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Mystery Cult Classic

A newspaper tycoon's rise and ruin, told in shadow and snowglobes.

CITIZEN KANE

Some called him a hero...others called him a heel.

1941 · 1h 59m · NR · Mystery / Drama · IMDB TMDB

Newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane is taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. As a result, every well-meaning, tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event.

Quick Answer

What is Citizen Kane about?

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American mystery drama film directed by Orson Welles about the tumultuous life of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, whose every move is shaped by a childhood separation from his mother.

Programmer's Pick

Citizen Kane isn't just about a media titan’s quest for power—it's a labyrinth of flashbacks, snowglobes, and the American Dream slipping through icy fingers. Orson Welles swings big as director and star, dissecting ambition, regret, and the cost of wanting it all.

— Flashington Programmer

Details & Specs

Director
Orson Welles
Writers
Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz
Release
1941
Runtime
1h 59m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Mystery, Drama
Also Known As
El ciudadano, Obcan Kane, O Mundo a Seus Pés, 시민 케인, Vətəndaş Kane, Громадянен Кейн, Den store mann, Քաղաքացի Քեյնը, Citoyen Kane, Llaqtayuq Kane

Cast & Crew

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Director: Orson Welles Writers: Orson Welles +1 more
Orson Welles Orson Welles Charles Foster Kane Joseph Cotten Joseph Cotten Jedediah Leland Dorothy Comingore Dorothy Comingore Susan Alexander Kane Ray Collins Ray Collins Jim W. Gettys George Coulouris George Coulouris Walter Parks Thatcher Agnes Moorehead Agnes Moorehead Mary Kane Paul Stewart Paul Stewart Raymond Ruth Warrick Ruth Warrick Emily Norton Kane Erskine Sanford Erskine Sanford Herbert Carter William Alland William Alland Jerry Thompson/Narrator Everett Sloane Everett Sloane Mr. Bernstein Fortunio Bonanova Fortunio Bonanova Signor Matiste Gus Schilling Gus Schilling John Philip Van Zandt Philip Van Zandt Mr. Rawlston Georgia Backus Georgia Backus Bertha Anderson Harry Shannon Harry Shannon Jim Kane Sonny Bupp Sonny Bupp Charles Foster Kane III BS Buddy Swan Young Charles Foster Kane Gregg Toland Gregg Toland Interviewer DA Don Ackerman Man at Party in Everglades (uncredited) Gino Corrado Gino Corrado Gino (uncredited) Maurice Costello Maurice Costello Extra (uncredited) DA Demetrius Alexis Newsreel Man (uncredited) Gene Coogan Gene Coogan Newsreel Man (uncredited) AD Art Dupuis Newsreel Man (uncredited) RG Rudy Germane Newsreel Man (uncredited) Mike Lally Mike Lally Newsreel Man (uncredited) WL Walter Lawrence Newsreel Man (uncredited) John Northpole John Northpole Newsreel Man (uncredited) VR Victor Romito Newsreel Man (uncredited) Bob Terry Bob Terry Newsreel Man (uncredited) WA William Alston Man at Xanadu Great Hall (uncredited) JG Jack Gargan Man at Xanadu Great Hall (uncredited) BM Bert Moorhouse Man at Xanadu Great Hall (uncredited) CL Carmen Laroux Maid in Xanadu Hall (uncredited) Sam Ash Sam Ash Man at Boat Dock (uncredited) Buddy Messinger Buddy Messinger Man at Boat Dock (uncredited) TR Terrance Ray Man at Boat Dock (uncredited) SC Sally Corner Woman at Boat Dock (uncredited) WB Walter Bacon City Room Employee (uncredited) HC Herbert Corthell City Editor (uncredited) HA Harry A. Bailey Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) DB Danny Borzage Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) J.J. Clark J.J. Clark Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) TC Tom Coleman Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) CD Carl Deloro Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) Jack Egan Jack Egan Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) RH Robert Haines Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) LL Ludwig Lowry Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) John McCormack John McCormack Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) HM Hercules Mendez Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) PO Paddy O'Flynn Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) SR Sam Rice Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) DR Don Roberts Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) Larry Wheat Larry Wheat Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) Larry Williams Larry Williams Man Singing at Inquirer Party (uncredited) JB Joan Blair Georgia (uncredited) MB Morgan Brown Servant (uncredited) Harry Burkhardt Harry Burkhardt Wedding Guest (uncredited) Edmund Cobb Edmund Cobb Inquirer Reporter (uncredited) EC Eddie Coke Reporter (uncredited) Louis Natheaux Louis Natheaux Reporter (uncredited) Arthur O'Connell Arthur O'Connell Reporter (uncredited) GR Guy Repp Reporter (uncredited) TS Tom Steele Reporter (uncredited) RW Richard Wilson Reporter (uncredited) Louise Currie Louise Currie Reporter at Xanadu (uncredited) Walter Sande Walter Sande Reporter at Xanadu (uncredited) Jan Wiley Jan Wiley Reporter at Xanadu (uncredited) Milton Kibbee Milton Kibbee Reporter at Wedding (uncredited) BM Buck Mack Reporter at Boat Deck (uncredited) Alan Ladd Alan Ladd Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited) TA Thomas A. Curran Teddy Roosevelt (uncredited) JC Jack Curtis Boss Printer (uncredited) GN George Noisom Copy Boy (uncredited) GP Gerald Pierce Copy Boy Delivering Message in Chicago Hotel Room (uncredited) Dona Dax Dona Dax House Maid (uncredited) GD George DeNormand Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) Bud Geary Bud Geary Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) BL Bert LeBaron Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) CM Clyde McAtee Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) Cyril Ring Cyril Ring Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) Roland Winters Roland Winters Newspaperman at Trenton Town Hall (uncredited) Lew Harvey Lew Harvey Newspaperman (uncredited) Herman J. Mankiewicz Herman J. Mankiewicz Newspaperman (uncredited) Eddie Dew Eddie Dew Man in Projection Room (uncredited) PL Perc Launders Man in Projection Room (uncredited) John Dilson John Dilson Ward Heeler (uncredited) Walter James Walter James Ward Heeler (uncredited) Robert Dudley Robert Dudley Photographer (uncredited) SD Suzanne Dulier French Maid (uncredited) AE Al Eben Solly (uncredited) JE Johnny Eckert Car-Driver (uncredited) CE Carl Ekberg Adolf Hitler (uncredited) Edith Evanson Edith Evanson Leland's Nurse (uncredited) CF Carl Faulkner Hermann Goring (uncredited) JF Juanita Fields Dancer (uncredited) EM Edna Mae Jones Dancer (uncredited) LN Leda Nicova Dancer (uncredited) JR Jolane Reynolds Dancer (uncredited) Suzanne Ridgway Suzanne Ridgway Dancer (uncredited) Olin Francis Olin Francis Expressman (uncredited) LF Louise Franklin Susan's Maid (uncredited) Renee Godfrey Renee Godfrey Nurse (uncredited) PG Peter Gowland Guest (uncredited) JG Jimmy Grant Man at Party in Everglades (uncredited) Jesse Graves Jesse Graves Joseph (uncredited) EG Ernest Grooney Man on Hospital Roof (uncredited) JG Jack Gwynne Man on Hospital Roof (uncredited) TM Teddy Mangean Man on Roof (uncredited) Henry Hebert Henry Hebert Best Man at Wedding (uncredited) B' Bryan 'Slim' Hightower Fish Driver (uncredited) Mitchell Ingraham Mitchell Ingraham Politician (uncredited) PM Philip Morris Politician (uncredited) FS Francis Sayles Politician (uncredited) GW George W. Jimenez Waiter at Inquirer Party (uncredited) EL Ellen Lowe Ms. Townsend (uncredited) JT James T. Mack Prompter (uncredited) MM Mickey Martin Newsboy (uncredited) BS Bruce Sidney Newsman (uncredited) MM Major McBride Shadowgraph Man (uncredited) Frank McLure Frank McLure (uncredited) Charles Meakin Charles Meakin Civic Leader (uncredited) Edward Peil Jr. Edward Peil Jr. Civic Leader (uncredited) IM Irving Mitchell Dr. Corey (uncredited) FE Frances E. Neal Ethel (uncredited) LN Lillian Nicholson Woman at Opera (uncredited) JN Joseph North Secretary (uncredited) William H. O'Brien William H. O'Brien Secretary (uncredited) FN Field Norton Opera Spectator (uncredited) DS Dick Scott Opera Spectator (uncredited) Frank O'Connor Frank O'Connor Man at Madison Square Garden (uncredited) Russ Powell Russ Powell Man at Madison Square Garden (uncredited) BS Bert Stevens Man at Madison Square Garden (uncredited) TP Thomas Pogue Man (uncredited) LO Lillian O'Malley Woman in Front of Chronicle Building (uncredited) JR Jack Raymond Stagehand (uncredited) GV Gohr Van Vleck Stagehand (uncredited) MR Myrtle Rishell Big Governess (uncredited) Benny Rubin Benny Rubin Smather (uncredited) Shimen Ruskin Shimen Ruskin Hireling (uncredited) GS George Sherwood Hireling (uncredited) Edward Ryan Edward Ryan Man in Inquirer City Room (uncredited) Landers Stevens Landers Stevens Senate Investigator (uncredited) HJ Harry J. Vejar Portuguese Laborer (uncredited) TW Tudor Williams Chorus Master (uncredited) AY Arthur Yeoman Speaker (uncredited) Tim Davis Tim Davis Copy Boy (uncredited) CB Charles Bennett Entertainer (uncredited) AK Arthur Kay Orchestra Leader (Uncredited) JA John Alban Reporter (uncredited) FZ Finn Zirzow Audience Member (uncredited) SH Sam Harris Newsreel Man (uncredited) DC Dorothy Cleveland Woman in Front of Chronicle Building (uncredited)

Why Cult

Multi-Perspective Flashbacks

The story unfolds through layered flashbacks, giving you a fractured, subjective look at Kane's enigmatic life.

Shadowy Black-and-White Style

Striking black-and-white cinematography sets an atmospheric stage for the rise and fall of a capitalist giant.

Media Mogul Meltdown

Follow the psychological unraveling of a newspaper tycoon whose childhood wounds echo in every adult disaster.

Questions from the Vault

When was Citizen Kane released? +

Citizen Kane was released in 1941.

Who directed Citizen Kane? +

Citizen Kane was directed by Orson Welles.

How long is Citizen Kane? +

Citizen Kane has a runtime of 119 minutes.

What genre is Citizen Kane? +

Citizen Kane is a mystery and drama film.

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