The Suppression of Citizen Kane

This episode examines the challenges Orson Welles faced while producing the iconic film "Citizen Kane," particularly the opposition from media mogul William Randolph Hearst.

1. Orson Welles's innovative approach in filmmaking and storytelling.
2. The impact of Welles's "The War of the Worlds" broadcast on his career trajectory.
3. The contentious production of "Citizen Kane" due to creative and financial challenges.
4. The aggressive campaign by William Randolph Hearst to thwart the film's release.
5. "Citizen Kane's" eventual rise to acclaim as a landmark in film history.

1: Introduction

Orson Welles's background and the infamous 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast that catapulted him to fame.
Will William Simpson: "This extraordinary broadcast makes newspaper headlines across America."

2: The Hollywood Challenge

Welles's transition to Hollywood and initial struggles with film adaptation projects before starting "Citizen Kane."
Will William Simpson: "It took a lot to tempt him to Hollywood, but RKO Pictures made him an offer he couldn't refuse."

3: Creating Citizen Kane

The collaboration between Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz on the screenplay inspired by media tycoon William Randolph Hearst.
Will William Simpson: "Orson tells him that he wants to write a story about a larger-than-life figure to explore modern America."

4: Hearst's Opposition

Detailed account of Hearst's efforts to suppress the film, including media bans and legal threats.
Will William Simpson: "Hearst bans any mention of the new movie by his newspapers and radio stations."

5: The Premiere and Legacy

The premiere of "Citizen Kane," its initial reception, and its enduring legacy as a seminal work in cinema.
Will William Simpson: "Despite Hearst's attempts at intimidation, the world will get to see 'Citizen Kane' after all."

1. Embrace creative challenges as opportunities for innovation.
2. Persevere through opposition to maintain artistic integrity.
3. Use adversity as a catalyst for public interest and support.
4. Leverage publicity, whether positive or negative, to enhance project visibility.
5. Recognize the long-term value of artistic works beyond initial reception.

May 1, 1941. Orson Welles’ revolutionary debut “Citizen Kane” premieres in New York after a bitter battle to suppress the film. This episode originally aired in 2023.

People

Orson Welles, William Randolph Hearst, Herman J. Mankiewicz

Books

"The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells

Content Warnings:

None

Lindsey Graham
There are more ways than ever to. Listen to history daily ad free. Listen with wondery in the Wondery app. Or you can get all of history. Daily, plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohistory.com.

Dot.

Will William Simpson
It'S the evening of October 30, 1938, in a small suburban house in New Jersey. A middle aged woman stands in her kitchen cleaning up after dinner. Her husband has disappeared into the next room to read the newspaper, so the woman flicks on the bulky radio standing on the sideboard as she tunes from station to station. An urgent, scratchy voice catches her ear.

The woman stops, the dial rising up. Now, and the crowd falls back.

The woman listens intently. The dirty dish is now forgotten. She calls out to her husband in the next room, but he doesn't answer, so she calls again, louder this time as the radio broadcast continues. We are bringing you an eyewitness account of what's happening on the Wilmouth farm, Grover's Mill, New Jersey. New Jersey.

Hearing these words, the woman shouts again, and her husband stomps grumpily into the room. But before he can complain about the interruption, his wife drags him over to the radio and tells him to just listen. Wait a minute. Something's happening. Hump shape is rising out of the pit.

I can make out a small beam of light against a mirror. What's that? There's a jet of flame springing from the mirror, and it leaps right at the advancing men. It strikes them head on. Lord, they're turning into flames.

Will William Simpson
Without saying a word, the man takes hold of his wife's hand. The couple stands around the radio, listening with deepening alarm to the seemingly live broadcast. A terrible attack on America is underway. But then, just as the husband is wondering whether to fetch his gun, another voice cuts in. You are listening to a CB's presentation of Orson Welles and the Mercury theater on the air.

In an original dramatization of the war of the worlds by HG Wells, the. Man pulls his hand free from his wife. A dramatization? It's just a play. And with a scowl, he switches the radio off and marches back to his chair in the other room.

Will William Simpson
The woman waits a moment, then shuts the kitchen door and turns the radio back on. Those preachers know what that means, what anything means. This extraordinary broadcast in October 1938 makes newspaper headlines across America. Stories of the panicked responses of unwitting listeners quickly become widespread. The War of the Worlds adaptation is the work of a remarkable young director named Orson Welles.

Just 23 years old, Orson is already renowned as one of the brightest talents in american theater. And its not long before the worlds biggest movie studios come calling. And soon Orson will be given the chance to make his first film. But the boy wonder of the theater world wont fight it so easy in Hollywood. Orson will have to endure a long and difficult journey and come through a bitter feud with one of the most powerful men in the country before his debut film, Citizen Kane, finally premieres on May 1, 1941.

Lindsey Graham
History Daily is sponsored by Audible. Audible is pushing their line of mysteries this month and I am all for it. I love mysteries but when I was asked to come up with a title to recommend I was a bit stumped. There are so many. But then I remembered perfume.

