Citizen Kane

Considered by many to be the greatest motion picture ever made, this thinly veiled portrait of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst marked the stunning debut of 25-year-old actor, director, and co-author Orson Welles. Imaginatively told through the use of newsreel footage and flashbacks, the film opens with the dying moments of Charles Foster Kane (Welles), as he utters the immortal word "Rosebud." When a young reporter is assigned to the job of finding the "real Kane," he uncovers a complex story of both the public and private man, a tale of wealth and fame leading to corruption and a secret self-loathing. Brilliant in every respect, much of the credit for the innovative look of the film goes to cinematographer Gregg Toland (who shot many scenes from previously unheard of low angles, and made powerful use of deep-focus photography). Nominated for nine Oscars in 1941, including Best Picture, Director, Actor (Welles), and Cinematography, it came away with only one statue--for Best Screenplay. Welles' justified hubris reportedly led to collaborator Herman J. Mankiewicz's remark: "there but for the grace of God goes God." Beautifully restored, this 60th anniversary edition (a 50th anniversary edition was released in 1991, which included the short documentary "Reflections on Citizen Kane" featuring interviews with surviving cast and production members--missing here, unfortunately) includes excellent extras: two audio commentaries by Roger Ebert and Peter Bogdanovich (with Ebert's the better of the pair), newsreel footage, stills, and memorabilia, and--on the second disc--the Oscar-nominated documentary The Battle for Citizen Kane. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Sept. 13, 2011—Warner, 3 discs, 119 min., PG, $64.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1941's Citizen Kane: 70th Anniversary sports a great transfer and DTS-HD mono audio. Extras on this release include two audio commentaries (the first with critic Roger Ebert; the second with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich), production storyboards and stills (15 min.), interviews with costar Ruth Warrick and editor Robert Wise (9 min.), deleted scene stills and various promotional materials (6 min.), a newsreel from the premiere (2 min.), and a trailer. Also included are bonus DVDs--the 1995 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane and 1999's RKO 281—as well as a 48-page book with photos and storyboards, a 20-page 1941 souvenir program reproduction, 10 reproductions of studio memos and correspondences, and five one-sheet/lobby-card reproductions. Bottom line: a handsome Blu-ray debut for a towering classic of American cinema.]