Bit to Do

It seems like just yesterday I sat down to write an article informing my dear readers of a special screening of the classic Orson Welles masterpiece “Citizen Kane,” when in reality it was closer to a week and a half ago. Last Monday, local cinephiles had the wonderful opportunity to view a free outdoor screening of “Citizen Kane” at the Iroquois Amphitheater. I'm sure there were many who couldn't make it, and for those people, there is good news: yet another special screening of the film today at Tinseltown as the newest installment in the Cinemark Classics series. (Unfortunately, this one requires money to exchange hands – but I assure you, the cost will be worth it.)

For those of you who, for some reason, don't keep up with every single bit of local film news as presented by this site, allow me to recap: “Citizen Kane” - which the American Film Institute has ranked in the number one spot of their list of the 100 greatest American films of all time – tells the story of the rise and fall of Charles Foster Kane, newspaper magnate extraordinaire. Opening with the death of Kane as he murmurs his last word - “rosebud” - the film then explores his life as investigators try to decipher the significance of this mysterious utterance.

Of course, the character of Kane was based in part on the journalistic giant William Randolph Hearst, who was so offended by the portrayal that he exercised his not inconsiderable influence to prevent much praise from being heaped on the film. The result was a general malaise on the part of audiences and a serious snubbing at the 14^th Academy Awards. But great art has a way of validating itself, and it has since achieved its rightful place as one of the best American films of all time.

“Citizen Kane” plays at Tinseltown twice today, at 2:00 and 7:00. Tinseltown is located at 4400 Towne Center Drive, in the Springhurst

Shopping Center. Further theater information can be found at the Tinseltown website.

Image: Internet Movie Database