What Role Does Citizen Kane Play In Today's Society

There are many reasons as to why one of the greatest Hollywood movies of all time, Citizen Kane, is still watched and studied today by audiences in colleges, universities, public schools, and many more. Citizen Kane was produced in the year 1941 by Hollywood Director, Orson Welles. It is an American mystery drama which not only leaves the audience spellbound by its script, but also gives us the knowledge that we all need in the world today. I watched it in class and I thought it was the best movie I've seen in my life!!

The way that the film is directed- from the screenwriting to the dialogues to the movie effects- all contribute to it becoming the greatest H-wood film of all time. Orson Welles shows his genius side in creating this film;

It says, "But the theme in Citizen Kane that most speaks to me is that of egoism masquerading as selfless love, illustrated in the scenes in which Kane tries to live vicariously through his new, much younger wife. She expresses an interest in singing, so he pushes her to become an opera singer—and, predictably, disappointment and heartbreak follow. Ah, the bullheadedness of smothering love and the sad fact that we most hurt those we adore" (Eckblad). This reason has to be the main reason behind the success of this film and its influence that is still alive today. Kane wants to become more successful through his wife. He is aware that she is not a good singer, but still forces her to sing opera. He decides to open a grandiose opera theater for her. This has to be the idea of a genius!! Another reason is the charisma of Welles. By watching the film, I fell in love with Olson!! His attitude, personality, charisma, style, stature, wittiness, and intelligence, would make any girl fall in love with him! The article says, "Norman Mailer once wrote that nobody in Hollywood up to that point had seen any man quite so beautiful as Orson Welles; the cocked eyebrow, the rakish grin, the sparkling eyes! Welles had charisma—the kind of charisma that all contemporary males lack"

Some of the characteristics of Classical Hollywood films were: 1) its narrative 2) editing (continuity editing) 3) cinematic space and time. All of this is seen in Citizen Kane. "In Classical Hollywood Cinema, narrative follows building blocks that are part and parcel of most Western narratives such as events, actors and agents, linear chains of cause and effect, main point and secondary points. The narrative is clearly structured with discernable beginning middle and end. The narrative generally provides comprehensive resolution at the end. The characters goals are usually psychologically rather than socially motivated" (Classical Hollywood Cinema). You can see this kind of narrative in the plot of Citizen Kane. It is undoubtedly a well-prepared and structured film. Its flow makes you want to watch it frequently. "Maybe the single most important and most influential element of cinematic form that characterizes classical Hollywood cinema is continuity editing. The most important goal of continuity editing is to make the cut invisible. This is achieved by devices such as the shot / reverse-shot or the eye line match. The editing is subservient to the flow of the narrative and is usually constructed in a way that it does not draw attention onto itself" (Classical Hollywood Cinema). All of this is seen in Citizen