We have been watching a lot of old movies lately...I mean black and white classics (a few color pics).....with Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Kathrine Hepburn, etc.....Casablanca, It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Bringing Up Baby, etc.... Last night we--Gary, Marcie & Hayden, watched 'Citizen Kane' and the 1995 Documentary about the making of the movie. Both were fascinating. I don't think that I had ever really watch this film.....I have seen numerous clips and know the story, but I had never sat down with the intent purpose of watching this movie.
Citizen Kane was written by, produced,directed and stared Orson Wells....he was 24 years old...unbelievable...in a good way. The Documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1995 and is defiantly worth watching...it helps you figure out why it is a great film.
Citizen Kane has been voted the number one greatest movie of all time by the American Film Institute. This honor was given to the film in 1997, when they first compiled their list and again in 2007 when the list was updated. I was really interested in "why" this movie would be selected as the greatest.... According the AFI 100 Greatest Movies list the films are selected by its members based on historical significance, critical recognition and awards, popularity at the box-office, syndication and video sales/rental.
The story of this movie is loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hurst...and some say it is partially autobiographical about Orson Wells himself. It was not a popular success when it was released due to Hurst's all out war to stop the film from being released. Critical recognition didn't come to this film until much later, and as for awards; it was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 1 for screen writing....given to Wells and Herman Mankiewicz - a Hollywood insider. At the 1941 Academy Awards the Film was 'Booed' several times during the awards ceremony.
The Historical significance of this film is why it is one of the best...Wells used techniques in cinematography which had never been tried in movie making. The Camera angels and focus of the scenes is amazing even by today's standards. His use of sound was very unique to motion pictures as well, this was probably because he was a radio man and understood the impact and importance of the spoken word. The story itself has much historical significance as it tells the tale of an American icon. But I think that the events, and people surrounding the making of the film is what gives it, its greatness....lets just say that both Wells and Hurst made more of this film than it probably was worth. I am not knocking Wells genius...he was a creative, inventive, thinking film maker, and actor....the scene when he rips up his second wives bedroom when she leaves him, is full of real emotion and power. Wells was also a creative live theater director prior to his arrival in Hollywood so his genius in film making to me is a given, too bad he was so malined during and after the making of this film that he would never have opportunity to become an even better film maker....I think Wells had it in him to do even more but he was never allowed the free rein and opportunity he had with Citizen Kane.
After watching this movie Hayden and I discussed the themes and why it would be considered 'The Greatest.' It is a story of power, control and loneliness. Money can't by love, and you can't run other peoples lives were the themes that we thought were at the heart of this movie. As for an artistic film...it is beautiful, and interestingly shot, especially considering the limited resources available to film makers in 1940....no CGI like we are so accustomed to today.
Is this movie 'The Greatest'? Possibly... story so, so, cinematography and editing, some of the best.....however there are many movies that I like just as much if not more.....but then I am not a ligit, trained film critic or student.....as if the critics really are ligit.
After our viewing, Hayden and I decided that we wanted to know what other films mad the AFI list...after looking the list over we discovered that Hayden had seen 6 of the top 10 movies, Gary and I had seen 8 of the 10 and not all of the same 8...but between all of us we have seen all the top 10 greatest....The Top 10, and even the top 100, doesn't list some of mine and Hayden's most favorites....but hey, it is still a good list and one that we will work on seeing.....
As for what have we seen on the whole 100 list; Gary has seen 82 of the films, Hayden 27, and I have seen 70...unfortunately I couldn't tell you much about this 70, they weren't that impactfull....or my mind is getting feeble.
Hayden has declared that the next 'old' movie he wants to watch is Lawrence of Arabia....good choice. I remember first seeing an liking this movie when I was a teenager...he will probably like it too....after all he is now a fan of the classics.
MCC
To see the AFI 100 Greatest List go to
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