Well, here we are, and who would've thought it? Pretty much regarded by everyone who looks at film and tries to be serious about it as the greatest motion picture in all of existence (ever), Citizen Kane - written, directed and starring the inimitable Orson Welles as the enigmatic tycoon of the title - was a flop at the box office, because nobody went to see it. Why? It might have had a lot to do with a certain Mr. William Randolph Hearst, you know. Welles reportedly based much of Kane's life on that of real life media mogul Hearst, who - upon discovering this - set about to sabotage the film's success. Mainly he did this by refusing to advertise or acknowledge its existence in the newspapers he owed, which - not surprisingly - had a negative effect on the box office numbers. The film was soon forgotten and neglected by everyone, including critics, until it was revived on television in 1956. Phew. Like this article? Got anything to add? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
