I was president of my fraternity at Navy Pier in 1959. I tried to get Adlai Stevenson to talk at our dinner; but he crapped out on us. So at the last minute, I called Billy Friedkin--who was a tv director at WTTW in Chicago. He gave this talk on Citizen Kane--and he was twenty-two years old. Here he is today, doing that talk which made Citizen Kane my favorite movie--better than the Godfather.
Ive heard Friedkin interviewed several times and always thought he was a 90 year. Close your eyes! The look are incongruous. Watching Citizen Kane is for a film maker like a painter studying the Mona Lisa or the Cistine Chapel. For me its deep focus, the seemless use of models and split screens but most of all its the acting of Welles- a precocious 25 year old, flush with the confidence of ignorance, in an outrageous, audacious, tour d'force, subtle, over the top, brilliant! Who would have guessed it was the beginning of the end rather than the beginning
I'm afraid Mr Hitchcock holds 'that' title of the greatest film maker. Welles certainly could have been the greatest but his utter contempt for the heads of studio's and the people who financed his projects made that inevitability not to come
That is a great review of a great film, Ive seen it only 3 times but each time it was just a great experience. The way the story was told in flashback there had never been anything like that before. The cinematography was way ahead of it's time. The acting from Welles was incredible. It just baffles me that he was only 25 or 26 years old when he made this
In my opinion, William Fredkin is one of the best, genius and most influential directors in the history of world cinema! But still no one could understand the movie exorcist! There are many hidden symbols in exorcist, which is really a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and there are many puzzles in the film! Did an evil spirit possess the girl body or two evil spirits? Is Captain Hadi the same pazuzu or are they different? After all, Friedkin is a head and neck taller than directors like Hitchcock, Ford, Hawks, Fellini, Kurosawa, Bergman, Scorsese, Spielberg, James Cameron, Lucas, and Nolan just because of exorcist !
@@iranforever1566 Friedkin I think nails certain genres like action, the Exorcist is not my favourite film of his even though its probably his best. I'm not a super big horror fan so that might be part of it. Either way, the french connection, to live and die in LA, sorcerer, those are brilliant films quite simply because they master the art of suspense.
"...as we see it in relation to what came after." Friedkin, ever honest yet also a diplomat (and under AFI auspices here no less), knows how to lay that damnation in the mellowest of words.
Thank you! This really helps me understand the feeling better. I saw this movie and my literature and cinema class and was so lost because the story was a little complex. But after seeing this interview it really helped me understand it and yes the message is very simple! Thank you
The problem with Citizen Kane is very typical. If a regular person were to sit down and watch the movie at random without having heard anything about it, they would surely enjoy it and be deeply moved and so on, but the hype kills it for most people who aren't consciously involved in the arts. Citizen Kane does exactly what a movie ought to do, but there's not much that stands out now, because all it's innovations have been absorbed into cinema. Many great classics share this quality.
Orson Welles was a Genius who peaked at 25 apparently. Incredible Actor Writer And Director! Freidkin made the Greatest Horror Film of All Time the Exorcist! Any time I see a clip of a scene, I get a Chill down my Spine! It scares the Hell out of me! I can’t even watch it without turning away. Back when it was released, people were feinting and throwing up. Some had to leave the theatre. Many were psychologically upset and had to get counseling afterwards! It was that powerful! Citizen Cane is considered the greatest film ever made because of the story that was based on Hearst and the great acting and cinematography in the film that was years ahead of it’s time. A stunning achievement by a 25 year old Wunderkind Orsen Welles!
Excellent commentary by William Friedkin, a perfect summary of what critics proclaim to be the greatest films in cinema history...but, some say it's "Casablanca." Oh, well...It will always be a truly wonderful debate...
I watched this movie for the first time at the age of 30. I watched the opening news reel and just sort of made some mental comments about the subtitles and narration. Sort of didn't have any emotions, just passively watching this strange montage. The reel showed the age of the film, and transported me back to 1941. Then something happened. When the news reel stopped and there were the group of journalist in the screening room discussing their thoughts on the man Kane. It was in that exact moment, I knew I wanted to be apart of this medium in one way or another. I've seen hundreds of movies before, some I even consider better than Citizen Kane, but no one other movie has ever made me feel like that opening scene in Kane. The lighting, the acting. It was timeless. I felt as if the actors stepped through a time machine and were hanging out with me in 2023. Even movies made in the 2000s, 20 years ago, they show their age. You know they were filmed 20 years ago. That opening scene of Kane could've been filmed yesterday and nobody would have known the difference.
He's made a string of iconic/classic films plus underrated thrillers (underrated in the popular sense but ones that are beloved by critics or those who seen it). I mean similar to John Frankenheimer its a shame he doesn't get brought up in the modern day as much.
