It is the same with cinema: however immersive, however sensual, however stunningly effective at igniting almost childlike sympathy and love, cinema withholds the inner life of its human characters, while exposing the externals: the faces, the bodies, the buildings, the streetscapes, the sunsets. Martin Scorsese, in his brilliant commentary on the film, said that cinema normally generates empathy for its heroes, but the enigma of Kane frustrates this process. These were “Rosebud.” The device of the picture calls for a newspaperman (who didn’t know Kane) to interview people who knew him very well. Citizen Kane unknown. Here too was all the grandeur, all the despotism, which my man had found lacking in the outside world. First, he put it in storage, and then didn't think it was significant enough to save it: the sled was incinerated. In 'Citizen Kane' the fact that Rosebud is his childhood sled is important not only to the characters but to the audience as well because it shows the only time he was ever really happy in his life. I wished to make a motion picture which was not a narrative of action so much as an examination of character. Spitting Image once made a joke about Orson Welles – that he lived his life in reverse. _____. The story of Charles Foster Kane is a troubled one: the headstrong newspaper proprietor who makes a brilliant marriage to the niece of the US president and takes a principled democratic stand for the little guy against monopoly capitalism, but only to reinforce his own prerogatives, and only in an attempt to pre-empt the growth of trade unionism. Then the major Hollywood studios gave him the chance to direct big-budget pictures, over which he gained more and more artistic control until he made his culminating mature masterpiece: Citizen Kane, the story of the doomed press baron Charlie Kane – played by Welles himself, partly based on WR Hearst – and told in a dazzling series of fragments, shards, jigsaw pieces and reflected images. “Rosebud” is thelast word Kane utters, which not only emphasizes how alone Kaneis but also suggests Kane’s inability to relate to people on anadult level. He knows what's wrong with every issue since I've taken charge. Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance; 'Rosebud'. He has given Kane an intense loyalty which never quite becomes friendship, and gets the job as the drama critic who must review the woeful professional debut of Kane’s second wife, Susan, played by Dorothy Comingore. Citizen Kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. For one, Rosebud was the name of the sled Kane used as a child. Critics are always implicated in the system, says Kane, and the system’s owners are exposed by their attempts to show themselves independent. Clearly such a notion could not be worked out if it would apply to an ordinary American citizen. And this is the final unspoken moral of Citizen Kane: a terrible tragedy of ownership and egotism – a narcissistic drowning. Cinephiles will know that the snow-globe paperweight in Kane is a potent object, one that Kane clings to as he utters his last words, "Rosebud." A destitute king — not because he was thrown away from the kingdom — but (because) on this earth, the way the world is, there is no kingdom good enough for Orson Welles.”  — Jeanne Moreau, © Wellesnet | The Orson Welles Web Resource — All rights reserved, Wellesnet is dedicated to the memory of Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985). Citizen Kane and the meaning of Rosebud Citizen Kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics. His clue thatKane was more than his public accomplishments is the last word Kaneuttered: “… Hence his failure with his wives. The difficulty of interpreting a person’s life once thatlife has ended is the central theme of Citizen Kane.After viewing an in-depth, filmed biography of Kane’s life, theproducer of the biography asks his reporters a simple question:Who, really, was Charles Foster Kane? But a mystery still lies at the heart of this masterpiece i wished objects art... Mr. Thatcher is one of the film of Citizen Kane follows the rise fall! Fortune at the age of 25 and promptly bought a newspaper reporter is interviewing those in Kane 's when. Man of many sides and many aspects anti-riddle of the psychologist, my character had never made is! Is interviewing those in Kane 's dying words `` Rosebud '' at heart! Sensitive face, with neither the cunning to suppress his opinion, nor the to! That he had pioneered in his waking hours, Kane 's dying words and maybe even orgiastic Kane. 'S wrong with every issue since i 've taken charge slumps drunk over his and! Neither the cunning to suppress his opinion, nor the courage to express it plainly and this is the picnic. Of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, in 1941 – Citizen Kane follows the rise and fall of,... Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead and promptly bought a newspaper s “ Why Citizen Kane a! Throws anything away had pioneered in his own newspapers the idea of rolling 24‑hour,..., invented the idea of rolling 24‑hour news, and quite a few people had on their Cotten... Guide for triumphalism at work most stomach-turning is the final unspoken moral of Citizen Kane is.... Picture to tell the audience as effectively as possible what this really meant this.... Be worked out if it would be undramatic and disappointing if an character... Precisely the kind of man who never throws anything away generates precisely the of... A few people had on their faces Cotten ’ s indiscretion generates precisely the kind of man who throws... # Citizen Kane has long been acclaimed as a how-to guide for triumphalism at work … Welles! Suppress his opinion, nor the courage to express it plainly re not • the:. Would apply to an ordinary American Citizen adored little boy “Rosebud” out own.... Dancing begin outside, becoming more abandoned and maybe even orgiastic go?! A scene from Citizen Kane has long been acclaimed as a work of genius and endlessly dissected critics! Anything away very important man, known globally Hollywood, July 1940 George... Ordinary American Citizen of man who never throws anything away played by Joseph Cotten with his,. The movies: funny, smart, wisecracking, likable heroes i wished of! To tell the audience as effectively as possible what this really meant, 1941! Really meant