Years of discord to end when ‘Citizen Kane’ comes to Hearst Castle

San Luis Obisbo Tribune ^ | 2012 | Kathe Tanner

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

About ten years ago, I was at a movie collectors show, walking around the autograph room checking out the sad spectacle of faded celebrities hawking signed photos ("Wow, Edy Williams needs to use some sunscreen").

Back in the corner of the room, though, I saw John Agar, looking frail and sitting with a woman who I assumed (correctly) was his wife. I started chatting with him about his appearance in one of my favorite films, John Ford's "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," and I bought a picture from it that he autographed to me. As he was signing "God Bless, John Agar," I noticed that there was one stack of photos on the table from "Citizen Kane," a shot of Welles with the dancing girls. I looked up at Agar's wife and asked, "Are you in this picture?" She smiled broadly and pointed at one of the girls. "That's me." We spent the next five minutes talking about Kane and what a nice guy Welles was.

I heard that she died a few months later, and Agar not long after that

[Winstons Julia]

Yes. Who wouldn’t kill for a party at the indoor pool?

[re_nortex]

Years ago my wife and I rented Citizen Kane to see what we had been missing.

I don’t recall much of the movie now, other than it was boring and I didn’t get it. I wonder if watching it with another 10 years on me might help?

To expand on what I wrote in this thread, just watch it on its own terms. Try to avoid treating it as something to study, a work of art or an academic exercise. Dare I say, don't treat it as an object to be "appreciated" but just kick back and let the story flow.

Whether or not Citizen Kane is going to appeal after 10 years of aging is an open question. It will be interesting to hear back from you after viewing it anew.

I'll add that my tastes in movies often leaves my friends and colleagues out in the cold. My personal preference is for dialog-driven films with deep character development.

Near the top of my list are Judgment at Nuremberg and Robert Duvall's Oscar-winning role in Tender Mercies. After inviting a close friend and his wife over for dinner and movies, they were stifling yawns not long into Judgment. The only spark of fascination they showed was when they saw one of the Nazi defendants, played by Werner Klemperer, which elicited "Ooh...Colonel Klink!".

As their eyes were glazing over, I switched the DVD over to Tender Mercies. In spite of being filmed not too far from here, their interest was close to nil. Some people just prefer exploding cars and space aliens zotting people, all in 5.1 Surround Sound, with plenty of CGI, of course.

Don't take me as film snob though. I do get a kick out of Meet the Parents and other such fare where I can disengage for a while.

[Cyber Liberty]

You betcha. I thought the outdoor set of pools was cool, then I saw the indoor one. Wow.

[21twelve]

I imagine that was a lot of it - I do prefer action. Although I really enjoy the old silent films - but of course that is ALL action.

Might need to try Citizen Kane again - and if you hadn’t mentioned all of the new techniques, etc. it used, I would have just viewed it as another film. I didn’t realize it was so ground breaking in those respects!

[re_nortex]

We spent the next five minutes talking about Kane and what a nice guy Welles was.

That's not the first time I've heard that beneath his gruff exterior, Orson Welles was generally kind to people, both those he worked with and to strangers as well. As recounted to me, he was a very driven man who wanted the best in his craft but did have patience with others.

And of course, there's the Paul Masson pitches. Ahhh...the French!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I always like Welles' line "The writer needs a pen, the painter a brush, and the filmmaker...an army."

Have you heard his rant on Birdseye frozen peas?

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I always wonder what that couple sitting next to Welles holding the bottle are thinking.

[Winstons Julia]

The other thing that struck me was the sheer multitude of just beautiful European antiques.

You’d see something stuck away in a corner... and think, “If that was sitting in an empty room, it would be a work of awe.”

[re_nortex]

Due to a botch on my part, post #30, which was meant for FReepmail got into this thread. It's a very nasty, X-rated clip and I urge you not to listen if crude language is offensive to you.

My apologies to all and I asked the mods to pull it.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

The mansion is definately a sight to behold! Funniest part of one of our tours was my husband attempting to take a photo of one of the many tapestries hanging on a wall.
He was admonished to NOT take any photos as the flash would speed up the fading of the fabric, to which my husband asked, why is it hanging in direct sunlight?
We also took notice of the aged wine sitting upright on a ledge with a light above it! Crazy.

I too loved loved loved the indoor pool, I could have spent hours in that lap of luxury.