RKO 281 (1999) (TV)

Director:

Benjamin Ross

Writers (WGA):

John Logan (written by)
Richard Ben Cramer (documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") (in part) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Orson Welles produces his greatest film, Citizen Kane, despite the opposition of the film's de facto subject, William Randolph Hearst.

Plot Keywords:

Film Director | Movie Studio | Reference To Thomas Ince | Director | Reference To David O Selznick

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Liev Schreiber	...	Orson Welles
James Cromwell	...	William Randolph Hearst
Melanie Griffith	...	Marion Davies
John Malkovich	...	Herman Mankiewicz
Brenda Blethyn	...	Louella Parsons
Roy Scheider	...	George Schaefer
Liam Cunningham	...	Gregg Toland
David Suchet	...	Louis B. Mayer
Fiona Shaw	...	Hedda Hopper
Anastasia Hille	...	Carole Lombard
Roger Allam	...	Walt Disney
Simeon Andrews	...	John Houseman
William Armstrong	...	Mr. Lewis
Jay Benedict	...	Darryl Zanuck
Ron Berglas	...	David O. Selznick
Paul Birchard	...	Top Brass #2
Neil Conrich	...	Mr. Thomson
Michael Cronin	...	Joseph Willicombe
Sarah Franzl	...	Dorothy Comingore
Briony Glassco	...	Script Girl
Louis Hammond	...	Flunkie #2
Aaron Keeling	...	Young Orson Welles
Joseph Long	...	Harry Cohn
Gareth Marks	...	Top Brass #1
Olivier Pierre	...	Sam Goldwyn
Roger Rose	...	News Reader
Rolf Saxon	...	Flunkie #1
Adrian Schiller	...	Paul Stewart
Kerry Shale	...	Bernard Herrmann
Cyril Shaps	...	Jeweller
Tusse Silberg	...	Welles's Mother
Toby Whithouse	...	Sound Technician
Tim Woodward	...	Jack Warner
Angus Wright	...	Joseph Cotten
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Valentino	...	Clark Gable
Lucy Cohu	...	Dolores Del Rio (uncredited)

Directed by
Benjamin Ross

Writing credits (WGA)
John Logan		(written by)
Richard Ben Cramer		(documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") (in part) and
Thomas Lennon		(documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") (in part)

Produced by
Su Armstrong	....	producer
Diane Minter Lewis	....	co-executive producer
Ridley Scott	....	executive producer
Tony Scott	....	executive producer
Chris Zarpas	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
John Altman

Cinematography by
Mike Southon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alex Mackie

Casting by
Lora Kennedy
Joyce Nettles

Production Design by
Maria Djurkovic

Art Direction by
Lucinda Thomson

Set Decoration by
Tatiana Macdonald		(as Tatiana Lund)

Costume Design by
Stewart Meachem

Makeup Department
Elaine Browne	....	senior hair artist
Elaine Browne	....	senior makeup artist
Lesley Noble	....	makeup artist/hair stylist
Demelza Rogers	....	hair stylist: dailies
Demelza Rogers	....	makeup artist: dailies
Roseann Samuel	....	chief hair designer
Roseann Samuel	....	chief makeup designer
Aileen Seaton	....	hair artist: Ms. Griffith
Aileen Seaton	....	makeup artist: Ms. Griffith
Karen Turner	....	hair artist (as Karen Z.M. Turner)
Karen Turner	....	makeup artist (as Karen Z.M. Turner)
Christina Webster	....	makeup artist: dailies

