1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Citizen Kane was directed, co written, produced and starred Orson Wells in 1941. The film was nominated for nine academy awards, and won for best writing by Herman Mankiewicz. This film used many interesting cinematographic advances for its time, one moment that sticks out in my head is in the beginning when the camera goes through the rain covered sky light and into the house. I also enjoyed the opera flashes as the bulb glowed when the mistress drank the poison. Wells was 26 years old granted full control of this film by RKO radio pictures. Many people doubted their decision to let such a inexperienced man such power, but Orson proved the public wrong making Citizen Kane ranked one of the best movies of all time.

2) Find a related article and summarize the content. (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the internet. We will discuss suitable references in class. Cite the article and copy the URL to your journal entry. You should also mention the title of the article and author directly in the answer. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-citizen-kane-1941

Citizen Kane is a circular story showing the end in the beginning then ending where it began. The symbolism realized at the end of the story brings the audience back through the film to when the Kane was a child. It let us in on a man we watched grow up and die; leaving audience members with the mystery of what his life would have been like if he hadn't been separated with his family, and forced to grow up so quickly. " Rosebud is the emblem of the security, hope and innocence of childhood, which a man can spend his life seeking to regain." Roger Ebert.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

The article changed my view of the film. My first impression was unmoved, I thought the film was pretty slow moving and uneventful. Although it was pretty to look at the story line itself was not as grand as people make it out to be. This article changed my opinion after I read its interpretation of what rosebud stood for, making me feel bad for this character that could have anything he wanted. I don't typically agree with someone having so much control of a production, I feel as if it is important to have multiple view on a project making it a more well rounded piece of art.

This film was Written by Herman Mankiewicz and inspired by the life of William Randolph Hurst, a man that created an empire of newspapers, radio stations, and media. Orson Wells was in charge of this operation presented by RKO and hired cinematographer Greg Toland to film this movie, Greg had just completed work with John Ford at the time working on Long Voyage Home.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of 4 things: the screening, class 3discussions, text material and the article. I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.

This film should have touched on more topics and how this man's decision effected others. the story didn't let the audience in to the other characters thoughts and feelings about Kane. I think this information could add more depth to the plot. Citizen Kane is up for interpretation the symbolism and feelings vary. There is no concrete evidence to why and what things mean, giving the audience the opportunity to create their own theory. I do believe this film assisted in the advancements in the industry but I do not think it should be considered one of the best.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________________