Citizen Kane Paper

(Chapter 12 in our text has information on Citizen Kane)

For this assignment watch the film Citizen Kane (follow prompt in module) and write a paper following the prompt below. Your paper should be 2-3 pages long. Please double space and use 12pt font. Don’t forget to proofread for spelling and grammar, remember film titles are put in Italics. I also highly recommend using the Writing Center to help develop your paper.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Offer your overall impression of the film. Briefly mention film title, director, release date and key actors. Find a specific theme or message that you believe the film is trying to convey.

Paragraph 2: Plot Summary

In your second paragraph briefly summarize the plot of Citizen Kane. Describe the final moment or image of the film.

Paragraph 3: Citizen Kane and Film History

Citizen Kane is frequently mentioned as the greatest movie of all time. At the least it has been highly influential. Why is this? What about the film make it so important and influential to the history of film?

Paragraph 4: Narration and Music

Narration and the musical score of Citizen Kane play an important role in the film. Describe observations how each of these elements in the film. Finally, how these elements contribute to the tone of the movie?

Paragraph 5: Relevance and Conclusion

In your final paragraph examine if this movie is relevant today? Does it have a message or impact that is relevant to a 21st century audience? Summarize your position about how or why this film is important to cinematic history.

The first film we will watch in this course is Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane is often mentioned as the “greatest film of all time” or at least it has certainly been highly influential. The film is the life story of the powerful newspaper magnate, Charles Foster Kane. Orson Wells is both the director and plays the role of Kane. In his early twenties Wells gained acclaim creating plays with the Federal Theatre Project, a New Deal era (1930s) government program to fund theatre and live performance during he great depression. He was also known for the sensational radio drama War of the Worlds. Wells was only 26 when he made Citizen Kane and considered himself an auteur director—a director who holds control over every aspect of film production. The movie is known for its developments in plot, film lighting and score, dramatic structure and tone among other things.

Citizen Kane