Production Management
Stephen Barker	....	post-production supervisor
Tracey Gibbons	....	post-production supervisor
Nigel Gostelow	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Daniels	....	first assistant director
Toby Ford	....	second assistant director
Barney Hughes	....	co-third assistant director
Jo Schotting	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Mark Adams	....	chargehand painter
Brian Aldridge	....	dressing props
Matt Amos	....	painter
Alan Bailey	....	prop master
Alan Briant	....	dressing props
Anthony Caron-Delion	....	draughtsman
David Chappell	....	carpenter
Liliana Cifonelli	....	art department runner
Nick Connor	....	art department runner
John Davies	....	stand-by painter
Neil Dickson	....	stagehand
Judy Ducker	....	production buyer
Billy Edwards	....	stand-by propman
Dave Fisher	....	stand-by chargehand
Martin Foley	....	art department assistant
Anthony Hill	....	painter
Peter Hodge	....	stand-by stagehand
Clare Holland	....	scenic painter
Tony Hoskins	....	carpenter
Paul Inglis	....	stand-by art director
Graham Jones	....	carpenter
Josh Jones	....	stand-by carpenter (as Joshua Jones)
Mark Keene	....	carpenter
Tony Knight	....	props runaround
Clifford Lay	....	stagehand
Nicholas Lloyd	....	carpenter
Karen Long	....	storyboard artist
Goggi Lund	....	signwriter
David Martin	....	stagehand
Sarah Millar	....	construction accountant
Clive Mitchell	....	carpenter
Nick Mollo	....	dresser (as Nicholas Mollo)
Nick Mollo	....	storeman (as Nicholas Mollo)
Eddie Murphy	....	carpenter
Matthew Parsons	....	painter (as Matt Parsons)
Brian Pickett	....	stand-by rigger
Stelios Polychronakis	....	graphic artist
Ian Ritchie	....	carpenter
Stuart Rushbrook	....	carpenter (as Stewart Rushbrook)
Russell Sargent	....	carpenter
Geoff Stainthorp	....	chargehand carpenter
Robin Thistlewaite	....	construction manager (as Robin Thistlethwaite)
Keith West	....	props runaround
Chris White	....	carpenter
David Williams	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Nick Adams	....	supervising sound editor
Gordon Brown	....	dialogue editor
Sophie Cornet	....	assistant sound editor
Jonathan Cronin	....	adr editor
Clive Derbyshire	....	sound recordist
Mike Dowson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Diane Greaves	....	foley artist (as Dianne Greaves)
Michelle Greaves	....	foley artist
John Griffith	....	foley editor
Eddy Joseph	....	additional supervising sound editor
Peter Margrave	....	sound maintenance engineer
Ted Swanscott	....	foley mixer
Mark Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Wrightson	....	sound effects editor
Roberto Cappannelli	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Murdoch	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Steven Begg	....	visual effects supervisor (as Steve Begg)
Steve Boag	....	optical crew: Cine Image
Martin Bullard	....	optical crew: Cine Image
Angus Cameron	....	digital effects supervisor: The Magic Camera Company
Rob Dunbar	....	visual effects
John Goodinson	....	designer: Cine Image
Charles Green	....	optical crew: Cine Image
Robin Huffer	....	3D animator: The Magic Camera Company
Antony Hunt	....	executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (as Anthony Hunt)
Rick Mietkowski	....	effects cameraman: The Magic Camera Company
Rick Mietkowski	....	rostrum cameraman: The Magic Camera Company
Lynn Perez	....	Domino operator: The Magic Camera Company
Daniel Pettipher	....	2D digital supervisor: The Magic Camera Company
Ed Plant	....	2D digital artist: The Magic Camera Company
Matthew Symonds	....	designer: Cine Image (as Matt Symonds)
Angie Wills	....	digital effects producer: The Magic Camera Company

Stunts
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunt performer
Sarah Franzl	....	stunt performer
Steve Griffin	....	stunt performer (as Steve 'Street' Griffin)
Richard Hammatt	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Herbert	....	stunt performer
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kaiser Azim	....	camera trainee (as Qaiser Azim)
Stuart Barell	....	clapper loader: "a/b" camera (as Stuart Barrell)
Geoff Brown	....	electrician
Micky Brown	....	gaffer
Peter Casey	....	generator operator
Giles Christopher	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Alfie Emmins	....	electrician
Danny Espey	....	electrician
Jon Euesden	....	electrician
Ian Jackson	....	camera operator
Andy Kendall	....	crane grip
Dean Kennedy	....	electrician
Sam McCourt	....	video assistant
Steve Mcleod	....	best boy (as Steve McLeod)
Stephen Morley	....	stills photographer
Michael O'Donoghue	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Malcolm Sheehan	....	key grip (as Malcolm J. Sheehan)

Casting Department
Louise Cross	....	casting associate: UK
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting: Lyps Inc.
Kristy Sager	....	casting associate: US

