The Battle Over Citizen Kane

Produced for the PBS series THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Mr. Epstein and Mr. Lennon's film tells one of the stories behind Welles' clash with publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst over CITIZEN KANE. Angered that Charles Foster Kane was a thinly veiled version of himself, Hearst used his considerable money and influence in a variety of ways to try to prevent the film from ever being seen. Of course, his plan ultimately failed, as CITIZEN KANE is routinely hailed as the greatest film ever. However, the feud that erupted between the two men is as fascinating as anything that Welles ever put on the big screen. (Verleiher-Text)