The Battle Over Citizen Kane
- Hearst knew what he was doing with his business and was successful
- Hearst was inconsiderate towards other people in relation to his newspaper
- Hearst had unique control over what was in his newspaper (he staged things)
- Welles prioritized the controversy that would arise from Citizen Kane (he believed it would be a net positive)
- Welles did not have a conventional childhood
- Welles did have prior experience working in theater (before he made Citizen Kane)
- Welles was very difficult to work with (he was very aggressive towards others)
- Hearst wanted to be seen as a champion for poor people
- Hearst wanted to become a ‘movie’ giant
- Hearst owned the largest private zoo in the world
- Welles had a very unique and desirable contract
- Mank was unemployed for years
Orson Welles Interview on Citizen Kane
- Orson Welles was only in his 20’s when he created Citizen Kane
- Welles admits that the film was made as a social document
- Welles didn’t have proper control over one of his bigger projects
- Welles wasn’t against Hollywood, but he does acknowledge its flaws
- Welles thought of Kane as of everything he was not