Page 1 of Citizen Kane puzzler

Friend of mine just watched Citizen Kane for the first time and has flummoxed me with a question - the whole film revolves around the search to find out what `Rosebud` means, as whispered by Kane as he dies. But since there`s no-one actually in the room with him when he says it, who the hell heard him in the first place?

Kind of spoiled it for me, won`t be able to watch it again without noticing this!

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From the `goofs` section at IMDB:Quote:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: It has been claimed that Kane`s last words could not have been known as he was alone in the room. This is incorrect; the majordomo says that he was in the room, heard Kane say "Rosebud", and that when the paperweight slipped from Kane`s hand he knew he was dead.


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The entire film crew were in the room. :/

Yes.

The goof is in actually imagining that anyone would be so concerned about a delirious old man saying `Rosebud` as he dies, or that his last words would pertain to his favourite sled, rather than his mother, or the place where he lives, or that anyone is the slightest bit interested in what Orson Welles thinks of William Randolph Hearst, or that Citizen Kane is the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Sorry about that.

Citizen Kane just irritates me because it falls into the category of `enough people say it`s great so I suppose it must be`. That`s how mediocrities get to the top.

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Citizen Kane just irritates me because it falls into the category of `enough people say it`s great so I suppose it must be`. That`s how mediocrities get to the top.

You`re not really understanding the importance of the film.. It`s the first truly modern film and a milestone in film making - complicated narrative, innovative camera work, etc.. etc..

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It`s the first truly modern film and a milestone in film making - complicated narrative, innovative camera work, etc.. etc..

Yup, by today`s standards it`s pretty simple, but it hasn`t dated. And to this day I`m still in awe at the cinematography. It`s a great film, and not at all arty-farty. It`s actually a pretty mainstream viewing. But it was released in 1940 and some people struggle to put things in perspective (I do ;) ).

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Its true. From a purely technical standpoint, it was totally groundbreaking. I dont find it a particularly easy watch, but I do appreciate the fact that its a well made movie which pioneered many techniques still in use today.

I think if you want to cuss any film for being a bandwagon, The Shawshank Redemption is as good as any. God damn that film is overrated.

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This item was edited on Monday, 18th July 2005, 13:57

I think it has gone into film classics section as it broke new ground in film technique in practically all departments. Of thatit was, and still is, brilliant.
Apart from sitting watching the innovations in cinema (worth watching that alone), for me it is a bore in the story department.
When I said that a film crew was there for the last words, I wasn`t (particularly) being facetious. It is in the nature of cinema to be able to ask what is "real". Another example is "Sunset Boulevard", narrated by the dead hero.

Who would of thought that a film about a SPOILER:
sledge would be considered the greatest film of all time. ;)

I thought it was good, but I think the real story before during and after the making of the film is a lot better.

Did you know rosebud was actually a nick name for William Randolph Hearst wife`s vagina?

The actual film is loosely based on William Randolph Hearst who was the Rupert Murdoch of his day, and he hated the film so much that he got his media empire to make a huge backlash against the movie.

floyd


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