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Derby	....	costume assistant
Ali Goss	....	costume supervisor
Tim Guthrie	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Iain Erskine	....	first assistant editor
Bruce Everett	....	post-production consultant
Allan John	....	laboratory liaison
Helen Paszyn	....	cutting room trainee
Mike Stainer	....	color timer (as Michael Stainer)

Music Department
John Altman	....	conductor
John Altman	....	orchestration
Matt Barr	....	music assistant
P.J. Bloom	....	music coordinator
Chris Dibble	....	recording engineer
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Isobel Griffiths	....	music contractor
The John Altman Big Band	....	music performer: big band music
Evyen Klean	....	music consultant
Tony Lewis	....	music assistant
Richard Mather	....	assistant engineer
Graham Read	....	music preparation
Toby Wood	....	score recording engineer

Transportation Department
Gary Birmingham	....	transportation captain
Lia Bourne	....	driver: artiste's trailers
Colin Bressington	....	driver: standby props
Ravi Dube	....	transportation coordinator (as Ravi Dubé)
Denis Greening	....	unit driver
David Gwyther	....	unit driver
Colin Jeffrey	....	driver: camera truck
Townsley Knott	....	driver: wardrobe truck (as Townley Knott)
John Morris	....	driver: make-up bus
Enyo Mortty	....	unit driver
Sean O'Connor	....	unit driver
Simon Saunders	....	unit driver
James Shawyer	....	driver: construction
John Smith	....	unit driver
Fred Taylor	....	unit driver
John Tiny Topping	....	driver: dining bus (as Tiny Topping)
Tony Wadsworth	....	stand-by driver: construction

Other crew
Betty Ainslie	....	assistant accountant
Colette Appleby	....	stand-in
Tex Avery	....	security personnel
Richard Ben Cramer	....	consultant
Sam Breckman	....	location manager
Roger Charles	....	assistant accountant
David Church	....	stand-in
Ginger Corbett	....	unit publicist
Bob Corff	....	voice teacher
Piers Dunn	....	unit location manager
Penny Dyer	....	dialogue coach
Michael Epstein	....	consultant
Tracey Gibbons	....	assistant to producers
Julia Hallawell	....	unit publicist
Ruth Halliday	....	stock footage researcher
Ann Hummel	....	archive consultant
Paul Jackson	....	health and safety advisor
Bryan Jacobs	....	stand-in
Carrie Johnson	....	unit nurse
Ed Kashiba	....	production associate (as Edwin Kashiba)
Debbie Kaye	....	animal supplier
Thomas Lennon	....	consultant (as Tom Lennon)
James Linton	....	stand-in
Sharon Moran	....	assistant production coordinator
Tom Moran	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Duncan Muggoch	....	location manager
Hugh O'Conor	....	assistant: Mr. Ross
Debbie Pelham	....	catering assistant
Stefano Priori	....	production accountant
Deborah Ricketts	....	stock footage researcher
Megan Roberts	....	floor runner
Quinny Sacks	....	choreographer
Dominic Sakakini	....	catering manager
John Sargent	....	post-production accountant
Rob Seager	....	assistant accountant
Paul Smith	....	production assistant
Emily Stewart	....	production assistant
Heather Storr	....	script supervisor
Duncan Trillo	....	magic consultant
Thomas A. White	....	representative: The Estate of Orson Welles, Beverly Hills, California
Rob Wicks	....	security personnel
Suzie F. Wiesmann	....	production coordinator (as Suzie [Ford] Wiesmann)
Danny Wilde	....	chef
Catherine Charlton	....	dialect coach: adr (uncredited)

