Few films in the history of cinema have attained the iconic status and enduring influence of Citizen Kane (1941). Directed by and starring Orson Welles in his feature film debut, Citizen Kane is frequently cited as one of the greatest films ever made, praised for its revolutionary storytelling, innovative cinematography, complex character portrayal, and thematic depth. More than eight decades after its release, it continues to captivate audiences and filmmakers alike, not only as a compelling narrative but as a transformative work that reshaped the language of cinema.
Background and Production
The story of Citizen Kane is as fascinating behind the scenes as it is on screen. Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film. Prior to this, Welles was already well known as a theatrical and radio wunderkind, most famously for his 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, which caused public panic by presenting a fictional Martian invasion as a news bulletin. His immense talent and notoriety led RKO Pictures to offer him an unprecedented contract granting creative control over his first two films — a rare privilege in Hollywood at the time.
Welles collaborated with screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz to craft the screenplay for Citizen Kane. The story was partly inspired by the life of real-life newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, though Welles and Mankiewicz insisted it was a composite portrait drawing on multiple figures. The parallels with Hearst, however, were unmistakable, leading to Hearst’s infamous campaign to suppress the film’s release. Despite these obstacles, Citizen Kane was completed and released in 1941, though it initially met with modest box-office success. Its reputation grew over time, however, and by the 1950s it was widely regarded as a landmark in cinematic history.
Plot Summary
Citizen Kane opens with the death of its protagonist, Charles Foster Kane (played by Orson Welles), a wealthy newspaper tycoon, in his vast Florida estate, Xanadu. His final word — “Rosebud” — sets the mystery in motion. A newsreel recounting Kane’s life and achievements is shown, summarizing his rise from obscurity to one of the most powerful men in America. Yet, despite his wealth and influence, something essential eluded him, hinted at by his enigmatic last utterance.
Journalist Jerry Thompson (William Alland) is assigned to discover the meaning of “Rosebud.” Through a series of interviews with those who knew Kane best, the film reconstructs the story of his life in a series of nonlinear flashbacks. These include testimony from his business manager Mr. Bernstein, his estranged friend Jedediah Leland, his second wife Susan Alexander, and his butler Raymond. Each perspective reveals different facets of Kane’s complex personality: his idealism, his ambition, his ego, his loneliness, and his ultimate failure to achieve happiness.
We learn that Kane was born into poverty but became the ward of a wealthy banker after his family struck gold on their land. As a young man, Kane takes over a struggling newspaper, The Inquirer, and turns it into a sensationalist media empire. Driven by ambition, he amasses wealth and influence, shaping public opinion and dabbling in politics. Yet his personal life deteriorates. His first marriage collapses due to his infidelity and relentless pursuit of power. His second marriage to aspiring singer Susan Alexander ends in bitterness as Kane attempts to force her into a career she does not want.
In the film’s final moments, the audience — but not the reporter — learns the meaning of “Rosebud”: it was the name of Kane’s childhood sled, abandoned when he was taken from his family home. The sled is thrown into a furnace and destroyed, its secret lost forever. The revelation provides a poignant commentary on Kane’s life: despite his immense power and wealth, he longed for the simplicity and happiness of his lost childhood.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, Citizen Kane is a deeply human story about ambition, identity, power, and the nature of happiness. One of its central themes is the corrupting influence of power. Kane begins as an idealistic young man, determined to use his newspaper to champion the underprivileged and challenge corruption. Yet, as his empire grows, Kane himself becomes manipulative and authoritarian, shaping public opinion to suit his own desires. His transformation reflects how power and wealth can distort values and erode integrity.
Closely related to this is the theme of isolation. Despite his vast empire and numerous relationships, Kane is ultimately a lonely figure. His quest for love and acceptance is thwarted by his inability to connect genuinely with others. He tries to buy affection and control those around him, pushing away the very people he wants to love him. His relationships — with his wives, his friends, and his colleagues — all deteriorate under the weight of his ego and ambition.
The film also explores the tension between public persona and private self. Kane is known to the world as a titan of industry and a shaper of public opinion, but this external image masks his inner vulnerability and yearning. The investigative structure of the narrative, piecing together Kane’s life through the recollections of others, reflects the impossibility of fully knowing a person — even one as public as Kane. Each narrator offers only a partial truth, and even at the end, “Rosebud” remains an incomplete key to understanding him.
Finally, Citizen Kane is a meditation on lost innocence. “Rosebud” symbolizes Kane’s lost childhood and the happiness he can never reclaim. His relentless pursuit of power and success can be seen as an attempt to fill the void left by that early loss, but material wealth and public acclaim cannot replace the simple joy and security of youth. The film suggests that the deepest human desires are often rooted in the past and that no amount of worldly achievement can heal certain emotional wounds.
Cinematic Innovation and Style
Beyond its narrative brilliance, Citizen Kane is celebrated for its groundbreaking technical achievements, many of which revolutionized filmmaking.
One of its most famous innovations is deep focus cinematography, pioneered by cinematographer Gregg Toland. In deep focus shots, objects in the foreground, middle ground, and background are all sharply in focus, allowing complex compositions and visual storytelling within a single frame. This technique gave scenes a remarkable depth and realism, drawing viewers into Kane’s world and enabling multiple layers of meaning to unfold simultaneously.
The film also made innovative use of lighting and shadow, often employing low angles and stark contrasts to convey mood and character psychology. The towering shots of Kane from below emphasize his power and ambition, while shadowy compositions hint at his darker, more vulnerable side.
Welles’ use of nonlinear storytelling was also groundbreaking. Rather than presenting Kane’s life chronologically, the film reveals it through multiple perspectives and flashbacks. This fragmented structure mirrors the elusiveness of truth and memory, suggesting that no single account can fully capture the complexity of a human life.
Sound design and editing were equally innovative. Overlapping dialogue and inventive transitions — such as the dissolve from Kane’s childhood snow globe to the newsreel — enhanced the narrative flow and emotional impact. Even the newsreel itself, which mimics the style of contemporary newsreels, was a bold narrative device that set the stage for the investigation into Kane’s life.
Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, Citizen Kane received critical acclaim but faced significant obstacles due to Hearst’s hostility. Hearst banned mention of the film in his newspapers and attempted to suppress its distribution. As a result, the film struggled at the box office and won only one Academy Award — for Best Original Screenplay. However, its reputation grew steadily over the decades, and by the 1950s it was recognized as a masterpiece.
In numerous critics’ polls and surveys, Citizen Kane has been repeatedly named the greatest film ever made. The British Film Institute’s Sight & Sound poll ranked it number one for five consecutive decades (1962–2012), and it continues to appear at the top of “greatest films” lists worldwide.
Its influence on cinema is immeasurable. Directors from Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese to Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan have cited Citizen Kane as a major inspiration. Its visual techniques, narrative structure, and character complexity have become foundational elements of modern filmmaking.
Conclusion
Citizen Kane is far more than a story about a newspaper tycoon. It is a profound exploration of human ambition, loss, and the search for meaning. Its innovative techniques transformed the possibilities of film as an art form, while its rich narrative and complex protagonist continue to resonate with audiences today. The mystery of “Rosebud” — and what it represents — serves as a timeless reminder that wealth and power cannot replace the innocence and happiness of youth.
More than eighty years after its debut, Citizen Kane remains as compelling, provocative, and artistically vital as ever. It is not merely a product of its time but a work that transcends it, offering new insights with every viewing. As a testament to the power of cinema to illuminate the human condition, Citizen Kane is not just a great film — it is a cornerstone of film history and a masterpiece that continues to inspire generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.
