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Citizen Kane
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Citizen Kane (1941)

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User Rating: 8.6/10 (108,691 votes)
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IMDb Coverage of Comic-Con 2008

Overview

Director:
Orson Welles
Writers:
Herman J. Mankiewicz (screenplay) and
Orson Welles (screenplay)
Release Date:
1 May 1941 (USA) more view trailer
Genre:
Drama | Mystery more
Tagline:
365 days in the making - and every minute of it an exciting NEW thrill for you ! more
Plot:
Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. full summary | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(34 articles)
"Moolaadé," "Daisy Kenyon" (From IFC. 25 March 2008, 6:48 AM, PDT)
Academy Wants Pickford, Rogers Oscars (From Studio Briefing. 31 December 2007)
User Comments:
A great piece of cinema, a magnificent example of storytelling more
US TV Schedule:
Sun. July 273:30 AMTCM   

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
American (USA) (working title)
John Citizen, U.S.A. (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | Netherlands:6 | Canada:F (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Ireland:12 (DVD rating) (2003) | Israel:PG | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1985) | USA:PG
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 17% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Alan Ladd makes his appearance as one of the reporters at the end of the film (the one "with the pipe," as indicated in the credits list), discussing Kane and "Rosebud" just before the furnace finale. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The first time we see the backstage preparations before Susan sings, the shadow of the curtain rising has a completely straight bottom edge. The second time we see this scenario, this time from behind Susan, as the curtain rises, the bottom of the curtain is adorned with a series of prominent curves. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Charles Foster Kane: Rosebud.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Citizen Shane (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Aria from Salaambo more

FAQ

What have critics said?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
more
35 out of 42 people found the following comment useful:-
A great piece of cinema, a magnificent example of storytelling, 21 October 2004
10/10
Author: Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark

I've heard so much told about Citizen Kane and Orson Welles, so I finally decided to get the film, and find out if it really is all that it's cracked up to be... I must say, it's great. The plot is great, and the way it's told is amazing. The story is first summed up in a matter of minutes, about 15, to be more accurate, and then the rest of the film has characters telling the story through flashbacks and retelling. We hear just about every opinion about Charles Foster Kane, apart from his own. The story is told after his death, and we see everything important that leads up to it, and only in the very end do we understand him, only then do we fully understand who he was, and what made him so. The ending also reveals one of the very most important things in any man or woman... one thing that everyone needs and knows of. I won't reveal it here, as it would almost be a crime to spoil the experience of this film to anyone. The acting is excellent; Welles himself is stellar as Kane, and his impressive appearance, along with his commanding voice, makes the character a forceful sight, nay, experience. The characters are well-written and credible. The character of Kane is probably the most well-rounded and perfectly built up I've seen in a movie, ever. The cinematography is excellent... the editing is great. I can't praise the angles, pans, zooms and transitions enough... it just has to be experienced. Now, for the one thing I can criticize in the film; the pacing. It's only two hours long, but it feels like much, much more. There were portions of the film where it felt like it didn't move at all. When there weren't great dialog or something equally as good in the film, it dragged terribly. There were too many scenes where the dialog seemed pointless, as well, I think. It didn't seem to be leading to anything. However, this criticism is so minor, due to the ending more than making up for it, that I still give this film a perfect score. I can't do anything but agree with its placing at the top of the top #250 films of all time, here on IMDb. As I'm writing this, it's #11. That's pretty much what it deserves, in my opinion. Not higher, not lower. Not the greatest film of all time(that pretty much still belongs to The Godfather, I think... at least, I haven't seen a better film than that, yet), but definitely far up there. I recommend this to any fan of film in general, and anyone who thinks they can understand it; it has a truly profound point that any man(and woman) should know of(preferably through seeing the film for themselves). Don't let the fact that it's old and black & white deter you from seeing this masterpiece. A true cinematic masterpiece, in every sense of the word. 10/10

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Greatest Films Ever Made smoothiedudie
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Can someone please explain to me... josh_ff8
Aside from its influence, what's so good about it? deadman1206
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