This day in history: January 8-Citizen Kane and William Randolph Hearst

With the arrival of 1941, orson welles, 24, just finished Citizen Kane, which is considered as one of the best movies of all time. But at that time, it was difficult for him to make the photos public. Why? Because the talented boy in Hollywood stepped on the toes of the most powerful newspaper tycoon in the world.

' s troubles began on January 3rd, 1941, when Heida Huo Po, a Hollywood gossip columnist, was invited to watch the unfinished version of Citizen Kane. This angered her rival, the Hollywood reporter Lauella Parsons of Heart magazine. Like everyone else who has seen this film, when Parsons saw it, she immediately saw the similarities between Charles Foster Kane and William Randolph Hurst.

She lost no time in letting her boss listen to Wells' exaggerated description of him. If this was not enough to anger the newspaper giant, Kane's second wife, an alcoholic singer, was obviously based on Hearst's mistress, actress Marianne Davis. That's why Hearst pushed him to the edge after watching the film and let him shoot for Wells (Wells himself admitted that it might be a little more in a few years).

Hearst didn't waste time in revenge. On January 8, 1941, he ordered all newspapers to cancel any advertisements for scheduled films. He also threatened to start making trouble for the entire film industry, openly questioning the number of "immigrants" and "refugees" employed in this industry, not Americans.

Most people in Hollywood gather around Hearst, not only because he is one of the most powerful people in the world (at least in terms of their profession), but also because orson welles rubbed a lot in the wrong way. Many people in the film industry think that Wells is an annoying, if talented, little guy who openly despises everything in Hollywood.

Hurst made it extremely difficult for citizen Kane to be released. When it was finally released in early May 1941, it was only shown in big cities. The film critics are fascinated by this film, whether Hurst or not. Bosley Crosser, a reporter from * * *, commented, "Citizen Kane is the most amazing and exciting movie I have ever seen on the moon. In fact, this is almost the most sensational movie in Hollywood's history.

Citizen Kane won nine Oscar nominations, but only one award for best screenplay. Wells and the film were actually booed at the awards ceremony, which seems a bit strange for an actor and film who has received so many nominations. In the end, orson welles had the last laugh, because Citizen Kane is still considered as one of the best movies of all time, and Wells is also one of the best actors of all time.

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