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In Our Time · November 2, 2026 · 54m

Archive: Citizen Kane

Ian Christie, John David Rhodes, Stella Bruzzi
Show Notes

Melvyn Bragg and a panel of film scholars examine Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece Citizen Kane. They discuss the film's technical innovations like deep focus and long takes, how Welles' radio and theatre background shaped his groundbreaking approach, and the real-life inspiration from newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The episode covers Hearst's attempts to suppress the film and its slow climb to widespread acclaim.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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Deep Focus and Cinematic Innovation
Citizen Kane pioneered the use of deep focus photography, where both foreground and background remain in sharp focus, enhancing visual storytelling.
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Suppression by William Randolph Hearst
The film's thinly veiled depiction of William Randolph Hearst led the real-life press baron to use his own newspapers to try to suppress the movie.
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