Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey Explained

Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker’s Journey is a 2016 non-fiction book written by Harlan Lebo about the making of Citizen Kane, the motion picture produced, directed, co-written, and starring Orson Welles that is ranked by the American Film Institute as the best motion picture ever made.[1]

Summary

Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker’s Journey describes Welles' rise to prominence, the creative control he received in his first Hollywood contract, studio infighting over the project at RKO Radio Pictures, the pressurized production schedule, the plot by the Hearst Corporation – critical of the similarity between real-life publisher William Randolph Hearst and the character of Charles Foster Kane – to suppress or destroy the film and discredit Welles, and the ascent of Citizen Kane in the rankings of American motion pictures.[2]

The book is notable for using previously unused documents from the Hearst and Welles archives, the University of Michigan, and the Museum of Modern Art (New York), to examine six new topics about the film:[2] Welles' role in writing the screenplay, which was larger than formerly understood;[3] [4] [5] previously-unreleased information provided by Welles’ assistant Kathryn (Trosper) Popper,[6] which describes Welles’ struggles with creating the film;[7] the impact on the production of a previously-unexplored script that Welles created after the studio approved a final draft;[8] [9] eyewitness accounts of last-second writing by Welles;[7] [3] new scenes written during production to fix flaws in the story;[10] and information about the plans by the Hearst organization to suppress or destroy Citizen Kane and discredit Welles.[11] [12]

Reception

Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker’s Journey received consistently positive reviews, with critics citing the book for its comprehensive narrative, clarifying misconceptions and inaccuracies, and new factual information about the film.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Kirkus Reviews reported, "Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey is everything you wanted to know about the greatest film of all time – and then some."[13] Although The New York Times review said although the book seemed “quaint” when compared to the biography by Simon Callow on Orson Welles’ middle years that was published the same month, The Times also said that Lebo’s book was “The most thorough account yet of the genesis, production, and release of Welles's most famous film. . .it's never been presented this comprehensively.”[14]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AFI's 100 Greatest Films of All Time. AFI . March 14, 2018.
  2. Book: Summary: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey. April 26, 2016 . March 10, 2018. 9781466889750. Lebo. Harlan. St. Martin's Publishing .
  3. News: Notes from interview by Joe Popper, provided to author Harlan Lebo by Joe Popper and Laura Popper . (Trosper) Popper. Kathryn.
  4. News: Late Script for Citizen Kane, no cover or date (same document at the Museum of Modern Art called Correction Script). Richard Wilson -- Orson Welles Papers, 1930-2000, Special Collections Library . University of Michigan.
  5. News: Budget and Daily Production Reports. Special Collections Library . UCLA. RKO Radio Pictures, Files for Citizen Kane, May 1940-January 1941.
  6. Web site: Kathryn Trosper Popper, Last Living 'Citizen Kane' Castmember, Dies at 100. Cheng . Cheryl . March 8, 2016 . Hollywood Reporter . March 10, 2018.
  7. News: Notes from meeting with Orson Welles, Herman Mankiewicz, and John Houseman, provided to author Harlan Lebo by Joe Popper and Laura Popper . (Trosper) Popper. Kathryn . May 23, 1940.
  8. The Scripts of Citizen Kane. Carringer. Robert. Winter 1978. Critical Inquiry . 5. 2. 369–400. 10.1086/447995. 162322642.
  9. News: Third Revised Final Script of Citizen Kane, cover dated July 16, 1940. Special Collections Library . UCLA. RKO Radio Pictures, Files for Citizen Kane, May 1940-January 1941.
  10. News: Cutting Continuity of Citizen Kane, cover dated February 21, 1941. Special Collections Library. UCLA. RKO Radio Pictures, Files for Citizen Kane, May 1940-January 1941.
  11. News: Letter from Richard Berlin to Joseph Willicombe, January 2, 1941. Bancroft Library . UC Berkeley. William Randolph Hearst Papers.
  12. News: Letter from Richard Berlin to Joseph Willicombe, January 21, 1941, and related correspondence. Bancroft Library . UC Berkeley. William Randolph Hearst Papers.
  13. Web site: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey/. January 26, 2016 . Kirkus Reviews . March 24, 2018.
  14. Web site: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey. June 1, 2016. The New York Times. March 25, 2018.
  15. Web site: Filmmaker's Journey' puts deep focus on Orson Welles, 'Citizen Kane'. Foran. Chris. April 7, 2016. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 28, 2018.
  16. Web site: Review: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey. Thornell. Peter . February 15, 2016. Library Journal. March 10, 2018.
  17. Web site: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey. February 8, 2016. Publishers Weekly. March 20, 2018.
  18. Web site: Review: Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey. March 17, 2016. Booklist (American Library Association). March 16, 2018.

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