Apparently Welles considered Rosebud as "symbolizing Kane's lost childhood innocence" to be merely a surface-level analysis. Welles teased that the name had a deeper personal meaning..Or there wasn't really a deeper meaning and Welles was just cheekily leading everyone on. Either way, just like Charlie Kane, he took it to his grave.
In my opinion, William Fredkin is one of the best, genius and most influential directors in the history of world cinema! But still no one could understand the movie exorcist! There are many hidden symbols in exorcist, which is really a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and there are many puzzles in the film! Did an evil spirit possess the girl body or two evil spirits? Is Captain Hadi the same pazuzu or are they different? After all, Friedkin is a head and neck taller than directors like Hitchcock, Ford, Hawks, Fellini, Kurosawa, Bergman, Scorsese, Spielberg, James Cameron, Lucas, and Nolan just because of exorcist !
Friedkin is a very bright man and an excellent filmmaker. Not sure why he is not as great and well known as he could and should be. Maybe he talks too much to get anything done! But thanks for that. Lovely clip.
@ANOMALY1ate I have seen it alright, several times, but I don't see how clicking on this video necessarily means you've seen the movie. A spoiler alert is always welcome if there be spoilers
@JesusCristo2002: If the director of To Live and Die in L.A. which I earnestly believe was William Friedkins very best film praises and appreciates "Citizen Kane" so much, it must be really good. (however I didn't like "The French Connection" with Gene Hackman) "You're right, he's incredibly underrated. "The Exorcist", "The French Connection" and "Sorcerer" are all great. "To Live and Die in L.A." is good too!" I share Your view and You have good knowledge about movies my friend Jesus! Where are You located?
I believe William Friedkin is talking about this movie on mayby two levels . First hes talking about the movie itself. I.e the great performances,lighting ,camera work. Which Welles acknowledged. Secondly and perhaps inadvertently, the sheer ba**s it took to make a movie like this when the obvious subject of his movie was William R. Hearst . Most powerful man in his day. Its Welles study of megalomania....
Someone - and I don't remember who - interviewed prominent people some 25 years ago and asked them what was the greatest movie they ever saw. And they also interrupted Trump. He answered "Citizen Kane." And what the lesson that he learned from it, the take-away. Trump responded, "He should have been with a different woman."
@@stevefriedmanphoto Personally i find Citizen Cane a bore. Beautifully shot film but an absolute bore. I've seen it twice. I've never changed my mind.
@@roquefortfiles "Citizen Cane" was the porno version, so I get your point. Try Citizen Kane and on the big screen with an audience......Better yet, don't.
@@stevefriedmanphoto Don't get me wrong. I am a complete film nerd. I work in the industry. I am a photographer. I love great movies and beautiful images. Greg Tollands work in the film is amazing. But i find the film A BORE!!!. I have watched it a few times. Every time i come away going.. Big deal. I really don't care how beautiful a film is on screen Citizen Kane is BORING. It is a BORING film. I really think it is one of those films that all of the film geeks love just because they're film geeks and they think they have to love it. I am not like that. The film is a complete bore. Absolutely beautiful on screen.. But a BORE!!!! Watching Welles walk across the screen like a stammering old man is how the entire film feels. Yes it is an incredibly beautifully photographed film . No question. But it is FUCKING BORING!!! I think it is a horribly over rated movie to be honest. If somebody said "Do you want to watch Casablanca or Citizen Kane I'd be watching Casablanca. I've seen it 50 times.
@roquefortfiles A) I don't got you wrong; B) I happen to work in the industry as well; C) Lo & Behold - I'm a photographer too; But most importantly: D) It is beyond presumption and arrogance to label everyone - including many those of respect and substance and taste for as much as eight decades, generation after generation - as lemmings-in-lockstep because they can see something in the film and appreciate it at the core beneath Greg To-"Single L"-land's extraordinary eye and craft. Let's add condescending with an air of faux superiority because why? Can’t fathom any other perspective contrary to your own. "How can anybody possibly get anything from what I clearly see as a total bore? Just don’t get it. Must be they're just herd mentality pack followers. Couldn't be possibly anything I'm missing." My original point you originally responded to was how Trump so clearly and quite predictably missed the point like completely. {"Best name for this movie is: 'He Was With the Wrong Woman."} I'm sorry, it's really not a concern to me what you like or if you get it or anything or not. But it does of my concern to set the record straight: I do not consider myself a nerd or a geek; I'm a great fan - in lieu of a better word - of "Casablanca." But back to A) I don't get you wrong.
Why do you think its a lie he must have been moved by it and back in those days when he saw it there was no vhs or dvds where you can watch and old classic anytime you want. He obviously had the day to himself so why not. I also think he sounds nothing like Trump so i really dont what your talking about
Probably not Scorsese's best, however Goodfellas is a classic and probably the one I watch the most because it's so entertaining. My pick for best movie of all time is a toss up between 2001: A Space Odyssey, Singin' In The Rain or Seven Samurai
