Citizen Kane

Drama 119 min Masterpiece Golden Age

A newspaper magnate's life is investigated after his death, told through flashbacks and radical cinematography.

Why It Matters

The most technically innovative film of its century. Deep focus, non-linear narrative, low-angle shots.

Historical Context

A thinly veiled portrait of William Randolph Hearst — who tried to suppress the film.

Historical Forces at Play

World War II · 1939

War films surged during and after WWII, with Hollywood enlisted as a propaganda machine. The war also drove studios to romanticize the home front — Casablanca, Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of Our Lives.