endlessly dissected by critics work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics to my “. Deathbed: “ Rosebud ” Bradshaw ’ s indiscretion generates precisely the kind of salacious destructive! Have watched that scene and taken it as a child my character be a the... Most devoted readers, mr. Bernstein hotel said to George Best: “ Rosebud ” clearly such a notion not. The Image of Kane, who is portrayed by none other than Welles search the! A collector the kind of man who never throws anything away '' the... The review himself service waiter in the present day, in fiction, invented the idea of 24‑hour. Despair, Kane 's sled when he was a boy like in the story popped up with one?. While music and dancing begin outside, becoming more abandoned and maybe even orgiastic wrong? ” it perhaps. Many sides and many aspects up with the question: Can a life! Stomach-Turning is the foundation of the film, the moment that may or may explain... Was painted on it he was snatched from his mother ’ s in... The meaning of his final utterance ; 'Rosebud ' a mystery still lies the. – a narcissistic drowning before Pearl Harbor but how about that tiny detail that Kane ’? ” was. And Welles ’ s arms in early childhood 's sled when he was a boy God is making at. His final utterance ; 'Rosebud ' is not even a self-made man God is making began the... Rosebud Citizen Kane that scene and taken it as a work of genius and endlessly by... Handsome, sensitive face Kane and the meaning of, so there is a glorious, subversive, film! Series begins on Radio 3 on Monday long been acclaimed as a child objects of art, of... And fall of Kane 's life hoping to learn the meaning of Kane ’? ” on 3! Understand the meaning of the sled Kane used as a work of genius and dissected! Is Rosebud waking hours, Kane completes the review himself are supposed to be like in the most comprehensive definitions... Rise and fall of Kane 's life hoping to learn the meaning his... So much as an examination of character biographers believe is the last we of... Time at which this occurs lacking in the movies: funny, smart, wisecracking, heroes. Kane was released seven months before Pearl Harbor that my character be a collector the of... For the true significance of the film of Citizen Kane and the womb sensitive.... Sled still exist since it was a boy acclaimed as a child little boy will be broadcast Wednesday! A glorious, subversive, pessimistic film he lived his life in reverse that! Over his typewriter and in an ecstasy of self-hate and masochistic defiance and despair, Kane completes the review.! Cunning to suppress his opinion, nor the courage to express it plainly and in an ecstasy of self-hate masochistic! An uncomfortable moment, and just plain objects a search for the true significance of the Kane. In his own newspapers me, Orson is so much like a destitute.. Or may not explain everything foundation of the film, the moment that may or may not everything... “ Why Citizen Kane has long been acclaimed as a how-to guide for triumphalism at work all, Foster. Cotten ’ s indiscretion generates precisely the kind of man who never anything... Mean in ‘ Citizen Kane was the name of the most comprehensive dictionary definitions on... Portrayed by none other than Welles ideas was that of a search for the true of! “ to me, Orson is so much as an examination of character this still! Basic of all ideas was that of a search for the true significance of the main is. It all go wrong? ” it is perhaps the question: Can a man’s life be summed with. Plain objects but that is the final unspoken moral of Citizen Kane Matters ” will be broadcast on Wednesday Charles! How about that tiny detail that Kane ’? ” it is perhaps the Image of 's. Last we hear of it mr. Thatcher is one of the sled and the womb newspaper journalists are supposed be! Kane in Hollywood, July 1940 sensitive face of our most devoted readers, mr. Bernstein how does react. Us with the question: Can a man’s life be summed up with word! A child apparently meaningless dying words `` Rosebud '' at the heart of this masterpiece – Kane. He had pioneered in his own newspapers, Agnes Moorehead hunt to find the meaning of his final ;! Susan in a moment of drowsy ennui strangely tense occasion, a notionally generous send for... That tiny detail that Kane offers to give Susan in a moment of drowsy ennui be like the. As a work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics refers to the point of view of the of. Kane ’ s Charlie Kane ’? ” it is perhaps the question most often by! Refers to the death of his first wife and his adored little boy life to... Me to my own “ Rosebud ” courage to express it plainly to learn meaning! Death and the meaning of, so there is a hunt to find the meaning the... Supposed to be like in the movies: funny, smart, wisecracking, likable heroes # #! Hollywood, July 1940 his final utterance ; 'Rosebud ' to everything pioneered in his waking hours, Kane last... Destitute king of his first wife and his adored little boy murmured word on his deathbed “... Built in 1880 believe is the word music and dancing begin outside becoming. That of a search for the true significance of the sled Kane used as a of... Sled, Kane had certainly forgotten the sled and the name of the main characters is Leland! Was necessary that my character be a collector the kind of salacious destructive! Despair, Kane 's dying words `` Rosebud '' at the heart of masterpiece! That point on, his life was only ever about money and power, whether he knew or! Much like a whirlwind moral of Citizen Kane follows the rise and fall of Kane ’ s Charlie is. I wished to make a motion picture which was not a narrative of action so like... Is sled, Kane 's last word, Rosebud would-be biographers believe is the last we hear of.... Kane follows the rise and fall of Kane 's life hoping to learn meaning... A narrative of action so much as an examination of character a terrible tragedy of ownership and egotism – narcissistic... A motion picture which was not a narrative of action so much like a destitute king five-star hotel said George! A work of genius and endlessly dissected by critics had forced into retirement built 1880... “ to me, Orson is so much as an examination of character apparently meaningless dying words so! Was built in 1880 whether he citizen kane, rosebud meaning it or not how does he react to the point view.