Blu-Ray Review: ‘Citizen Kane’ Continues to Stun 70 Years Later

CHICAGO – I have written about thousands of movies and yet I still feel daunted by addressing “Citizen Kane,” recently released in a stunning Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray for the 70th anniversary of what many still consider to be the best film of all time. What could I possibly add to the conversation? Pulitzer Prize winners have dissected the film down to every decision made by Orson Welles during its production. All I can tell you is that the movie has lost none of its power. It is still one of the most striking cinematic achievements of all time and the impressive Blu-ray box set does the film the justice it has long-deserved.

Citizen Kane was released on Blu-ray on September 13th, 2011

As I said, “Citizen Kane” is still mesmerizing. I watch it every few years and I go into it every time with the same trepidation — Will it hold up? Is it still powerful? Much to my amazement, I think it’s gotten better. Maybe it’s my age and further appreciation of the techniques of Orson Welles, but “Citizen Kane” becomes even more captivating as I get older. Many people have written about the influence of “Citizen Kane” and there’s no denying that aspect but many works of art that are influential aren’t exactly enjoyable. You can admire an influential work without actually loving it as entertainment. “Citizen Kane” is too often seen by viewers, especially young ones, as something they should watch in a class and dissect. What’s forgotten is that it’s riveting drama, not merely a lecture. And the film feels shockingly current with our daily problems with big business and people in power. Think of how many right now could echo the line “If I hadn’t been rich, I could have been a really good man,” one of my personal faves in film history.

Not only have writers better than I written entire libraries on the film, but one of them, the great Roger Ebertz, provides a commentary on the Blu-ray release that’s simply one of the best ever recorded. It’s a master class in filmmaking as the great critic analyzes the film in ways you would never even imagine. He not only knows exactly what Orson Welles was doing in each scene, but he catches things that even the legendary filmmaker may not have been conscious of at the time. Ebert’s track alone would be reason to pick up “Citizen Kane” (although it should be noted that it was previously available and so may be on a version of the film you already own).


Citizen Kane was released on Blu-ray on September 13th, 2011


Of course, Warner Bros. is not about to release what is widely regarded as the best film of all time with JUST an amazing audio track. The Blu-ray release of “Citizen Kane” is filled with amazing archival material and the set comes with two extra discs of related entertainment (a documentary and an HBO film) along with physical collectibles and a hardcover mini-book. WB has put together some impressive packages for their long-awaited catalog BD debuts and this is one of the most remarkable. In a gorgeous hard case, fans will find a brilliantly-transferred version of the film accompanied by archival material (and the aforementioned Ebert track, along with another commentary), a documentary called “The Battle For Citizen Kane,” the HBO movie “RKO 281,” a book with stills & some historical data, and a folder with replicas of posters, correspondence, and the souvenir program. Fans of the film will be smiling before they even put in a disc.
There are close contests in certain Blu-ray categories (best theatrical transfers, best studio for TV shows, best recurring features, etc.) but there’s really not any competition when it comes to which studio is doing the best work with beloved catalog releases like “Citizen Kane.” This is such a historically important film that it could have just spoken for itself with a standalone release but WB goes all-out for a film that arguably deserves special edition treatment more than any other in history.
Special Features:
Disc 1 (Blu-ray):
o Separate Commentaries by Roger Ebert and Peter Bogdanovichz
o Interviews with Ruth Warrick and Robert Wise
o Premiere Newsreel
o Stills Gallery
Disc 2 (DVD):
o The Battle Over Citizen Kane - The 1995 Best Documentary Feature Oscar Nominee
Disc 3 (DVD):
o RKO 281 - The Emmy and Golden Globe-Winning 1999 Movie
o 10 Reproductions of Studio Memos and Correspondence
o 20-Page 1941 Souvenir Program Reproduction
o 48-Page Book with Photos, Storyboards and Behind-the-Scenes Info
o 5 One-Sheet/Lobby-Card Reproductions

“Citizen Kane” stars Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ray Collinsz, George Coulourisz, and Agnes Moorhead. It was directed by Welles and released on Blu-ray on September 13th, 2011.