Fergie's Tech Blog

1 May 1941: Premier of Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane was the first feature film directed by Orson Welles, who had previously directed two short films. Endlessly discussed and dissected by critics and viewers alike, this innovative masterpiece is perhaps the most influential in the history of film.

Citizen Kane is rumored to be based on the lives of the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, the reclusive aerospace and movie mogul Howard Hughes, and the Chicago utilities magnate Samuel Insull. Welles maintained that the film's main character, Charles Foster Kane, is a composite of several historical individuals. In F for Fake, Welles claims Kane was originally intended to be based on Hughes (to be played by Joseph Cotten) but he changed it to Hearst. During production, Citizen Kane was referred to as RKO 281. The film premiered on May 1, 1941.

posted by Fergie @ 4/30/2006 10:01:00 PM