Nov 02, 2015 citizen kane is a fantastic film to use as a template in the exploration of the crucial aspects of filmmaking that go beyond what is explicitly said on screen. Similar dynamics are in play in this scene in citizen kane. While not structured like modern movies on the page, it serves as the blueprint for the most important film of the 20th century. This post focuses on the elements of film style miseenscene, cinematography, editing, and sound providing a few examples of how welles citizen kane 1941 utilises these elements in and, in doing so. In citizen kane, the editing is essential to facilitate the story and add to the mystery of the film. We had the pleasure of watching a film directed by orson wells in 1941 called citizen kane. Ultimately it is these factors that can establish narrative agents and their relations, drive the narrative and place the view in a certain point of view of the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Gregg tolands deepfocus cinematography and welles use of. However, citizen kane makes it very clear that wealth cannot necessarily buy happiness. Martins 1457620960 9781457620966 movies a generation later, the space epic star wars 1977 changed the culture of the movie industry. In citizen kane, the dissolve transition editing technique is heavily used in the beginning of the film to create mystery and suspense, and superimposition is used during. As an armature film observer, citizen kane is the perfect film of choice to begin analyzing some of. We see, reflected in a window, the logo of kane s rival the new york chronicle superimposed upon kane, leland, and.
Jan 29, 2015 this post focuses on the elements of film style miseenscene, cinematography, editing, and sound providing a few examples of how welles citizen kane 1941 utilises these elements in and, in doing so, draws on other prominent film styles. In the importance of film form we considered the formal elements at the filmmakers command, and the the overall pattern of these elements that make up the films formal system. Oct 07, 20 kane and thatcher movement foreground to background, low and high angle shots 23. The story, along with the revolutionary cinematography, made it a movie years ahead of its time where orson welles, charlie kane, takes several controversial steps on his road to greatness. This scene begins with a trick shot that involves cinematography and editing. I am glad that this particular film was the film of choice to demonstrate some of these techniques. This classical movie filmed in 1941 was nominated to multiple academy awards at the time it was released. We will discuss this with respect to the cinematography of citizen kane. This film could be a tycoon, newspaper, film noir andor even a detective movie. Every man creates an ambition for his self interests and goals, but each has his or her own struggle and journey for achieving it. Orson welles talks about citizen kane in 11minute 1960. Nominated for academy awards in nine categories, it won an academy award for best writing original screenplay by herman j.
The fact that welles played kane as well as directing is astonishing, but the deepfocus cinematography of. Citizen kane relies on film form to illustrate the. Final post 550600 words please follow the scoring criteria strictly. Sep 01, 2008 the citizen kane crash course in cinematography.
Welles use of film form to illustrate the ideas, actions and themes of his film are mesmerising and manage to capture the span of a newspaper tycoons life within its running time. Sep, 2012 citizen kane 1941 i always wondered citizen kane was on the top 100 list of best movies ever, or timeless films, or whatever really. This assignment is very important and does not accept postponement. Citizen kanes reputation as the greatest achievement of the american cinema rests on the many innovations in. However, few from either group were aware of her disreputable treatment of ucla cinema scholar howard suber. That said, people still found the movie super controversial because of the way it attacked the wealthy people of america. Scene analysis from citizen kane essay example for students.
This analysis paper is exposing the life of this famous character throughout his childhood until his death. The structure of citizen kane is circular, adding more depth every time it passes over the life. For example, bernstein helps tip us off when he says that kane,isnt only collecting statues. He uses this style shot throughout all of citizen kane. Observe this snapshot from the scene at the colorado home. May 07, 2004 the cinematography affects our understanding of citizen kane by providing a stable framework for theoretical and historical discussions. Cinema is forever the cinematography of citizen kane. Cinematic composition in citizen kane cinema shock. This essay will examine one theoretical framework, realism, and connect it to tolands work to reveal the complexities and impact cinematography has to the discourse surrounding citizen kane. Citizen kane and miseenscene cinema sweetheart and her looks. Very few of the techniques of the past are left unused either, so this was a remarkable fusion of the old and the new. He was also the star and the director of citizen kane.
