This was poorly Directed and not particularly shot well also, seeing the cinematographer's filmography, "Air Bud" kind of leaves a bad taste. Review by Gabe ... DVD copy of RKO 281. ALL IMAGES BELOW CREDITED TO: HBO/IMDB. Filmography. Tap to unmute. Up Next. Metacritic Reviews. It really was a world where one powerful man could affect the careers of everybody in Hollywood! This film is the story of how Citizen Kane was made. RKO 281 Quotes. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. RKO 281 as a stand-alone film is not bad, though the short running time left me feeling like I'd only seen the primary colors of what could've been a rich piece of fiction. In the film Welles is seen at San Simeon. As a matter of fact this movie isn't even really about Orson Welles or the shooting of "Citizen Kane" at all. My Little Eye Writer (1992) Director. Its birth, its battles, its price, secrets and victory premises. RKO 281 - tapaus "Citizen Kane" ( RKO 281) on vuonna 1999 ensi-iltansa saanut Benjamin Rossin ohjaama historiallinen draamaelokuva Orson Wellesin kuuluisan elokuvan Kansalainen Kane myrskyisistä syntyvaiheista. Tap to unmute. Company Credits I appreciate that people who are familiar with wells work might be a little bit more critical of the piece but i thought it was super. It's more about the battle of getting the movie made and eventually released. Awards The most remarkable thing about RKO 281 (subtitled "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") is that not only is it sympathetic to William Randolph Hearst and his paramour Marian Davies, but it also paints a less then flattering picture of film icon Orson Welles. But it represents more than a decent film and the work of Liev Schreiber is enough for remind the energy , force and ways of Orson Welles. | The best to be said about this one is that it is shorter than most. The third and final instalment in a loose trilogy of articles on the 1941 classic Citizen Kane following writings on the film itself and the 1996 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane, today’s write-up is about RKO 281, a television film that originally aired on HBO in 1999 about Kane‘s difficult development. Hearst is also presented as an unlikeable character, but Cromwell plays him with great dignity that you almost feel sorry for him. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, (documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") (in part) and, (documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane") (in part), senior hair artist / senior makeup artist, hair stylist: dailies / makeup artist: dailies, chief hair designer / chief makeup designer, hair artist: Ms. Griffith / makeup artist: Ms. Griffith, dresser (as Nicholas Mollo) / storeman (as Nicholas Mollo), construction manager (as Robin Thistlethwaite), special effects assistant (as Daniel Wright), visual effects supervisor (as Steve Begg), digital effects supervisor: The Magic Camera Company, executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (as Anthony Hunt), effects cameraman: The Magic Camera Company / rostrum cameraman: The Magic Camera Company, Domino operator: The Magic Camera Company, 2D digital supervisor: The Magic Camera Company, 2D digital artist: The Magic Camera Company, digital effects producer: The Magic Camera Company, stunt performer (as Steve 'Street' Griffin), clapper loader: "a/b" camera (as Stuart Barrell), transportation coordinator (as Ravi Dubé), driver: wardrobe truck (as Townley Knott), representative: The Estate of Orson Welles, Beverly Hills, California, production coordinator (as Suzie [Ford] Wiesmann), acknowledgment: excerpts from the radio play 'War Of The Worlds' by Howard Koch, copyright 1940, copyright renewed, courtesy of, the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Kyra Shelgren). Still what could and should have been a great story with a great cast and the powers of HBO behind it, is at best a routine docu-drama. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Share. You're signed out. Elonet. Autoplay is paused. RKO 281 tv ad. I didn't know the history of the making of Citizen Kane, and while I enjoyed this movie quite a bit, I still doubt that I know much about it. RKO 281 (1999 TV Movie) Trivia. Edit Report This. But the buffs and fans can still rejoice in knowing that they understand a little more than the rest of us about what the hell was going on in Hollywood and the rest of the world in 1940 and 1941. i really liked this movie, even the bits with Melanie Griffith's which is something. —Kenneth Chisholm. User Ratings And, sure, admirable performances, first - James Cromwell. The buffs and fans will probably gnash their teeth over historical inaccuracies and events and conversations that obviously must have been invented. | The key to enjoying this film is in being able to divorce yourself from the idea that this is an accurate representation of the making of Citizen Kane. Official Sites What went on the screen was nothing compared to what went on behind the scenes. Perhaps they needed to spend more time on script research than on sets and costumes. 