Read the citizen kane crash course on cinematography. The 1941 groundbreaking drama citizen kane, by orson welles, proved to extend far beyond the sum of its original worth. An analysis of the accuracy of william randolph hearsts portrayal in the movie citizen kane. My view on the film i can honestly say that my interest in old films, especially the ones that were made prior to the 70s, was very low.
Considered by many critics, filmmakers, and fans to be the greatest film ever made. It matters little what crash is in a traditional aesthetic sense. We had the pleasure of watching a film directed by orson wells in 1941 called citizen kane. He was also the star and the director of citizen kane. Citizen kane film analysis 1046 words 5 pages discuss to what extent citizen kane changed film and the golden era of cinema the film was made in 1941 and won best screenplay at the oscars and was also nominated for best picture, best director, best actor and best cinematography. However, citizen kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. In citizen kane, the editing is essential to facilitate the story and add to the mystery of the film. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter, director and star. As an armature film observer, citizen kane is the perfect film of choice to begin analyzing some of. Camera movement citizen kane, directed by orson welles, was an exemplary and groundbreaking work. Denny, mollie kent starring orson welles joseph cotten dorothy comingore music by bernard herrmann editing by robert wise distributed by rko. The fact that welles played kane as well as directing is astonishing, but the deepfocus cinematography of greg.
The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, citizen kane 1941, is probably the worlds most famous and highlyrated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations in photography, editing, and sound. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of citizen kane and what it means. Highlights 2 comments on citizen kane and cinematography. Citizen kane is a great drama and i would recommend it to anyone who likes. Here are six takeaways for your next film or video project. Its director, star, and producer were all the same genius. Citizen kane and miseenscene cinema sweetheart and her. Cinematography citizen kane anatomy of a classic youtube. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything. That fact turned citizen kane into an exclusive film and quickly recaptured my attention for a second viewing. Get free film analysis paper dont you become the first.
Cinema is forever the cinematography of citizen kane. As a current student on this bumpy collegiate pathway, i stumbled upon course hero, where i can find study resources for nearly all my courses. Eric blodgett, film 220, professor keating uc santa barbara, 2006. On may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics. Buy the citizen kane crash course on cinematography. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 15, 2015 orson welles talks about making citizen kane the dick cavett show duration. We see, reflected in a window, the logo of kane s rival the new york chronicle superimposed upon kane, leland, and. Watching a film takes so much more than just escaping from your own life for a few hours. The citizen kane crash course in cinematography free download as pdf file. Ucla store citizen kane crash course in cinematography. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Tierra glass citizen kane analysis march 26, 2010 1. The explanation of why you can receive and acquire this film analysis paper sooner is that this is.
The audiences of the time never fully grasped the deeper meaning behind the story and as a result it suffered financially. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. In narrative structure and film style, welles challenged classical hollywood conventions and opened a path for experimentation in the later 1940s. For the past fifty or so years directors have been copying. Nominated for academy awards in nine categories, it won an academy award for best writing original screenplay by herman j. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything about the art. Citizen kane does not restrict the information inthis flashback to lelands point of view. With its use of deep focus, strange shot angles, and impossible crane shots, the cinematography of citizen kane is justly famous and has been hugely influential. In the end we find out its the sledge, which symbolises his childhood that he lost. The fact that welles played kane as well as directing is astonishing, but the deepfocus cinematography of.
Citizen kane and miseenscene cinema sweetheart and her looks. Oct 07, 20 similar dynamics are in play in this scene in citizen kane. I have chosen five of the sixteen techniques that i learned this week, which made an impact on the way that i personally viewed this film. An analysis of citizen kane by orson welles and other movies composed by bernard herrmann. Citizen kane 1941 i always wondered citizen kane was on the top 100 list of best movies ever, or timeless films, or whatever really. The citizen kane crash course in cinematography by david. Article pdf available in journal of film and video 662. The citizen kane crash course in cinematography book. In terms of visual style citizen kane features probably every element seen in film noirs of the 40s and 50s altman, 71. May 07, 2004 the cinematography affects our understanding of citizen kane by providing a stable framework for theoretical and historical discussions. Citizen kane, bfi film classics series palgrave macmillan on behalf of the british film institute, 2012, 30. This post focuses on the elements of film style miseenscene, cinematography, editing, and sound providing a few examples of how welles citizen kane 1941 utilises. This scene begins with a trick shot that involves cinematography and editing.
Similar dynamics are in play in this scene in citizen kane. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. Eric blodgett, film 220, professor keating uc santa barbara, 2006 historical analysis, citizen kane. An analysis of cinematography in citizen kane by orson. Citizen kane made cinematic advances on many fronts, and its most significant contribution to cinematography came from the use of a technique known as deep focus. This essay will examine one theoretical framework, realism, and connect it to tolands work to reveal the complexities and impact cinematography has to the discourse surrounding citizen kane. I am glad that this particular film was the film of choice to demonstrate some of these techniques. It might be difficult to appreciate it here, but in this shot all characters are in focus including the kid kane playing outside he may appear out of focus, but its actually snow. The story, along with the revolutionary cinematography, made it a movie years ahead of its time where orson welles, charlie kane, takes several controversial.
Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Kane has just learned from his guardian, thatcher, that the crash of 29 has wiped out his estate. Jan 11, 2018 michael aranda will try to help us through both of these questions as we take a look at our first film in crash course film criticism, citizen kane. The citizen kane crash course in cinematography scribd. May 01, 2017 on may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics. With orson welles, joseph cotten, dorothy comingore, agnes moorehead. Videomakers deconstructing cinematography examines great movie scenes known for spectacular cinematography and breaks them down to find why theyre highly revered. The technique of telling the story of kane from multiple points of view dispels the illusion that we are learning the truth about. This entertaining graphic textbooks follows the torrid what could have happened story of two legendary filmmakersorson welles and gregg tolandas they drink and party their way to creative heights in cinematography. Apr 19, 2020 citizen kane s narrative strategy, in which the whole story is told in flashback from slightly different points of view the equivalent of the unreliable narrator in fiction, was unprecedented in a hollywood film. In the importance of film form we considered the formal elements at the filmmakers command, and the the overall pattern of these elements that make up the films formal system. This movie has a great plot, amazing acting and very dramatic scenes. Cinematography of citizen kane twisted ladder movies.
Sep, 2012 citizen kane 1941 i always wondered citizen kane was on the top 100 list of best movies ever, or timeless films, or whatever really. Narrative innovations in citizen kane narrative film technique. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything about the art of cinematography in half an hour. We will discuss this with respect to the cinematography of citizen kane. Citizen kane remains the most influential film produced in the hollywood. Ahead of its release, the hollywood reporter appraised. Citizen kane by orson welles presents a hollow ending to a complex film. Cinematic techniques used in citizen kane essay sample. Orson welles talks about making citizen kane the dick cavett show duration. Upon viewing the film an additional time, i paid more attention to a particular camera technique employed by the cinematographer. Observe this snapshot from the scene at the colorado home. Why do you think the first meeting of kane andsusan is presented in lelands flashback and notin. Citizen kane breakfast scene analysis film studies essay.
Jan 16, 2017 the filmmaking techniques on display in citizen kane continue to influence generations of artists. All these are present in citizen kane from charles foster kane as the flawed hero, to emily kane as the typical american housewife, and of course suzan alexander as the woman who breaks his heart. Sep 01, 2008 buy the citizen kane crash course on cinematography. During the entire course of this scene, nobodys face is really seen. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coauthor, director and star. Sep 01, 2008 the citizen kane crash course in cinematography.
The citizen kane crash course on cinematography by david worth book resume. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything about the art of. The following is a college paper for uc berkeley film studies course. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything about the art of cinematography in. Narrative innovations in citizen kane narrative film. Citizen kane and the deep focus shot sarcasm and the jew. Jan 29, 2015 this post focuses on the elements of film style miseenscene, cinematography, editing, and sound providing a few examples of how welles citizen kane 1941 utilises these elements in and, in doing so, draws on other prominent film styles.
Citizen kane hemanshu agnihotri film theory citizen kane. Film space refers to the spatial dynamics inherent in the film frame. The movie citizen kane uses each cinematic technique in a way that is obvious to the viewer. Hey, screenwriters and filmmakers wanted to take a few moments to give you a fun book recommendation a new book from cinematographer david worth any which way you can, bloodsport, kickboxer, bronco billy, etc. Citizen kane is still considered one of the greatest films ever made. Once i saw citizen kane, it immediately became my favorite film. Jul 19, 2012 that fact turned citizen kane into an exclusive film and quickly recaptured my attention for a second viewing. Eric blodgett, film 220, professor keating uc santa. Deep focus refers to having everything in the frame, even the background, in focus at the same time, as opposed to having only the people and things in the foreground in focus. The citizen kane crash course in cinematography brings to life the 60plus year urban legend of the infamous weekend between orson welles and the oscar winning cinematographer, gregg toland wuthering heights, citizen kane. An analysis of cinematography in citizen kane by orson welles. A summary of filmic elements in orson welless citizen kane. Nevertheless, does this flashback reveal lelandsview of kane. It is widely noted that it was cinematographer gregg toland who first contacted orson welles about shooting citizen kane 1941.
Kane launches the inquirer s attack on big business e. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Orson wells was an american film director, writer, actor and producer, who worked in film, theatre, television and radio. The story, along with the revolutionary cinematography, made it a movie years ahead of its time where orson welles, charlie kane, takes several controversial steps on his road to greatness. After watching it, and knowing more about true appreciation of film i get it, so to speak. Nov 16, 2009 all these are present in citizen kane from charles foster kane as the flawed hero, to emily kane as the typical american housewife, and of course suzan alexander as the woman who breaks his heart. Citizen kanes narrative strategy, in which the whole story is told in flashback from slightly different points of view the equivalent of the unreliable narrator in fiction, was unprecedented in a hollywood film. Michael aranda will try to help us through both of these questions as we take a look at our first film in crash course film criticism, citizen kane. Citizen kane is considered one of the greatest films ever made. The irony is that cinematographer gregg tolands unsettling and idiosyncratic use of the camera may have been part of the reason why citizen kane was not a commercial or. Citizen kane 1941 american film institutes best film ever made.