Citizen Kane: Film Analysis/Criticism
Long Shot
A framing in which the scale of the object shown is small; a standing human figure would appear nearly the height of the screen.
Long takes
A shot that continues for an unusually lengthy time before the transition to the next shot.
Orson Welles
Actor, director, and filmmaker of Citizen Kane. He was very positive and wanted to try new and different things
Utilizes moving in and out of the stage, kind of how the voices at radio broadcasts comes in and out
Almost all of the actors in Citizen Kane came from a background in radio and had never been in a film before. Is this radio background in any way evident in the film?
Herman J. Mankiewicz
American screenwriter, who, with Orson Welles, wrote the screenplay for Citizen Kane.
Jump Cut
An abrupt transition between shots, sometimes deliberate, which is disorienting in terms of the continuity of space and time.
Diegetic Sound
Any voice, musical passage, or sound effect presented as originating from a source within the film's world.
It feels as if there is a connection between the separated events (continuity)
Describe how sound transitions help to add fluidity to the jump cuts from Susan's parlor to Kane's political campaign
At first, Kane was at the background, powerless when his wife and Gettys were discussing about the blackmail (had no part of the decision), until he steps up to the foreground with light shining at him, symbolizing that he was firm and the one to choose
Describe how the blocking motif (arrangement of characters) helps us to understand Kane's decision in Susan's apartment
Private conversation where Leland was expressing doubts and concerns with Kane, know the power of print ("they think the way we think"), Bernstein doesn't seem to care
Describe the conversation between Leland and Bernstein
Yea because the sound transition creates fluidity of the film and demonstrate continuity between different scenes that occur at different time
Does sound, in general, play an important part in the film? Are there any unusual uses of sound that stand out?
illusory nature of reality
During the party scene, what do the reflected images signify?
Foreground - power + significance Midground - waffling powers Background - powerless
Explain foreground, midground, and background of deep focus
Mood
Feeling or atmosphere that the film presents to the audience
Bernstein
Friend and follower of Kane, more positive and friendly towards him
Jedediah Leland
Friend and worker with Kane before getting fired, kind of criticized him and went sidetrack when conversing with the journalist, unreliable narrative
1. Informs us of public perceptions 2. A homage to a silent film 3. Just a position of opening 4. Provides a fairly objective view
Functions of "News on the March"
Trenches
How did Welles establish low angle shots?
Dissolve, going back to the present, dialogue, etc
How does Welles prevent confusion when scenes are transitioned in non chronological ways?
Economical usage of time and space, goes back and forward in time (flashbacks, memories to present), in and out of narration, multiple simultaneous actions shown
How does Welles use a dissolve transition to create the impact of jump cut?
Kane was shown in the dark while the other two were in the light. He was signing the "Declaration of Principles" between the other two, showing a sign of power but a dark plot in the future. He may not live up to them
How does Welles use framing and lighting to create a literary sense of foreshadowing at the first edition of the newspaper scene?
It has more depth and different scene with the right pace w/o cuts and edits
How is Citizen Kane like an aquarium?
At first loving and romantic (they were close together, costume was as if they were in a honey moon, sounds was positive and romantic) to distant as time progressed (shown cold emotions, his wife reading a newspaper that is rivaled to his, table was more distant, more silence b/t them)
How is Kane's first marriage portrayed?
Lighting; costume; dialogue; relative height
How is the character of the adult Kane revealed in the confrontation with Thatcher? (4)
4
How many shots were taken when Kane was drunk with Leland?
It doesn't matter. You cannot summarize a man's life by a single word.
In the end, what is the film trying to say?
No Trespassing sign and the camera was tilting up
In the opening, what do we see first and what was the camera movement?
Blocking Scheme
Placement of objects
Costume
Reflection of internal change
A rich, powerful man who tried to seek love from the world but ended up losing everything
Summary of Citizen Kane
Thatcher, Bernstein, Leland, Susan Alexander, Raymond
The 5 People who gave their view on "Rosebuds"
180 Rule
The convention that the camera can be placed in any position as long as it remains on one side of the action.
Charles Foster Kane
The protagonist in the film Citizen Kane, who was a rich and powerful man but also had a mysterious life. His last word was rosebud and people were trying to figure out what that means
Very long takes and deep focus
What 2 techniques define many of Welles' shots in Citizen Kane?
He is incapable of showing genuine feelings and does not understand love. He only takes and gives without any meaning.
What can we assume about Kane (when it comes to emotions)
Overlapping Dialogue
What dialogue technique is used in the journalist's room?
"Everything was his idea except my leaving him"
What did Susan say about her relationship with Kane?
Music/sound stops, light goes off
What happens in the opening when the camera reaches at the window?
There is no meaning to it and it's just another puzzle piece of a bigger picture
What is rosebud to the reporter?
Establishes the character as being isolated from society, mysterious, wants to be alone and no be bothered
What is the significance of beginning with the "No Trespassing" sign?
Dark silhouette in phone booth
What shot was used when the reporter has not found anything new?
The girl in white
What story does Bernstein tell about remembering?
Long boom shot through skylight
What technique was used with the reporter's first visit with Susan?
Sound
What transition was used at Susan's Parlor to Kane's election?
Extreme close up
What type of technique was used to demonstrate Kane's last word?
Darkness and shadows
What visual clues did Welles use to create the mood/theme of the film?
The sled Kane used to play when he was with his mother
What was rosebud at the end of the film?
Serves as a guide to explain Kane's life
What was the role of reporter Thompson?
Moody, dark, mysterious, ominous
What was the tone/sound like in the opening of the film?
Western Manhattan Warehouse in search of this youth
Where was Kane on his way to before he met Susan Alexander?
Reveals all the trash for the would be celebration, Leland and Kane's significance and power, the beginning of Leland distancing himself from Kane
Why does Welles use a low angle shot during the "drunk scene" after Kane's defeat?
He is dealing with his problems with everyone in the room and the focus in on everyone else
Why is Kane's face in the dark during the confrontation with his wife and Susan Alexander?
Dissolve
a gradual transition from one scene to the next
Framing
a shot involves composing the visual content of a series of frames as seen from a single point of view
Greg Toland
cinematographer for "Citizen Kane", used 'Deep focus' cinematography, foreground and background both in sharp focus using multiple shots
Roger Ebert
film critic
Close-up
filming technique that captures the head and shoulders of the subject
Rosebud
it could mean the loss of innocence and joy from Kane's childhood, but it serves as a macguffin (something that is significant in the film but has little relevance in the actual story)
News on the March
method Welles used to tell us about Kane's life and career
Motif
repeated narrative element that supports the theme of a story
Objectification
the seeing and/or treating a person, usually a woman, as an object
Deep Focus
when the foreground and background are equally in focus
