Contents

RKO 281

1999 film by Benjamin Ross about the making of Citizen Kane (1941)

RKO 281
Australian poster
Genre	Historical drama
Based on	The Battle Over Citizen Kane by Richard Ben Cramer Thomas Lennon
Written by	John Logan
Directed by	Benjamin Ross
Starring	Liev Schreiber James Cromwell Melanie Griffith John Malkovich Brenda Blethyn Roy Scheider Liam Cunningham Kerry Shale
Music by	John Altman
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Ridley Scott Tony Scott
Producer	Su Armstrong
Cinematography	Mike Southon
Editor	Alex Mackie
Running time	86 minutes
Production companies	HBO Pictures BBC Films Scott Free Productions WGBH Boston
Budget	$12 million
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20)

RKO 281 is a 1999 American historical drama television film directed by Benjamin Ross, written by John Logan, 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. It premiered on HBO on November 20, 1999.

Plot[edit]

In 1940, Orson Welles, RKO studio head George Schaefer, and screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz struggle in making what will be considered the greatest American film, Citizen Kane. Welles and Mankiewicz attend a party at Hearst Castle where meeting the hypocritical and tyrannical William Randolph Hearst gives Welles the inspiration to make a film about Hearst's life. Mankiewicz is against it because he knows Hearst's wrath will be horrible, but Welles says this is the film. Mankiewicz finally agrees.

At first, Welles tries to take credit for everything, including the script, and Mankiewicz is furious with Welles—he faces him, and Welles says he has every right and cuts ties with Mankiewicz. Orson later reconsiders and asks Mankiewicz to continue re-drafting the screenplay, giving him a joint credit. After learning from the gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, who had viewed a press screening, that Welles' film is actually a thinly veiled and exceptionally unflattering biography of him, publishing tycoon Hearst uses his immense power and influence to try to deny the release of the picture. Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies, endures the embarrassment of having their private lives exposed and vilified. Hopper threatens to do the same to the studio executives of Hollywood if they release the film. Later on in their relationship many years after the release of Citizen Kane Marion gives Hearst money when his finances begin to diminish (by selling all the jewelry he gave her and giving him the money in the form of a check).

In the end, after considerable delays and harassment, plus the disintegration of the professional relationship between Welles and Mankiewicz and a costly blow to Schaefer's career, the film is finally released. Its publicity is muted by Hearst's ban on its mention in all his publications and its commercial success is limited. Welles ultimately has the satisfaction of having created one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.

Cast[edit]

• Liev SchreiberasOrson Welles
• John MalkovichasHerman J. Mankiewicz
• Roy ScheiderasGeorge Schaefer
• James CromwellasWilliam Randolph Hearst
• Melanie GriffithasMarion Davies
• Liam CunninghamasGregg Toland
• David SuchetasLouis B. Mayer
• Brenda BlethynasLouella Parsons
• Fiona ShawasHedda Hopper
• Anastasia HilleasCarole Lombard
• Roger AllamasWalt Disney
• Simeon Andrews as John Houseman
• Jay BenedictasDaryl Zanuck
• Ron Berglas as David O. Selznick
• Sarah Franzl as Dorothy Comingore
• Joseph Long as Harry Cohn
• Oliver Pierre as Sam Goldwyn
• Adrian SchillerasPaul Stewart
• Kerry ShaleasBernard Herrmann
• Tim WoodwardasJack Warner
• Angus WrightasJoseph Cotten
• Bobby Valentino as Clark Gable
• Lucy CohuasDolores del Río

Production[edit]

The script is based in part on the 1996 American documentary film The Battle Over Citizen Kane written by Thomas Lennon and Richard Ben Cramer.^[1]

Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the Hearst Castle, but was refused access.^[2] RKO 281 was filmed in the United Kingdom, mostly around London. The Gothic stairwell in Hearst Castle was filmed in the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel. Hearst's private quarters and office, including a marble fireplace, were filmed in the high-ceilinged Gamble Room in the Victoria & Albert Museum.^[2] The fireplace mantelpiece seen in the room was saved from Dorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929.^[3] The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the London Guildhall.^[4]

Reception[edit]

On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews.^[5]

Awards and nominations[edit]

See also[edit]

• Mank (2020)

Notes[edit]

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to RKO 281.

• RKO 281atIMDb
• RKO 281atAllMovie