be true. As the film begins, the cameraRead MoreFilm Analysis Of Citizen Kane1299 Words   |  6 PagesCitizen Kane incorporates a well-rounded variety of shots and angles t hat make the film more entertaining. This movie is significant because the American people will always be able to relate to it. There will always be a rich politician who wants to change things for the better. Sometimes, scandal and broken promises ensue. The American people will always want someone that they can trust to make their lives better. It is interesting to note that this film combines multiple genres, giving it a factorRead MoreFilm Analysis: Citizen Kane1768 Words   |  7 Pagesmany reasons as to why Citizen Kane has been lauded as one of the best, if not the best, film of all time. Orson Welless Citizen Kane has had a lasting impact on cinema and continues to influence directors to this day. Visually striking, Citizen Kane helped to usher in a new era of cinema through its innovative techniques and use of mise-en-scene. From the films onset, it is evident that it is going to be a tale of woe. The film begins very ominously, much like a horror film, and immediately beginsRead MoreCitizen Kane Film Analysis1347 Words   |  6 Pagescinematic history in 1941 when he produced, co-wrote, directed, and starred in the revolutionary American mystery drama Citizen Kane. The movie follows Kane’s pursuit of power, and the dangers that lay beyond it, as well as Kane’s loss of innocence and the resonating effects that it has on he and his life. Welles’ co-writer Mankiewicz based the outline of the protagonist, Charles Foster Kane, on his former friend William Randolph Hearst. (See Slide ONE) Hearst, who built America’s most expansive newspaperRead MoreCitizen Kane Film Analysis1195 Words   |  5 PagesWelles’s Citizen Kane: The Blackmail Scene (Definite Version) â€Å"There’s only one person in the world to decide what I’m going to do – and that’s me.† – Charles Foster Kane from Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. Orson Welles’ 1941 classic film Citizen Kane tells the story of Charles Forster Kane. The turning point of the film is when Jim Gettys attempts to blackmail Kane. The scene demonstrates Kane’s fall from grace through pride. His reactions to the other characters in this scene (Mrs. Kane, Susan AlexanderRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film Citizen Kane By Orson Wells1303 Words   |  6 Pagesan extract from the film ‘Citizen Kane’, directed by Orson Wells (1941) for this assignment. The technical aspects I have chosen to explore will be the use of both mise-en-scene and editing. Synopsis The clip I have selected from Citizen Kane is a montage scene that shows the protagonist Charles Foster Kane eating breakfast with his wife Emily. The scene is presented in the form of a narrative exposition from the mind of Jedediiah Leland, who is the ex business partner of Kane. The entirety of theRead MoreCitizen Kane: Film Analysis Essay536 Words   |  3 PagesSince the beginning of the Industrial Age, Americans have idealized the journey towards economic success. One thing people do not realize, however, is that that journey is not the same for every individual. For Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the main character of Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, the path towards riches and a fulfilled life is being well liked. He serves to please others. He strives for that attention. This view cost him his happiness in the end. In this man’s rise and fallRead MoreFilm Analysis : Citizen Kane Directed By Orson Welles1955 Words   |  8 Pagesnarrative. The 1941 film, Citizen Kane directed by Orson Welles is a phenomenal example of the exploration of innovative uses in photography, sound and editing. Orson Welles uses staging, shadows, low-key lighting, deep focus and overlapping dialogue to emphasize various aspects of the film. The main character Charles Foster Kane is sent away by his parents when he is just little boy after they come into a large amount of money. Due to this, he grows up to be an insensitive and vain man. Kane becomes veryRead MoreHistorical Analysis of the Movie, Citizen Kane Essay1699 Words   |  7 Pages Historical Analysis, Citizen Kane: Camera Movement Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, was an exemplary and ground-breaking work. In narrative structure and film style, Welles challenged classical Hollywood conventions and opened a path for experimentation in the later 1940s. Gregg Toland’s deep-focus cinematography and Welles’ use of low-key lighting are often discussed aspects of the movie. True, these were areas of innovation, but when watching the movie in class I was particularlyRead MoreWhy Citizen Kane is the Best Movie Ever Made Essay760 Words   |  4 PagesCasablanca and Citizen Kane has been a classic argument between film critics and historians alike, and this is because both of these pieces are timeless pictures that have managed to captivate audiences well after their era. On a broad spectrum analysis this is an apples and oranges debate as the two films both have great cinematographic value but for different reasons. However, the real question at hand is which film is the greatest? Which film trans formed the future of American film making? It is