Composer

:

Bernard Herrmann

Genre

:

Film

Style

:

Film Score

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

37:16

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, co-written, produced, and starring Orson Welles. The film premiered on May 1, 1941, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The film is divided into six movements, each depicting a different period in the life of Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper magnate. The first movement, "News on the March," is a newsreel-style montage that summarizes Kane's life and career. The second movement, "The Education of Charles Foster Kane," depicts Kane's childhood and early years, including his adoption by a wealthy banker and his expulsion from college. The third movement, "The Love Affair," focuses on Kane's marriage to Emily Norton and his affair with Susan Alexander. The fourth movement, "The Campaign," shows Kane's unsuccessful bid for governor of New York. The fifth movement, "After the Election," depicts Kane's decline in popularity and his increasing isolation. The final movement, "Rosebud," reveals the meaning of Kane's dying words and the mystery of his life. The soundtrack for Citizen Kane was composed by Bernard Herrmann, who had previously worked with Welles on his radio show, The Mercury Theatre on the Air. Herrmann's score is notable for its use of unconventional instruments, such as the bass harmonica and the glass harmonica, and its use of dissonance and atonality. The score also features a recurring leitmotif, a musical phrase associated with a particular character or idea, which is used to represent Kane's longing for his lost childhood. The score was recorded by the Warner Bros. studio orchestra and conducted by Herrmann himself. Overall, Citizen Kane is a groundbreaking film that revolutionized the art of cinema. Its use of innovative techniques, such as deep focus cinematography and nonlinear storytelling, influenced generations of filmmakers. The film's soundtrack, composed by Bernard Herrmann, is an integral part of its success, and remains one of the most iconic film scores of all time.

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