IMDb > Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane
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Citizen Kane (1941) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 84 | slideshow) Videos (see all 9)
Citizen Kane (1941) -- UK Trailer
Citizen Kane (1941) -- Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.
Citizen Kane (1941) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Herman J. Mankiewicz (screenplay) and
Orson Welles (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Citizen Kane on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 May 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
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
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
Most important movie ever made more (912 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
American (USA) (working title)
John Citizen, U.S.A. (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | 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

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
William Randolph Hearst was infuriated by this movie, obviously based on his life. According to an essay written for the New York Review of Books by Gore Vidal "Rosebud" was Hearst's name for long-time mistress Marion Davies' clitoris. But screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz insisted that he took the name from a bicycle he owned as a child. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the first time on the opera house stage, just before Susan begins to sing, two men pass carrying a litter behind her twice. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Charles Foster Kane: Rosebud.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
News On The March more

FAQ

What is "Rosebud"?
What have critics said?
Since there was no one in the room when Kane died, how does anyone know he even said "Rosebud"?
more
78 out of 140 people found the following comment useful.
Most important movie ever made, 8 November 2005
10/10
Author: bartvanbenthem from Amsterdam

Kane "Citizen Kane" (1941) was Orson Welles' film debut, and in it he created an enduring masterpiece that is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made.

Story:

Shortly after "Citizen Kane" opens, we see aged newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Welles) softly drawl the word "Rosebud" and die. Sensing that there's a story behind Kane's dying word, a magazine editor shows a reporter a newsreel obituary that chronicles how Kane created a business empire, married a U.S. President's niece, ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New York, divorced his first wife and married a second, collected art, built a fabulous estate called Xanadu, and divorced his second wife. The reporter is then assigned the task of ferreting out the significance of "Rosebud." As the reporter's investigation progresses, fascinating details about Kane emerge.

My opinion:

Citizen kane is maybe for a lot of people (myselve not included) not a real entertaining movie, But there is no doubt about it that aws one of the most important movies ever made.

The visual style of "Citizen Kane" looks stunningly fresh and inventive even today, and the unconventional narrative structure of the Oscar-winning screenplay still seems daring. Welles' portrayal of a character who gradually ages from 25 to old age is unexcelled, and the movie's supporting cast, most of whom had worked previously with Welles on stage and radio productions, is superb. In short, everything came together in "Citizen Kane" to make it one of the greatest character studies ever captured on film.

Citizen kane is also one of my favorites and is listed in my top 5 of all time: 9.5 / 10 Masterpiece !!!

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Citizen Kane (1941)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
So who heard Kane say the word 'Rosebud'? Kanamit99
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overated movie howard123
Should I still watch this movie? Vassili17
Importance of Citizen Kane to modern film quidnunct
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