I am velvety-smoothReview is BELOWI am veltely smooth, too
_______
DVD: RKO 281 (1999)
 
Film: 
Very Good
   
DVD Transfer: 
Excellent
 
...back to Index
P to R
DVD Extras:  
n/a
 
     
Label/Studio:
Warner Home Video
 
Catalog #:

 

 
...or start from scratch
A
Region:
1 (NTSC)
 
     
Released:

April 25, 2000

 

 

 

 
Genre: Docu-Drama / Film History / TV Movie  
Synopsis:
Dramatization of the battling egos when media tycoon William Randolph Hearst attempts to stop the release of Orson Welles' 1941 film debut, "Citizen Kane."  

 

 

Directed by:

Benjamin Ross
Screenplay by: John Logan
Music by: John Altman
Produced by: Su Armstrong
Cast:

Liev Schreiber, James Crimwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich, Brenda Blethyn, Roy Schedier, Liam Cunningham, David Suchet, and Fiona Shaw.

Film Length: 83 mins
Process / Ratio: 1.85:1
Colour
Anamorphic: Yes
Languages:  English Dolby Surround 2.0, Spanish Mono
Subtitles:  English, Spanish, French
 
Special Features :  

(none)

 
 
Comments :  

 

Inspired by the superb PBS documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane [M] (1996), executive producers Tony and Ridley Scott fashioned this high-quality docu-drama which effectively traces the making of Citizen Kane [M] from the moment boy wonder Orson Welles snagged a virtual carte blanche production deal to the film’s release in 1941.

With plenty of rich factual material from which to draw, screenwriter John Logan (who also penned Ridley Scott’s Gladiator) distilled his elements into a compelling drama that doesn’t transform anyone into a saintly or villainous caricature. Welles (Live Schreiber) tries to usurp Kane’s authorship from writing partner / story originator Herman J. “Mank” Mankiewicz (John Malkovich)  because he’s been told far too many times he was a “genius”; Mank gives into Welles’ pestering and writes the first draft of the script, knowing the details drawn from the personal lives of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell) and Marion Davies (Melanie Griffiths) will leave them and RKO open to Hearst’s rage and powerful media empire; and studio production chief George Schaefer (Roy Scheider) took a gamble by luring Welles to RKO with a controversial production deal so sweet, it weakened his own power.

Woven into the drama are the effects of vile gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, and the cinematographer Gregg Toland, who sought out Welles for the chance to film Kane and learn new tricks from a young, brash, arrogant new filmmaker – even if Welles had never directed a studio picture before.

This HBO TV movie has very high production values, including ornate British locations and sleek set designs that perfectly evoke 1941 Hollywood, including its style, and wealth, and excess. John Altman’s orchestral underscore and jazzy source songs match the script’s fast pacing and dry tone, and director Benjamin Ross exploits the film within a film and rampant cineaste references, but never loses sight of the characters that remain fairly humane by the end. It’s also appropriate that the TV movie ends as Kane finally makes its theatrical debut, leaving viewers to check out the original documentary for further details.

Only qualms: while we know or are aware of the fates dolled out to Welles, Schaefer, and Hearst, Mankiewicz’s own career isn’t given any postscript, and it’s worth noting that Kane, and the Oscar it won for Best Original Screenplay, rekindled the veteran screenwriter’s career, making him bankable again. Mankiewicz soon after scripted a series of classics, including The Pride of the Yankees (1942), Christmas Holiday (1944), Enchanted Cottage (1945), and A Woman’s Secret (1949).

This title is available separately, and as part of Warner Home Video’s Citizen Kane 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition on DVD and Blu-ray.

 

© 2012 Mark R. Hasan

 
Bzzz-bzz-bazzz-brzzoom!    
_IMDB Entry___________ri_______Fan / Official Film site____________________Wiki
   
_IMDB Detailed Entry_____________________Scripts available online __________________Additional Related Sites
   
   
   
___Amazon.ca ________Amazon.com _________Amazon.co.uk_______Bay Street Video_
   
Amazon.com info__Amazon.com info____Amazon.co.uk info__Basy Street Video info
   
   
   
_Soundtrack CD________________CD Review____________________Composer Filmog.
   

Composer Filmography/Discography at Soundtrack Collector.com______________Soundtrack Review___________________Composer Filmography/Discography at Soundtrack Collector.com

   
   
Brrr-boooshi-bzz-bazzah!
   
     
   
   
   
   
Editor's Blog @ Blogger / Word Press ------ Twitter Feed ------ Facebook Page
   
     
Vrrfpt-Voot-Voot-Voot!
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
Vrrfpt-Voot-Voot-Voot!    
     

Site designed for 1024 x 768 resolution, using 16M colours, and optimized for MS Explorer 6.0. KQEK Logo and All Original KQEK Art, Interviews, Profiles, and Reviews Copyright © 2001-Present by Mark R. Hasan. All Rights Reserved. Additional Review Content by Contributors 2001-Present used by Permission of Authors. Additional Art Copyrighted by Respective Owners. Reproduction of any Original KQEK Content Requires Written Permission from Copyright Holder and/or Author. Links to non-KQEK sites have been included for your convenience; KQEK is not responsible for their content nor their possible use of any pop-ups, cookies, or information gathering.

   
     
__