Citizen Kane

"Citizen Kane" (1941) is often considered one of the greatest films ever made, directed, produced, and starring Orson Welles. The film is a complex narrative told in a non-linear structure, focusing on the life of Charles Foster Kane, a media tycoon. The movie explores themes of wealth, power, isolation, and the elusiveness of truth. Here's a detailed breakdown of the story:

Plot Summary

Opening: The Death of Charles Foster Kane

The film begins with the death of the protagonist, Charles Foster Kane, in his vast and decaying mansion called Xanadu. The scene shows Kane, alone in his room, muttering the word "Rosebud" just before dropping a snow globe and passing away. His last word, “Rosebud,” becomes the central mystery of the film.

Following his death, a newsreel obituary highlights Kane’s life, showcasing his rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most powerful and controversial figures in America. He built an empire around his newspaper, The Inquirer, and had a significant influence on politics, business, and public opinion. However, the obituary reveals that despite his wealth and success, Kane died a lonely man. The newsreel suggests a tragic fall from grace but leaves many questions about his private life unanswered.

Thompson’s Quest for "Rosebud"

After watching the newsreel, a reporter named Jerry Thompson is assigned to uncover the meaning behind Kane’s mysterious last word, “Rosebud.” Thompson’s investigation serves as the film’s framing device, as he interviews various people from Kane’s life in an attempt to piece together who Charles Foster Kane truly was and why “Rosebud” was so important to him.

The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks as Thompson speaks to those who knew Kane, each offering a different perspective on his life.

Kane’s Early Life: From Poverty to Wealth

The first flashback comes from Mr. Thatcher’s memoirs. Walter Parks Thatcher (George Coulouris), a banker, was the legal guardian of Kane. The flashback reveals Kane’s early life as a poor child in Colorado, where his mother, Mary Kane, unexpectedly inherits a fortune from a mining claim. Mrs. Kane hands over her young son to Thatcher, believing it would secure his future. Kane is taken away from his parents and raised by Thatcher to become a wealthy, well-educated young man.

However, Kane resents Thatcher’s control over his life. As a young adult, Kane chooses to rebel against his guardian’s expectations by acquiring control of The New York Inquirer, a struggling newspaper. This decision sets him on the path to becoming a powerful media mogul, using sensationalist journalism to attack the wealthy elites and position himself as a champion of the common people.

Kane’s Rise to Power: The Newspaper Empire

The next series of flashbacks comes from Mr. Bernstein (Everett Sloane), Kane’s loyal business manager. Bernstein recounts Kane’s rapid rise to power through his aggressive and innovative management of the Inquirer. Kane turns the paper into a sensationalist tabloid that focuses on scandal and human-interest stories. His motto becomes, "If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough."

Kane uses the newspaper to build an empire, buying up other papers, creating a media conglomerate, and expanding his influence. He fashions himself as a populist hero, using his platform to criticize monopolies and corrupt politicians. He is loved by the public but loathed by his competitors and enemies.

However, even as Kane’s empire grows, so does his arrogance. He seeks control over everything, including people. His relationship with his close friends, such as Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), begins to deteriorate as Kane’s ego and need for dominance consume him.

Kane’s First Marriage and Political Ambitions

Thompson then interviews Susan Alexander Kane (Dorothy Comingore), Kane’s second wife, but she refuses to speak to him initially. The narrative then shifts to Kane’s first marriage to Emily Norton (Ruth Warrick), the niece of the President of the United States. Their marriage starts happily, but as Kane becomes more consumed by his work and political ambitions, their relationship deteriorates. Kane decides to run for Governor of New York, positioning himself as a progressive reformer.

However, during his gubernatorial campaign, Kane’s affair with Susan Alexander, a young aspiring singer, is exposed by his political rival, Jim Gettys (Ray Collins). Gettys threatens to reveal the affair unless Kane withdraws from the race. Kane refuses to bow to blackmail, leading to the public disgrace of both his political career and his marriage. Emily leaves him, taking their son with her.

