Citizen Kane T. Hopkins

                Citizen Kane is known to many people as the greatest movie of all time. It is known for many different things, such as experimental film techniques, amazing cinematography, and memorable scenes. Orson Welles, who was only 25 at the time, directed the film. He worked alongside Gregg Toland, the cinematographer, who had actually asked Welles if he could work with him to create the film. The film caused much controversy because it seemed to “fictionalize and caricaturize certain events and individuals in the life of William Randolph Hearst--a powerful newspaper magnate and publisher,” according to Tim Dirks.

            The lighting in Citizen Kane was often from unexpected sources. This really gave the audience the emotion of the scene. 

As you can see from the picture, lighting could be used in scenes to evoke a feeling that words could not express. In this scene for example, the lighting makes the viewer feel as though there is an ominous mood in the room. With the light shining down on the table, it seems almost as though the book he is about to read is sacred. The lighting also makes the viewer feel like he/she is viewing a secret. The lighting in the whole film can really help tell the story. Shadows are also used very well. For example, in the scene where Charles Kane tells Suzan she must continue to play piano after she voiced her objection, his shadow covers her whole face, showing that he has power over her.

                Another important film technique used in this film is the camera angles. Many of the scenes in this film, especially ones focused on Charles Foster Kane, are shot from low angles. Interestingly enough, the crew actually cut out part of the floor in the set so that they could achieve the low levels they wanted.  

 Even by looking at the picture above, you can tell that Kane is an important man, just by the feeling it gives you. By shooting Kane often at low angles, the filmmaker gets to tell you that this man is important without coming out and saying it. In these scenes, he also seems to be somewhat egotistical, which is also implied by the low angles. Also, along with angles, they used placement of people to show how powerful Kane was, as depicted by the next picture. 

Kane is looking down upon his employees, as they look up to him.      

                The last thing I will talk about is the use of deep-focus photography and mise en scene. In reference to deep-focus photography, Orson Welles stated, “The public may choose, with its eyes, what it wants to see of a shot; I don’t like to force it.” In this type of photography, the public is forced to be a bit more creative when watching a scene, instead of the camera and editing dictating what they must look at. 

The next picture below shows a very famous mise en scene that changes Kane’s life forever. In this scene, deep-focus photography is used again.

 As you can see, young Charles Kane’s mother and Mr. Thatcher decide his future for him while his uneasy father watches over. In the background, you can see Charles Kane playing outside with his sled, which is what we find later to be “Rosebud.” This scene is so important because it shows how happy and innocent young Charles Kane was before his future was changed. Although his mother is giving him up out of love, Charles Kane will never feel love the same way again after this significant change in his life.

                To summarize, the film Citizen Kane was an innovative, controversial, game-changing film. The brilliance of Orson Welles and Gregg Toland’s partnership will be remembered for years to come. The film techniques were so important to the film, and really evoked the emotion it needed. 

Sources:

 http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html

Giannetti, Louis. Understanding Movies. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.