Thanks
Anne Koch	....	acknowledgment: excerpts from the radio play 'War Of The Worlds' by Howard Koch, copyright 1940, copyright renewed, courtesy of
Shelgren Kyra	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Kyra Shelgren)
Don Ray	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• HBO Pictures (presents)
• WGBH (in association with) (as WGBH Boston)
• Scott Free Productions (producer) (as Scott Free)
• Labrador Films
• BBC Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Sherlock Media S.L. (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2000) (Spain) (all media)
• Cinemien (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (included in "Citizen Kane" Two-Disc Special Edition")
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray included in "Citizen Kane: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition")
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (included in "Citizen Kane: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition")
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Home Box Office (HBO)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO)
• Homescreen (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• K2 Entertainment
• New Films International
• Opening Distribution (France)
• mediacs AG (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Magic Camera Company, The (visual effects by)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• A1 Animals  animals supplied by
• ARRI Media  camera equipment supplied by
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)  under license from: use of ©Oscar® statuette
• American Theater Collection, George Mason University Libraries  newsreel footage courtesy of
• Animals Okay  animals supplied by (as Animals O Kay)
• British Movietonews  newsreel footage courtesy of (as British Movietone News)
• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as CTS Studios, London)
• Castle Hill Productions  provided by: footage from 'Stagecoach'
• Cine Image Film Opticals  opticals and titles (as Cine Image)
• Clips and Footage  newsreel footage courtesy of (as Clips & Footage)
• Condé Nast Publications, The  the producers wish to thank for their assistance: magazines courtesy of
• Corbis Images  newsreel footage courtesy of
• Edit Hire (New Technology)  editing equipment
• Estate of Orson Welles  under license from: use of all intellectual property, moral and other rights of Orson Welles, All rights reserved
• Film Images  newsreel footage courtesy of
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Guildhall Art Gallery  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as The Guildhall, Corporation Of London)
• Hulton Getty Picture Library  newsreel footage courtesy of (as Hulton Getty Picture Collection)
• Image Bank  newsreel footage courtesy of
• JED Productions  provided by: footage from 'Stagecoach' (as J.E.D. Productions Corp.)
• Kobal Collection  courtesy of: RKO newsreel footage (as Kobal)
• Lee Lighting  lighting equipment supplied by
• Leighton House Art Gallery and Museum, London  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Leighton House)
• Lyps Inc.  adr voice casting
• Newman Displays  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• Philip Treacy Hats  hats and accessories by
• Producer's Library Service  newsreel footage courtesy of (as Producers Library Service, Inc.)
• RKO Radio Pictures  newsreel footage courtesy of (as RKO)
• Ray Knight Casting  extras casting
• Set Meals  catering by
• Shepperton Sound  re-recorded at (as Shepperton Sound, Shepperton Studios)
• Susan Scott Lookalikes Ltd.  extras casting (as Lookalikes)
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutter
• Tex's Rangers Security Services  security by (as Tex's Rangers)
• Turner Entertainment  clip courtesy of: 'Citizen Kane' (as Turner Entertainment Co.)
• Turner Entertainment  the producers wish to thank for their assistance: posters courtesy of (as Turner Entertainment Co.)
• UCLA Film and Television Archive  newsreel footage courtesy of
• Victoria and Albert Museum  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Victoria & Albert Museum)
• Video Tape Library  courtesy of: Hollywood footage
• Warner Bros  provided by: footage from 'Stagecoach' (as Warner Bros.)
• Willie's Wheels  facilities transport (as Willies Wheels Ltd.)

Also Known As:

"RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane" - USA (video box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some graphic sexual images

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:S | France:U | Norway:7 | USA:R | Spain:7 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Sign, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

HBO Pictures

Trivia:

When Louella Parsons is shown viewing the film, the actual soundtrack and original dialogue from "Citizen Kane (1941)" is heard.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Just before Welles throws the drink in Mank's face and he falls into the pond, the camera angle changes, and Mank's shirt switches from neatly pressed to severely wrinkled, showing that he had already fallen into the pond in previous takes.

Quotes:

Orson Welles:I expected better of you, Mank.
Herman J. 'Mank' Mankiewicz:Me too, but I got used to it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Brief Film Reviews: My DVD/Blu-Ray Collection" (2010)

Soundtrack:

I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

entertaining, but seems too simple

I didn't know the history of the making of Citizen Kane, and while I enjoyed this movie quite a bit, I still doubt that I know much about it. The movie is attractive, I imagine that it's more or less factually correct, and the cast is generally good, but it doesn't feel "real". Hardly anything is ever as black and white as most of the movie, and even more to the point, the character doesn't manage to capture any of the "zing" that Wells had even as an old man. It's fun, but don't expect too much...