The Battle over Citizen Kane

Rating:
Summary: A Good but overall disappointing documentary
Review: I watched this documentary as part of the Citizen Kane DVD. It is good, telling about the power struggle between Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst. I also never knew before just how much Welles and Herman J. Mankewickz borrowed from Hearst's life when they wrote the Citizen Kane screenplay. But though it was supposed to be about Citizen Kane, the documentary didn't tell that much about the film itself. It was also rather slow and repetitive. How many times do I need to know that Hearst was a powerful man or that Welles was a young genius? I wanted to learn more about the movie itself. The extras were also nil, there being only a chapter selection and ads for other documentaries...

Rating:
Summary: Now you have the whole story
Review: I've seen "Citizen Kane" dozens of times over the years, and had a general idea of who the film was really about (Hearst) and the controversy it created. After watching "The Battle Over Citizen Kane," however, I now feel that I have a much better understanding not only of the movie itself, but the full story of the two men locked in battle over it---Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst.

This documentary provides a generous amount of personal information about both men, and comments from experts in relevant fields (Hearst biographers, etc.) as well as people who knew Welles personally. If you're a fan of "Citizen Kane," this companion piece is not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: Now you have the whole story
Review: I've seen "Citizen Kane" dozens of times over the years, and had a general idea of who the film was really about (Hearst) and the controversy it created. After watching "The Battle Over Citizen Kane," however, I now feel that I have a much better understanding not only of the movie itself, but the full story of the two men locked in battle over it---Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst.

This documentary provides a generous amount of personal information about both men, and comments from experts in relevant fields (Hearst biographers, etc.) as well as people who knew Welles personally. If you're a fan of "Citizen Kane," this companion piece is not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating account of an allegedly "libelous" masterpiece
Review: There is nothing more delicious in this world than irony, and the biggest irony about "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" is that this Oscar-nominated documentary proves that the film was just as much about Orson Welles as it was about William Randolph Hearst. The fact that the fabled journalist tried to kill the movie is a part of Hollywood lore, as is the supposed special meaning of "Rosebud" for Hearst. This documentary airs out all of the dirty linen on both sides, using plenty of clips from "Citizen Kane" to help the arguments along. More importantly, it reminds us of exactly how much of an enfant terrible Orson Welles was when he came out to Hollywood to make Kane. His decline ("we will sell no wine before its time") is so firmly entrenched in the public memory that a reminder of the heights Welles achieved with the release of "Citizen Kane" is well warranted. After all, this is a man who had three films on the AFI Top 100. Of course, this documentary makes a fascinating double-bill with Kane itself. If you want the other side of the story regarding how much credit Welles deserves for this fabled film, check out Pauline Kael's book on "Citizen Kane."

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating account of an allegedly "libelous" masterpiece
Review: There is nothing more delicious in this world than irony, and the biggest irony about "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" is that this Oscar-nominated documentary proves that the film was just as much about Orson Welles as it was about William Randolph Hearst. The fact that the fabled journalist tried to kill the movie is a part of Hollywood lore, as is the supposed special meaning of "Rosebud" for Hearst. This documentary airs out all of the dirty linen on both sides, using plenty of clips from "Citizen Kane" to help the arguments along. More importantly, it reminds us of exactly how much of an enfant terrible Orson Welles was when he came out to Hollywood to make Kane. His decline ("we will sell no wine before its time") is so firmly entrenched in the public memory that a reminder of the heights Welles achieved with the release of "Citizen Kane" is well warranted. After all, this is a man who had three films on the AFI Top 100. Of course, this documentary makes a fascinating double-bill with Kane itself. If you want the other side of the story regarding how much credit Welles deserves for this fabled film, check out Pauline Kael's book on "Citizen Kane."

Rating:
Summary: A classic documentary of a classic film.
Review: This documentary is more than just a rendition of the controversy surrounding "Citizen Kane," it is a pair of parallel biographies of the two men. (Everyone knows about the "War of the Worlds" broadcast, but how many know about his successes on stage--"Julius Caesar" on Broadway commenting darkly on the rise of fascism, or "MacBeth" set in Haiti with an all-black cast.) In the end, it poses the question of whether "Kane" is after all, as much about Welles as it is about Hearst.

Time and time again Welles tempts fate, risking disaster to create masterpieces. Star of stage and radio, film with its limitless possibilities (and Hollywood with its machinations) prove his undoing.

Watch and see how perilously close to losing arguably the greatest film ever made. Watch and see why Welles is still a legendary figure whose measure is still be taken.