Citizen Kane (1941- Orson Welles) is such an influential film in cinema history it is a must see. It has been labeled ‘The Greatest Film of All Time’ and has influenced the way film is directed even to this day. It is the ‘Birth of a Nation’ of it’s time in its innovative filming techniques and narrative structure.
Cinematographer Greg Toland uses film as an art form to communicate his view of life, he combines many various forms of filmmaking. His use of deep focus puts the background, foreground and objects in-between in sharp focus with experimenting with lenses and lighting. At times when the whole set could not be in sharp focus background and foreground was shot simultaneously then layering on top of each other.
Many low angled shots were used and for the first time in film the ceiling was visible. Due to the sets being in a studio, that have no ceilings, on occasion the ceiling had to be mimicked using fabric with the boom hidden above it.
Director Orson Welles uses expressionistic techniques such as flashbacks, montage and a non-chronological narrative in order to control the reaction of the audience. Welles also introduced to Hollywood formally German expressionistic or horror film techniques such as back and side lighting, unusual camera angles and extreme close ups.
Citizen Kane brought new special effects in make-up, by Maurice Seiderman, who believably aged the cast over the course of the story.
As Tim Dirks says it "is an acknowledged milestone in the development of cinematic technique."
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