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Dialogue in Citizen Kane

by Kate Fortmueller

Citizen Kane has three opening sequences: the opening and his death at Xanadu, the "News on the March" newsreel about Kane's life, and this final sequence when the reporters look for a new angle on Kane's life. This sequence not only sets up the central quest of the film (to find the meaning of "rosebud"), but also provides a good example of overlapping dialogue. Consider how this relates to our other example of reporters (His Girl Friday [1931]).

Citizen Kane (1941) - "Rosebud: Dead or Alive"

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In this sequence the reporters aim to tell a more compelling story about Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles).

from Citizen Kane (1941)
Creator: Orson Welles
Posted by Kate Fortmueller
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