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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Citizen Kane

    Featured In Issue 162, December 2011

    Picture4.5
    Sound3.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    HBO Home Video
    (Catalog Number):
    3000039049
    (MPAA Rating):
    Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $64.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    119
    (Color Type):
    Black & White
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    1941
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    09/13/11
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Orson Welles
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 1.0
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Citizen Kane is the story of Xanadu's Landlord, Kubla Khan or Charles Foster Kane, the greatest newspaper tycoon of any generation. The story follows a group of reporters who are trying to decipher the last word ever spoke by the millionaire newspaper tycoon: "Rosebud." The film begins with a newsreel detailing Kane's life for the masses, and then from there, a series of flashbacks from Kane's life fill in. Through the reporter's investigation the story unfolds to reveal the essence of a fascinating man's rise to fame, and how he eventually lost course. This classic story of power and the press starring, produced, directed, and co-written by then 25-year-old Orson Welles captured nine Academy Award® (1942) nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director, and won for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. (Gary Reber)

    Special features on Disc One include commentary by Peter Bogdanovich; commentary by Roger Ebert; the vintage featurette Opening: World Premier Of Citizen Kane (SD 01:08); an interview with Ruth Warrick (SD 05:40); an interview with Robert Wise (SD 03:04); storyboards; call sheet details; still photography with commentary by Ebert; deleted scene storyboards, sketches, and photos; ad campaign posters; excerpts from a program during "Opening Night"; photos from "Opening Night"; and the theatrical trailer. Also included is a 48-page collector's book filled with photos and behind-the-scenes details, a 20-page reproduction of the original 1941 souvenir program, lobby cards, and reproductions of rare production memos and correspondence. Disc Two is a DVD and Disc Three is a DVD of the HBO Feature RKO 281.

    The 1.30:1 1080p AVC picture is the 70th Anniversary restored version of the American classic. The 4K restoration, scanned for a 1941 composite fine-grain positive master, is wonderful, resulting in incredible quality never before exhibited on a home video medium. The black-and-white imagery is dramatic in terms of contrast, balance, and shadow delineation. The picture, painstakingly re-created via a frame-by-frame process, is pristine yet retains its classic cinematic artistry. What a great achievement for the American cinema that such a classic is now preserved for future generations to appreciate the fine art of filmmaking, This is a filmmaking achievement that is not to be missed and should be part of every film collection. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 1.0-channel soundtrack was restored from the original monaural RCA Sound System recording. Remarkably, the dialogue production is terrific, with a generally natural presence and sense of spatial integration. The sound has been "cleaned" and sounds amazingly good for a 70-year-old production. (Gary Reber)

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