May 12, 2015 orson welles 1941 classic citizen kane is considered by critics and filmmakers to be the greatest american film ever made. Elements in the movie citizen kane americans have always fantasized about the ideal life in the industrial age. It is almost impossible to write something new about citizen kane, because there were at least quadrillion pages written about this movie already. May 06, 2018 orson welles used these 7 secrets of cinematic composition. Today we will look at it and talk about how it changed the world. I have chosen five of the sixteen techniques that i learned this week, which made an impact on the way that i personally viewed this film. The audiences of the time never fully grasped the deeper meaning behind the story and as a result it suffered financially. See more ideas about orson welles, citizen and great films. In narrative structure and film style, welles challenged classical hollywood conventions and opened a path for experimentation in the later 1940s.
Cinematography of citizen kane twisted ladder movies. Jan stripek in cinematography september 14, 2012 january 28, 2014 367 words. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything about the art of cinematography in half an hour. One of the recent articles written by tim wilson deals with extreme depth of field used throughout the movie.
The following is a college paper for uc berkeley film studies course. Citizen kane 1941 citizen kane is one of those films that you cant really classify into a specific genre. Cinematography film influences cinematographer the cinematographer of citizen kane was greg toland, toland is known for using deep focus cinematography, in which both the foreground and background are in focus. The fact that welles played kane as well as directing is astonishing, but the deepfocus cinematography of greg. Most significantly, however, both citizen kane and nixon are structured around sequences of. The film citizen kane by orson welles, opens with a picture of a castle with a window that has a light turned on. Oct 07, 20 similar dynamics are in play in this scene in citizen kane. Tierra glass citizen kane analysis march 26, 2010 1. Orson welles 1941 classic citizen kane is considered by critics and filmmakers to be the greatest american film ever made. Citizen kane one of the most peculiar incidents in the history of film was in 1941, when a first time director was able to introduce a new mode of artistry and expertise as an innovative cinematographer.
It is widely noted that it was cinematographer gregg toland who first contacted orson welles about shooting citizen kane 1941. The movie citizen kane uses each cinematic technique in a way that is obvious to the viewer. Often regarded as the greatest film ever made, because of the use of cinematography, narrative structure and music etc. Eric blodgett, film 220, professor keating uc santa. After watching it, and knowing more about true appreciation of film i get it, so to speak. Eric blodgett, film 220, professor keating uc santa barbara, 2006.
Analysis of citizen kane breakfast scene timing duration. Cinematography citizen kane anatomy of a classic youtube. After watching the film, one can be impressed by any of these features, however, to me, the sound was the most effective feature because i can still hear the voice of susan alexander. In fact, statues represent exactly what kane wants all the people in the world to be objects that he can look at and that will do whatever he wants them to. We see, reflected in a window, the logo of kanes rival the new. Orson welles 1941 film, citizen kane, is considered.
As with almost any obsession, kanes statue collecting tells us quite a bit about him. Jan 15, 2012 casablanca, all about eve and citizen kane. Citizen kane was made during a time when you couldnt really get away with any cursing or direct sexual references in a movie. On may 1, 1941, rko radio pictures held the premiere of citizen kane at the palace theatre in new york, garnering raves from local critics.
Citizen kane was the first movie to tell the audience the end of the movie in the beginning. The movie opens with newsreel obituary footage that briefs us on the life and times of charles foster kane. Film analysis citizen kanes, ways closing scene rhyme with. Sep 14, 2012 cinematic composition in citizen kane it is almost impossible to write something new about citizen kane, because there were at least quadrillion pages written about this movie already. Citizen kane breakfast scene analysis film studies essay. Citizen kane made cinematic advances on many fronts, and its most significant contribution to cinematography came from the use of a technique known as deep focus. Citizen kane by orson welles presents a hollow ending to a complex film. Cinematic techniques used in citizen kane essay sample. With toland, wyler, and ford off to do military service and with welles washed up after his south american fiasco, the evolution of deepfocus cinematography came to a virtual halt until after the war, when a shift toward realism brought it into the hollywood. Camera movement citizen kane, directed by orson welles, was an exemplary and groundbreaking work.
