Director: Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead
Story rating: 4 discs (out of 4)
Story review: Often called The Greatest Motion Picture Of All Time (and judging by today’s standards in Hollywood, its spot atop AFI’s Top 100 Films Of All-Time certainly seems secure), what else can one say about Citizen Kane that hasn’t already been said? More than a movie, Kane has left a lasting legacy, standing as a towering achievement that forever changed the art and craft of moviemaking. While it isn’t fair to say that Kane invented modern film, it certainly reinvented it. Unknowingly creating a new cinematic vocabulary, then-25-year old Orson Welles–the boy genius given the keys to the Hollywood kingdom, unheard of before or since–revolutionized the medium. Any filmmaker worth anything since has watched and rewatched Kane, studied it, memorized it, copied it, and yet never equaled Welles’ achievement.
Features rating: 4 discs (out of 4)
Features review: Thankfully presented in its original 1.37:1 theatrical aspect ratio, the new print is incredibly clean. That’s just amazing for a 60-year old film.
And given that Citizen Kane is 60 years old, the fact that there are any supplements available at all is a surprise, and the fact that they are as informative and enlightening as this is a real thrill. Warner Bros. has produced two new screen-specific audio commentaries, with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (who focuses on the technical) and film critic and author Roger Ebert (faster and more entertaining). Both are fun and worthwhile.
Also included is a super but short RKO Newsreel of the film’s gala 1941 premiere, running only a little more than 1 minute. Alas, I’d love for this to be longer, as I believe these vintage newsreels are amazing time capsules, but thank goodness for small favors. The film’s very entertaining original theatrical trailer, hosted by Orson Welles himself, is presented and in surprisingly good condition. The last of the video material on disc one is a hidden 8-minute interview with actor Ruth Warrick for you treasure hunters. If you know what Rosebud means, you should be able to find this one.
This leads us to what may be the best supplement in the set, the 113-minute documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane. Taken directly from The American Experience television broadcast hosted by David McCullough, watch and you’ll see there’s no surprise that it was nominated for the 1995 Best Documentary Academy Award. Filmmakers Thomas Lennon and Michael Epstein have done an excellent job of documenting the chess game between Welles, RKO Pictures and media magnate William Randolph Hearst that ensued over the production of Citizen Kane.
Bottom line: Run, don’t walk, to your favorite DVD seller and buy it. At long last the wait is over, and this two-DVD set made the wait worthwhile. A must-have for any lover of fine cinema or even for someone who just likes good movies.
Special features list:
Disc one: Citizen Kane
Full Frame–1.33
Audio Commentary by Roger Ebert, Film Critic
Audio Commentary by Peter Bogdanovich, Welles Biographer
1941 World Premiere Newsreel
Original Theatrical Trailer
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Storyboards
Publicity stills
Gallery of Rare Photos, Correspondence, etc.
Disc Two: Supplementary Material
The Battle Over Citizen Kane (Documentary)
Production Interview with Orson Welles, Director and star
Rare Footage from Hearst’s San Simeon Estate and Welles’ Historic “War of the Worlds” Broadcast
Biography: Orson Welles, Director
Biography: William Randolph Hearst – Subject