Kane’s Second Marriage: Control and Decline

After his political defeat, Kane marries Susan Alexander and tries to mold her into a successful opera singer, despite her lack of talent and desire to perform. Kane builds a lavish opera house for Susan and promotes her career relentlessly, but her performances are poorly received by critics and audiences alike. Kane’s obsession with controlling Susan and shaping her into a star mirrors his broader need for power and validation.

Susan becomes increasingly unhappy and isolated in her marriage, feeling trapped by Kane’s dominance. She eventually tries to commit suicide, and though she survives, their marriage continues to crumble. Despite his immense wealth and fame, Kane cannot control the people around him or force them to love him the way he wants.

The Breakdown of Friendships

Thompson interviews Jedediah Leland, Kane’s former best friend and a drama critic for the Inquirer. Leland recounts how Kane’s ego and moral compromises caused the breakdown of their friendship. Leland, who initially admired Kane’s idealism, becomes disillusioned as Kane’s need for control and power corrupts him.

Leland's relationship with Kane reaches a breaking point when he is assigned to review Susan’s disastrous opera performance. Drunk and bitter, Leland writes a scathing review. Kane discovers the unfinished review, but instead of firing Leland, Kane completes the negative article himself, allowing it to be published. Kane fires Leland afterward, severing their friendship for good.

Kane’s Isolation and Decline

After his marriage to Susan ends in divorce, Kane retreats to Xanadu, his vast, opulent estate in Florida, where he lives in increasing isolation. Xanadu, filled with priceless art and treasures from around the world, becomes a symbol of Kane’s wealth and loneliness. He is surrounded by material wealth but emotionally bankrupt, with no one left to care for him.

In his later years, Kane becomes a recluse, cut off from the world. Despite his attempts to fill the void in his life with wealth, power, and control, Kane is left with nothing but his memories and regrets.

The Meaning of "Rosebud"

After interviewing all of Kane’s associates and discovering the complexities of his life, Thompson is still unable to decipher the meaning of “Rosebud.” He concludes that the meaning of one word cannot explain the entirety of a man’s life and that the mystery of Kane will remain unsolved.

In the film’s final scene, workers at Xanadu are sorting through Kane’s vast collection of belongings. Among the many items being discarded is an old sled from Kane’s childhood. As the sled is thrown into the furnace to be burned, the camera reveals the name "Rosebud" painted on it. The sled was a cherished object from Kane’s childhood, representing the innocence and happiness he lost when he was taken from his family and thrust into a world of wealth and power.

Themes and Symbolism

• The Elusiveness of Truth: The film explores how the truth about a person is subjective, depending on who is telling the story. Through different perspectives, we see conflicting versions of Kane’s character, but no single view provides the full truth.

• Isolation and Power: Despite his wealth and influence, Kane is a deeply isolated figure. His pursuit of power, control, and material success alienates him from those who love him, leaving him lonely in the end.

• "Rosebud" as a Symbol: “Rosebud” symbolizes the lost innocence and happiness of Kane’s early life. The sled represents a time before wealth and power corrupted his life. It’s a reminder that no matter how much Kane achieved, he could never regain the simplicity and love he lost as a child.

• The Corruption of Idealism: Kane starts his career as an idealistic young man who wants to use his power to help people. However, as he gains more power, his ideals are corrupted by his need for control and validation.

• Materialism and Emptiness: Kane’s vast collection of art and treasures serves as a metaphor for his emptiness. Despite owning everything, Kane dies alone, unable to find the emotional fulfillment he sought.

Conclusion

Citizen Kane is a richly layered film about the rise and fall of a powerful man. Through its innovative storytelling, non-linear structure, and deep exploration of character, it examines the complexities of human ambition, the consequences of wealth and power, and the elusive nature of happiness. The mystery of “Rosebud” ultimately serves as a poignant reminder that material success cannot replace the lost joys of childhood or the connections we make with others.