The story of a murderer by Patrick Suskind. A remarkable book that straddles so many genres but is definitely mysterious. And as an audible member I can choose one title every month to keep forever from the entire catalog of classics, bestsellers, new releases and audible originals. Ready for listening whenever wherever on the audible app. New members can try audible free for 30 days.

Visit audible.com historydaily or text historydaily to 500 500. That's audible.com historydaily or text history daily to 500 500. History Daily is sponsored by Claridon I Live in Dallas, the fourth worst city in the United States for allergies. My condolences to number one, Wichita, Kansas because I cant imagine it any worse than it is here. And remember, I make my living with my voice.

No one wants to hear me sniffly and congested. Luckily for those of us who live with the symptoms of allergies, we can live Claritin clear with claritin D. Designed for serious allergy sufferers, Claritin D has two powerful ingredients in just one pill that relieve your allergy symptoms and decongest your nose so you can breathe better. This double action combination of prescription strength allergy medicine and the best decongestant available relieves sneezing, a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose and throat, and sinus congestion and pressure with ease. Ready to live life as if you dont have allergies?

Its time to live claritin clear fast, powerful relief is just a quick trip away. Ask for a Claritin d at your local pharmacy counter. No prescription required. Go to claritin.com right now for a discount so you can live claritin clear uses directed.

Will William Simpson
From noiser and airship. I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is history daily.

History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world today is May 1, 1941. The suppression of Citizen Kane.

It's late October, 1939, at a movie studio in Hollywood, California, 18 months before the premiere of Citizen Kane, the young director Orson Welles, chews on his pipe. And leans through a fog of tobacco. Smoke to inspect an intricate model. Stretched out on a tabletop. In front of him is a miniature harbor, complete with buildings, water, and a small steamship moored at the dock.

It's a set planned for his first film, an adaptation of the classic victorian novel Heart of Darkness. Orson picks up a kind of periscope from the table and peers through it. Planning angles and possible shots. He doesn't want to leave anything to chance. His first film must be perfect.

It took a lot to tempt him to Hollywood. Orsons main love is still the theater, but RKO Pictures made him an offer he couldnt refuse, a lucrative deal to write, produce, direct, and act in two movies. Most importantly for the young man, Orson has been given near total creative control. Its almost unheard of in Hollywood, especially for a rookie. But such is Orsons reputation that the head of RKO, George Schaeffer, was determined to sign him up.

But Heart of Darkness is proving a difficult book to adapt for the screen. Orsons cast has already arrived to start filming, but the production's start date is pushed back again and again as Orson struggles to get his ambitious vision across to his crew. The young director has an unusual approach in mind, with no cuts or edits between scenes. Instead, he wants the camera to be moving constantly, acting almost as another character in the story. But all this is complicated and costly.

The budget keeps climbing, reaching now over a million dollars, a huge sum for a movie, and more than twice the budget agreed to in Orsons contract with RKO. So with the technical difficulties and the budget ballooning, Orson and RKO decide to tackle a less ambitious project. First, in late 1939, Heart of Darkness is shelved in favor of an espionage comedy. But Orson is uninspired by the material, and soon that project is sputtering out as well. By the beginning of 1940, many in Hollywood are beginning to wonder whether the theaters great wunderkind is all hes cracked up to be.

Its been months since Orson signed his contract, and RKO still has nothing to show for it. But thats when Orson starts to work on a new idea with a new collaborator, veteran screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. Orson first met Mank, as hes commonly known in New York, working in the theater. But in early 1940, Mank is laid up in bed in Los Angeles, recovering from a car crash and more than willing to help Orson out.

Orson tells him that he wants to write a story about a larger than life, almost shakespearean figure that he could use to explore modern America. Mang thinks he has the ideal person to base it on, media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Over the decades, this newspaper man has evolved from a progressive young upstart to an old man with fascist sympathies. Its a story that both Orson and Mank feel they could get their teeth into. So for the next six months, these two men forge a fractious but productive collaboration.

By June 1940, production is finally underway on Orsons first feature film, a movie he calls Citizen Kane. A dark auditorium at RKO Studios is transformed into a movie set. Cast and crew crowd into the little room to film one of the first sequences in the film. In it, a journalist is tasked by. His boss with finding out the meaning behind the dying words of Charles Foster Kane, a famous businessman.

That quest drives the rest of the story. After completing this scene, filming continues for another four months. It's exhausting for Orson in particular because he isn't only directing Citizen Kane, hes starring in it as well, portraying the main characters transformation from a young to old man requires hours in the makeup chair every morning, but Orson uses this time to discuss the day shooting with his crew. Although not as ambitious as his ideas for heart of darkness, Citizen Kane is still employing unusual filming techniques which require careful planning. After an additional two weeks of reshoots in late November 1940, by the end of the year, filming on Citizen Kane is complete.

But as the final picture is assembled and screenings are planned, the film will come to the attention of an old man who will do anything to stop it from being released. The newspaper Baron himself, William Randolph Hearst.

Lindsey Graham
History Daily is sponsored by Mint Mobile. One of my favorite spring cleaning moments is finishing the windows. Holy wow. The whole house feels brighter, cleaner, better. Like a new home.

