One of the most fabled moments of film, with perhaps the exception of Alfonso Bedoya not needing to show you any “stinking badges” and “Klaatu Borada Nikto,” is the revelation of Rosebud at the ending of Citizen Kane. If I were to ask you, in a pop trivia quiz, “What is Rosebud?,” I am guessing you would know the answer. Hold on. Many people are surprised at the true provenance of Rosebud. More about that later. Citizen Kane was less than a success when it was released in 1941. Part of the reason was that William Randolph Hearst, on whose life it was partially based, banned any mention of the movie in his influential chain of Hearst Papers. Orson Welles, who co-wrote and directed the film came to Hollywood as a wunderkind following great success in NYC, including, of course, the Great Halloween Martian Invasion radio adaption of the other Wells’, H.G., “War of the Worlds”. Welles actually came west to direct a version of Joseph Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness”, but Mr Kurtz he died and the film never went beyond a wonderful screenplay with innovative ideas about camera movement and direction. The project was scrapped because the film would be too expensive to produce. Some suspect the Hollywood moguls dropped it because they were uncomfortable with the theme of lust and greed of people in power. Given the sturm und drang which followed, maybe they should have reconsidered. It is everyone’s opinion “Citizen Kane” bloodied both Hearst and Welles. Film history has definitely come down on the side of Orson Welles, but not in time to help his career. “Citizen Kane” is often proclaimed the #1 best movie of all time. And Charles Foster Kane is a compelling character with the surprising revelation which is shared only by the theater audience. Rosebud. Co-writer Herman Mankiewicz and his younger brother, Joseph, who directed many successful films, were prominent in Hollywood circles. Herman was known as someone with a grand sense of humor who could “fix” a screenplay. William Randolph Hearst both promoted the films of the actress, Marion Davies, and enjoyed her as his mistress. Mankiewicz’ friends, one evening in a booze spirited gab fest swapped gossip. Told Herman W.R.Hearst’s pet name for Marion Davies most intimate parts. Anyone care to hazard a guess? Raymond, the phlegmatic overseer, by the roaring furnace door, just prior to the unveiling of Mankiewicz’ moment of waggishness and the heart of the film, has the last line, “Throw that junk in.”
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 06:31:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015