Citizen Kane by Orson Welles

Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper owner, is on his deathbed speaking his last word. He whispers “Rosebud” while holding a snow globe that breaks on the floor once he dies. A group of newspaper reporters watch a newsreel that narrates the story of his life. Jerry Thompson wants to understand the reason for his last words and decides to interview all of Kane’s close friends and family. His second wife, Susan Kane, refuses to speak to anyone so he goes to Walter Thatcher, the man who raised Charles Kane. He discovers that Kane was born illegitimately into poverty and his mother sent him to live with Walter Thatcher for a better life. His biological father gave him land that turned out to be filled with gold, which is the reason for Kane’s almost endless supply of money. At 25, he decides that he wants to run a newspaper company, so he buys the New York Inquirer. His newspaper reveals the corruption of big companies, in which he buys stock from. Almost sixty years later, Kane signs off his newspaper to Thatcher because of bankruptcy. Next, Thompson interviews Bernstein, Kane’s manager. Bernstein tells the story of him, Kane, and their friend Leland taking over the Inquirer, transforming it into a massive business. Thompson then interviews Leland, who informs him of Charlie Kane’s first and second marriages. While he was unhappily married to Emily Norton, Kane starts an affair with Susan Alexander during his campaign for governor. His opponent discovers the affair and reveals it to the public, ending Kane’s political career. Kane marries Susan and buys her an opera house. Leland transfers to a Chicago newspaper and writes a negative review of Susan’s opera career, which gets him fired. In the present, Susan agrees for an interview and tells her part of the story. After she attempted suicide, Kane allowed her to quit her opera career. Susan decides to leave Kane which causes him to destroy her room and he calms down when he sees a snow globe saying the word “Rosebud”. Thompson decides that Kane’s last words will be a mystery. At Xanadu, Raymond finds the sled that Kane rode when he left his mother. The word “Rosebud” is carved on it and no one notices as it gets thrown into an incinerator.

Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane

Charlie Kane was born illegitimately in poverty. His biological father gave him a piece of useless land that ended up being filled with gold. His mother decided to send him to live with Walter Thatcher for a better life with good education. It is implied that Kane’s father abused him, the real reason he was sent away. His close friend explains that all Kane wanted was love. On his death bed, his last words are “Rosebud” because it reminded him of a time when he was truly happy.

Dorothy Comingore as Susan Alexander Kane

When Kane and Susan Alexander first met, she had a toothache and he helped her by making her laugh in her apartment. She sings for Kane, although not very talented. They fall in love and get married after Kane’s first wife dies with their son. He buys her an expensive opera house to sing in. When she attempts suicide, Kane allows her to stop her opera career. Later, she leaves him and becomes an alcoholic.