The biopic, interviewstyle reconstruction of a kanes life contributes to the narrative complexity in citizen kane. Needless to say, there was a lot we couldnt include in the post. We see, reflected in a window, the logo of kanes rival the new york chronicle superimposed upon kane, leland, and. It might be difficult to appreciate it here, but in this shot all characters are in focus including the kid kane playing outside he may appear out of focus, but its actually snow. Citizen kane lost not only for cinematography but in seven other categories as well. The films narrative mission to decipher the meaning of rosebud and chronicle kanes life depends. Film, cinematography, authorship, gregg toland, citizen kane. Jan 16, 2017 the stated objective is to understand kanes dying word, rosebud. The filmmaking techniques on display in citizen kane have influenced generations of artists. Scene analysis from citizen kane essay example for.
This video explores the cinematic influences on citizen kane and how the film changed cinema. A wildly fictional account of how orson welles learned everything. Citizen kane and miseenscene cinema sweetheart and her. Watching a film takes so much more than just escaping from your own life for a few hours. The film citizen kane by orson welles essay artscolumbia. Casablanca did not center its lighting on the plot and key themes but merely to present an eerie atmosphere a perfect venue for such characters, who indulge in the dark for the fear of the. Kaels raising kane, albeit with a primary focus on critical analysis as opposed to. Editing techniques add to the films mystery editing in the classical hollywood era was extremely important for the strong narrative nature of a majority of the films. Citizen kane is a 1941 american drama film by orson welles, its producer, coscreenwriter, director and star. Dec 30, 2018 this video explores the cinematic influences on citizen kane and how the film changed cinema.
Citizen kane cinematography depth through light and. Jul 19, 2012 citizen kane 1941 citizen kane is one of those films that you cant really classify into a specific genre. The films use of deep focus and high contrast lighting established a distinctive, idiosyncratic visual style that welles would employ throughout his career, with later films. While citizen kane 1941 aptly utilized lighting in order to present certain dark and pessimistic aura and appearances of human nature, casablanca 1942 seemed to have not used this technique.
Unlike traditional hollywood, citizen kane combines nonlinear and composite storytelling from multiple points of view, including the famous opening newsreels, interviews, and flashbacks, to present the main. An analysis of cinematography in citizen kane by orson. Welles had made it known that he was interested in working with the veteran cinematographer. Citizen kane 1941 i always wondered citizen kane was on the top 100 list of best movies ever, or timeless films, or whatever really. Ultimately it is these factors that can establish narrative agents and their relations, drive the narrative and place the view in a certain point of view of the narrative. Citizen kane is a fantastic film to use as a template in the exploration of the crucial aspects of filmmaking that go beyond what is explicitly said on screen. As the backgrounds begin to change into a closer view of the castle, then a view of the castle from the reflection of the water surrounding it, we are drawn into the window as a man falls dead with the last words rosebud coming from his mouth. That fact turned citizen kane into an exclusive film and quickly recaptured my attention for a second viewing.
Orson welles used these 7 secrets of cinematic composition. However, its hard to pin down a precise genre or classification for citizen kane because its such a broad mix of different genre elements. Here are six takeaways for your next film or video. Thanks for watching one hundred years of cinema, i will be writing a video essay about at least one. The 1941 groundbreaking drama citizen kane, by orson welles, proved to extend far beyond the sum of its original worth. Citizen kane,the miseenscene and cinematography essay. If you hold with orson welless gleeful endorsement that making a film is the biggest electric train set any boy ever had. Orson welless citizen kane 1941 is probably the most famous masterpiece in film world with its amazing photography, acting, editing, writing, and sound. Citizen kane and the deep focus shot sarcasm and the jew. Considered by many critics, filmmakers, and fans to be the greatest film ever made, citizen. Orson wells was an american film director, writer, actor and producer, who worked in film, theatre, television and radio. Citizen kane welles, 1941, 119m, youtube and amazon noteslecture. Download file to see previous pages it is an anomaly though, that, though the film was nominated for 9 oscar categories, it only won in one. Editing in the classical hollywood era was extremely important for the strong narrative nature of a majority of the films.
548 366 1177 736 1194 1408 1142 912 678 156 395 577 179 1510 1041 1271 1267 1344 653 1045 1355 1523 661 158 1200 1504 976 1089 1462 151 766 1319 1392 1037 1362 1002 278 1373 214 1106 494