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Overview
Consistently listed as among the greatest movies of all time, Citizen Kane is the first film directed by Orson Welles, who also produced, co-wrote, and starred in the film
. Released in 1941, the film examines the complexities of personal legacy and the “American Dream” through its depiction of the life of Charles Foster Kane, who was based on several real historical figures, most notably American newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst. Kane’s life is portrayed through a series of flashbacks as newspaper reporter Jerry Thompson interviews his former friends and associates in order to understand the significance of Kane's enigmatic final word before his death, “Rosebud.” The film, which was lauded by critics but initially lost money at the box office, is now recognized as a landmark in the history of cinematic storytelling.
