Orsen Welles

Orson Welles was an actor, producer, director, writer, and columnist who revolutionized the film industry by directing movies that depicted men and woman as real human beings. Throughout his writing career, Welles' characters reflected his own personality and inspired others writers throughout his career. Orson Welles, born on May 6, 1915 to Richard Head Welles and Beatrice Ives Welles in Kenosha, Wisconsin wasn't the focus of his parents' attention. Instead his brother, Dickie was the one who was pressured to become a famous and great person. However, Dickie wasn't meant for the stage, and eventually became homeless with an alcohol problem. Orsen then stepped up to the plate, and filled into Dickie's shoes as his parents' pride and joy. He adapted wonderfully to the pressure of becoming famous, and took on many tasks trying to achieve his goal. Nevertheless, Orsen's personal relationships suffered because of this pressure to succeed. However, as he once said "A good artist should be isolated. If he isn't isolated, something is wrong" (BrainyQuote). In 1931, Welles made his first appearance on stage in Dublin, Ireland. He then toured the United States with Katharine Cornell, and by 1934 had become a radio producer in the U.S. By 1937, Welles was well on his way to making it in New York, directing numerous Federal Theatre productions and organizing the Mercury Theatre company. In 1938, Welles and Mercury Theater broadcasted short plays over the radio, often from popular pieces of literature. Welles' first notoriety on a national level would come when he broadcasted H. G. Welles' War of the Worlds on his radio show. His broadcast wasn't a typical one, as he treated it as if it were a real news story, cutting into a regularily scheduled music program. He frightened countless listeners while describing the landing of matrian spacecraft in Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Orsen Welles' most famous legacy, which still lives on today, is the movie Citizen Kane. The movie, although not as popular when it was released as it is in modern days, was a revolutionary film. Welles coscripted, starred in, and directed this psychological study of an American newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, who was the basis for Citizen Kane. Hearst and his newspapers and other media outlets boycotted the film. His innovative way of telling his story greatly influenced later filmmakers. "A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet" is what Orson said when asked how to make a good, influential film (BrainyQuote). The film Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles at age 25, is a grand example of how a man can be corrupted by wealth. Through the characters in the film it can be observed how Charles Foster Kane, an idealistic man with principles, can be changed and misguided by wealth and what accompanies wealth. The film takes places during the late 19th century and early 20th century, a time in American history when the world is changing and wealth gives you power to help change that world. Through the story telling of Kane's life we are able to see how wealth changes not only Kane's ideals, but his actions and how he perceives the world. Citizen Kane is the story of a man's failed intent to make the world better because of the corruption wealth brought him. The corruption of idealism by wealth can be seen throughout the film, especially through the thoughts and actions of Kane and the other characters. Kane, with his wealth, tries to create his idealistic world with the power that wealth gives him and as a result tries to control everyone. In addition, the reference of "Rosebud" throughout the movie is a symbol of Kane's wish to return to his childhood and a new start. When his second wife leaves him Kane realizes the corruption wealth has done on his life and says "Rosebud" because he wants to return to his sled, his childhood, to return to the beginning when wealth has yet to corrupt him. Citizen Kane is set at a time in American History where the world is changing and money is at the center of that world. Kane is a part of this new money sweep across America and like everyone else is stretching his power and wealth. He stretches it so much that he loses sight of his objective, which is replaced by his obsession to be in control and make all the decisions, a power he finds through wealth. It is because of this obsession that his idealistic world is corrupted. Furthermore, the film revolves around a newspaper. A newspaper reaches everyone and during this time one of the few media sources. It is through the newspaper that Kane increases his wealth and influence. He is corrupted by the power that the newspaper gives him. In addition, Kane is constantly surrounded by beautiful things and people, until the end of the movie when he has become engrossed in his corruption. Kane at he end of the movie is left in seclusion at Xanadu, still surrounded by beauty, but his idealistic world has become empty because he has no one to share it with.

Citizen Kane puts together one event after another, an endless stream of events that lead to Kane's corruption from wealth. For example, Kane believes that he will win the election and become Governor, even when his opponent, Getty, has threatened to release news that will cause his downfall. Kane believes that wealth has made him invisible and unstoppable. When Kane realizes his defeat he tries to compensate it by marrying Susan Alexander. In addition, Kane uses his wealth to try to prove that he can create his idealistic world. Kane tries to prove to the world that his wife is a real singer and not just a "singer" as was printed in the newspaper. Kane goes to great lengths to try to prove himself and becomes even more absorbed in his wealth, power, and image. The corruption of wealth can be most seen during the meal scene between Kane and Emily Norton. We can see that over time Kane and Emily's relationship changes as Kane becomes more immersed in his newspaper and the power he has. As Kane grows more and more corrupt, his relationship with Emily gets worse. Through the events that occur in the film and Kane's life we can observe the changes Kane goes through as wealth corrupts him. Citizen Kane is an example of the many lives changed during this point in American history when the world began to see more wealth. Charles Foster Kane was a man who began with good beliefs and a goal to see idealism put into action. But wealth was able to corrupt him and Kane lost sight of his goal. He became obsessed with the life that wealth brought him, as well as the power it gave him. When the corruption destroyed Kane altogether, it was too late for him to turn back; he was already lost in his obsession. Kane wanted to return to the beginning and change his life with his "rosebud" sled and his childhood, when his wealth had not yet gone to his head. The film Citizen Kane is a story of wealth and how it corrupted one mans perfect world. In 1942, a year after making Citizen Kane, which won an Oscar for best writing, original screenplay; nominated for best actor, best picture and best director, Welles made The Magnificent Ambersons, which was nominated for Oscar for Best Picture and famously shortened and recut against Welles's wishes. Some of Welle's greatest films were The Stranger (1946), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Macbeth (1948), Othello (finished in 1952 but not shown in the United States until 1955), A Touch of Evil (1958), and Chimes at Midnight (1966). Other films he directed were Journey into Fear (1943), Mr. Arkadin (1955), The Trial (1963), The Immortal Story (1968; originally for French television), and the semi documentary F Is for Fake (1974). Orson Welles died in 1985 after a heart attack in Hollywood, California, but not before receiving the Life Achievement Award of the American Film Institute, in 1975. Welles was a revolutionary film maker, who's outstanding work still lives on today.