Chapter Four - Citizen Kane
Chapter Four
Orson Welles knew the value of the Russian editing techniques and their impact on newsreels. In Citizen Kane, the story of a Hearst-like character is framed by the story of a news service trying to get the "truth" of Kane's life. The opening scene is an editorial meeting, with journalists looking for the right angles or leads to make their newsreel sing.
The movie follows them into the field. What the newsmen discover is Kane's misuse of power and compromised ideals through his national web of newspapers and radio stations. They reveal a dark soulless wizard who could not comprehend what he was doing. Isolated by a mountain of pointless wealth, Kane dies a lonely, confused man.
It's the great American story. Interestingly, although the reporters discover the truth, they decide that it is not enough of a hook to hold the audience. They kill the story.
Orson Welles knew the value of the Russian editing techniques and their impact on newsreels. In Citizen Kane, the story of a Hearst-like character is framed by the story of a news service trying to get the "truth" of Kane's life. The opening scene is an editorial meeting, with journalists looking for the right angles or leads to make their newsreel sing.
The movie follows them into the field. What the newsmen discover is Kane's misuse of power and compromised ideals through his national web of newspapers and radio stations. They reveal a dark soulless wizard who could not comprehend what he was doing. Isolated by a mountain of pointless wealth, Kane dies a lonely, confused man.
It's the great American story. Interestingly, although the reporters discover the truth, they decide that it is not enough of a hook to hold the audience. They kill the story.
posted by Xavier Casto | 02:30
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