84 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film. This was poorly Directed and not particularly shot well also, seeing the cinematographer's filmography, "Air Bud" kind of leaves a bad taste. Though this film isn't a documentary and plays many things differently then they really happened, RKO 281 is an excellent film. However, the plot outside this remarkable backdrop, is sadly quite shallow. Id definitely recommend it to any Liev Schreiber fans. 5699; R; Genre: Biography; Release year: 1999 (1999-11-20) Running time: 86 min; Original Title: RKO 281; Voted: 5699 ; Coming to Hollywood as a celebrated boy genius featuring a spectacular career arc in New York including his radio hoax War of the Worlds, is stymied on the subject for his first film. Visita http://cinemovil.net/ más de 9.000 títulos en DVD. Who can impersonate Lucille Ball or Clark Gable or Orson Welles once you have been media-saturated by the real thing? | La Batalla por Ciudadano Kane: RKO 281 is a 1999 American historical drama film directed by Benjamin Ross and starring Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich, Roy Scheider, and Liam Cunningham.The film depicts the troubled production behind the 1941 film Citizen Kane.The film's title is a reference to the original production number of Citizen Kane 84 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film. The battle between William Randolph Hearst and Orson Welles over the latter's classic film Citizen Kane is the stuff that film history legends are made of. RKO 281 So “Citizen Kane” is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made, I whole heartedly disagree with that. RKO 281; RKO 281. A cheap and dishonest movie that exhibits no love for film-making or for Citizen Kane, but instead goes for an overly-dramatic story at the expense of truth and the character of the people involved. Looks more like Hearst got the brunt of it. The intimate details of his life were showcased by Orson Welles, the director. rko 281 Trailer In 1939, boy-wonder Orson Welles leaves New York, where he has succeeded in radio and theater, and, hired by RKO Pictures, moves to Hollywood with the purpose of making his first film. RKO 281 doesn't really show the severity of the impact that Hearst had on Welles and the beginning of the black listing movement. Release Dates However, in RKO 281 we do not see the realtionship between Hearst and Welles, and what history drives Weles to make Citizen Kane. Showing all 13 items. Very interesting movie about the battle to get Citizen Kane made has carved out a tricky niche for itself; the movie is going to be most interesting to fans of Welles and Kane, and those people are going to have such specific expectations about what the movie should be that they can't be satisfied. To me this movie was lacking a bit of a point and it didn't achieved much with its story or characters. 84 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film. It is hard to watch anyone impersonating a figure who has been extensively recorded. Wellesiä esittää Liev Schreiber . What a wasted opportunity to explore the tempestuous and amazingly creative people who produced a landmark film. It was by no means the best I have ever seen, but if one is interested in Welles or Citizen Kane it is a must see. While it's not necessary to see Kane first, I'll warn you there's a quick line of dialogue near the end where Mankowitz (John Malkovich) spoils the big Kane secret, the meaning of "rosebud" in the film, so it's probably best to see Kane beforehand. I could buy Paul Muni as Louis Pasteur or Emile Zola. Cancel. --But What's That Saying? RKO 281 (1999) BAFTA Awards. I know I would object if someone threw my life on the screen for everyone to see, especially the comprimising stuff. This film shows how powerful Hearst was, for the murder was covered up and never to be spoken of again, on Hearst's orders. Review by Gabe ... After watching 'Mank', for balance I decided to rewatch the BBC/HBO's 1999 'Citzen Kane' making of drama 'RKO 281'. RKO 281 (1999 TV Movie) Awards. The viewer sees both Welles's side and Hearst's objections. Info. This will more often than not prove to be the case. But I didn't buy Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman or Will Smith as Muhammad Ali. Copy link. A film about clashes and power and cynical fights. It's based in part upon the real-life story of the behind the scenes of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, and in part of the documentary The Battle over Citizen Kane that made as a part of The American Experience. You're signed out. RKO 281 (TV Movie 1999) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The presence of some production involvement by WGBH gave hope of more historical accuracy's but this didn't seem to help (not a good move WGBH stay with your far better documentaries). This is so very largely because a plethora of documentaries that are rich feasts of real visual source material and oral history appear every single day on cable TV. RKO 281 is based on the making of Orson Welles's masterpiece, Citizen Kane, but unlike the movie it portrays, RKO 281 lacks Welles's fiery signature of creativity. Watch hollywood full movie in hindi. fascinating film for fans of Welles, who of course will tear it to shreds, Glimpses of Greatness, Greed and Grandeur, An Excellent Fictional Version Of The Battle Over Citizen Kane, strong lead performances make RKO quite good. All you need is a stable internet connection and a bigger device/screen to fully enjoy full movies online. And maybe the most controversial. Up Next. Because of the omnipresence of modern media, I think they are doomed to fail. Hardly anything is ever as black and white as most of the movie, and even more to the point, the character doesn't manage to capture any of the "zing" that Wells had even as an old man. American Comedy Award [Nominee] (1989) Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Working Girl (1988) Australian Film Institute . Share. Better than Cradle Will Rock. The movie itself is well-filmed, with elaborate backdrops and a captivating depth of the 30's period in which it was shot. These two movies give us some insight into the life of a very powerful publisher, and they do compliment each other. Info. Like most HBO TV productions it's stylish to the point of being borderline overdone. The Young Poisoner's Handbook Writer (1995) RKO 281 Director (1999) Torte Bluma Director (2005) Known For. Tap to unmute. RKO 281 (1999) 7.0. You've probably read a lot of other comments, so I'll spare you the details of what "RKO 281" is about.. rather, my comments pertain to made-for-HBO films, particularly this one.. A powerful film and a great portrait of Orson Welles. Sinopsis de RKO 281. This is more of a shot docudrama with big name actors in it, rather than a movie that tells a real story. Review by Gabe ... DVD copy of RKO 281. FAQ Liev Schreiber gives a great performance as Orson Welles but I am always a fan of Liev Schreiber. A better film would no doubt have spent much more time on dissecting what makes the two key protagonists - Welles and media magnate Hearst tick, but RKO281 barely seems to scratch the surface, coming up with only superficial reasons for each character's stubborn intransigence, but this is still a pretty good examination of the story behind the production of what has since come to be widely regarded as the greatest film ever made. It can't compete for filmic glamour, visual daring and juicy dialogue but it's definitely more accurate and earnest. I also found it interesting that Welles's friend, Mankiewicz, who actually colected the information on Hearst's life and wrote much of the script for Citizen Kane, was never really given any credit. Questions such as who was Orson Welles, why was he such a genius and how "Citizen Kane" influenced basically all later cinema are hardly being answered or handled at all. IMDb. Welles was pretty much destroyed in his tracks by this and that is not shown at all. The size of the principal actors had to be modified for their roles. The technical aspects of impersonation are too much in the fore front of my mind as I watch, because I know too intimately, almost second nature, what the subject's style and physical presence are like. I know emulating Welles presents a major challenge for an actor, and Shreiber did somewhat resemble his voice, but the wit, energy, determination and confidence which to me represent Welles just didn't shine through. (1999) Orson Welles (Liev Schreiber) fights William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell) and RKO to make the movie "Citizen Kane." Trapped between a crowd pleaser & an inside joke, Never really understood the extent of Hearst's reach before now. Shopping. The movie is attractive, I imagine that it's more or less factually correct, and the cast is generally good, but it doesn't feel "real". I did like the movie and agree that it is an important movie especially as far as what it introduced in filmmaking techniques. Biography Drama History TV Movie. Hate to say this, though I do, I think audiences have at last become too sophisticated for docudramas and film biographies of people who lived since the very late 19th and early 20th century, which we might term The Recorded Age. However, the plot outside this remarkable backdrop, is sadly quite shallow. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. This movie had a very good cast. Up Next. RKO 281 shows the viewer the tensions between these two men, which contributed to the making fo the film. Showing all 15 wins and 28 nominations. Filming & Production RKO 281 is based on the making of Orson Welles's masterpiece, Citizen Kane, but unlike the movie it portrays, RKO 281 lacks Welles's fiery signature of creativity. R. Your rating: 0. Share. Top 200 of all time 150 Essential Comedies. Popular reviews More. RKO 281 (1999 TV Movie) Plot Summary (4) Orson Welles produces his greatest film, Citizen Kane (1941), despite the opposition of the film's de facto subject, William Randolph Hearst. But with that said I think the trouble behind the production is more interesting than the actual film. Casting Roy Sheider was a mistake too; he plays a good humanitarian not a shrewd Hollywood mogul. The search for purity and perfection is bound to end in failure because, after all, who is pure? Info; Cast ; Report; Synopsis. There was much controversy over the production of the movie and its release in 1941. Autoplay is paused. Or put another way, in this age, when we learn every facial tic and pattern of breath of really big personalities, how could an impersonator HOPE to make the original subject of a docudrama or film bio come fully to life? Apr. I'm absolutely sure that this film would be of more interest to film buffs and Welles fans than to the average viewer, although the buffs and fans might find it infuriating at times. Watch later. Known For. The boy wonder Welles was given all accolades for his film. Copy link. Orson Welles has some nerve making Citizen Kane as some will say, and others would suggest that it is a masterpiece. The movie itself is well-filmed, with elaborate backdrops and a captivating depth of the 30's period in which it was shot. Welle's justification for this was that Hearst has a monopoly over the newspaper business, and uses those newspapers to promote his own political beliefs. RKO 281 gets to the root of this, and to the emotions felt by both Hearst and Marion with the making of the movie.