Cleaning your phone. It's not the same sort of transformation, though I do recommend wiping down your phone every once in a while. But what about cleaning your phone bill? Well, that you can do and make a radical difference with Mint mobile and unlimited talk, text and data for $15 a month. Because they sell online, Mint mobile cuts the cost of retail stores and passes those savings to you.

And that was perfect for resurrecting an old phone for my daughter. To get this new customer offer and your new three month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com historydaily. That's mintmobile.com historydaily. Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month@mintmobile.com. Historydaily dollar 45 upfront payment required equivalent to dollar 15 a month new customers on first three month plan only.

Speed slower above 40gb on unlimited plan. Additional taxes, fees and restrictions. Apply. Cmint Mobile for details. History Daily is sponsored by Greenlight.

I saw a short video the other day with a mother just agog as her daughter tries to comprehend that you have to pay the credit card company back for the things you buy with the card. She kept repeating, why do I have to pay for it twice? And right then I knew I needed to have a talk with my daughter about how credit cards work. I also figured if I want my. Daughter to really understand, I should get her a card of her own.

And Greenlight helped with that. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families. You can send your kids instant money transfers, get real time notifications of their spending, manage chores and automate allowance. Meanwhile, your kids build financial literacy and independence by learning to earn, save and spend wisely. So dont put off the money talk.

Start putting your kids on the right path. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free@greenlight.com. Historydaily thats greenlight.com historydaily to try Greenlight for free greenlight.com historydaily.

Will William Simpson
It'S early January 1941 in Hollywood, California, three months before the release of Citizen Kane. Journalist Luella Parsons stares at a letter in disbelief, her cheeks burning with humiliation. It's from the media mogul William Randolph Hearst. He's one of the most powerful men in America, and hes angry with Luella. He wants to know why hes only just now finding out about this scurrilous new movie from RKO, Citizen Kane.

Lluella is one of Hollywoods top gossip columnists. The 59 year old works for the Los Angeles Herald examiner, one of the many newspapers owned by Hearst. He relies on Luella to pick up any gossip or news in Hollywood that could impact his business. But here, Luella has dropped the ball. She knows about Citizen Kane, of course.

Everyone in Hollywood has been keeping tabs on Orson Welles film debut, and Luella has written several stories promoting it. But shes never been told what the story is really about. Now a rival journalist has scooped her. In January 1941, the flamboyant Hedda Hopper was invited to a preview screening of a rough cut of Citizen Kane. She was stunned.

The films main character was clearly based on Hearst, and after the screening, Heder wrote a review blasting the film as corny, old fashioned and a vicious and irresponsible attack on a great man. Hearst has read Hedda Hoppers article, and hes angry. Now the humiliated Luella has to make amends. She demands a personal screening of Citizen Kane, which she attends alongside Hearsts company lawyers. But she walks out halfway, disgusted by what shes seen.

Duella then begins a campaign against Citizen Kane and its young director, Orson Welles. Drawing on all her many contacts and favors, she twists the arm of every power broker she knows in Hollywood to help suppress the film. Meanwhile, Hearst bans any mention of the new movie by his newspapers and radio stations. And he warns theaters across the country not to screen the film, telling owners they will be sued for libel if they do. Its clear to Orson Welles that hes made a powerful enemy.

He may have finally completed his first film, but now it seems nobody will ever see it. Despite Orsons devotion to and pride in his film, no date is set for its premiere. As its fate comes to rest. With lawyers bruised by his experience in Hollywood, Orson jumps at the opportunity to leave it behind. In February 1941, Orson is offered the chance to return to New York to direct a play, and he cant pack his bags fast enough.

Back on Broadway, Orson throws himself into his work with typical ferocity, but he still cant stop thinking about Citizen Kane. He hopes that RKOS president, George Schaeffer will be able to turn things around. But the studio head fails to convince RKOs nervous board to release Citizen Kane. And it doesnt help that Hearsts intimidation attempts only continue. Soon, George gets a visit from a fellow Hollywood executive.

The man comes with an offer from a group of producers, including the legendary Louis B. Mayer. They promise to reimburse RKO for the full cost of making Citizen Kane if the studio agrees to shelve the film and destroy every copy. For some at RKO, this offer is tempting. In New York, Orson fears that a deal may be done behind his back.

But just when it seems that the director is going to lose his battle with William Randolph Hearst, the old man overreaches. In early April 1941, CB's broadcasts a radio play written by Orson. Its an inoffensive tribute to american democracy and civil liberties. But as soon as its aired, the play becomes a target in Hearsts vendetta. His newspapers dismiss the radio drama as communist propaganda and attack its director as a marxist.

This proves an accusation too far. Other media outlets turn on Hearst. As the Chicago Sunday Times puts it, if it weren't sad, it would be silly. William Randolph Hearst is peaked with Orson Welles. The rest is camouflage.

The misguided character assassination will win huge sympathy for Orson and arouse curiosity about citizen Kane. At RKO, George Schaeffer will finally be able to convince his doubting board of directors to take advantage of this free publicity and release the film Orson has made. Finally, a date will be set for the premiere, and despite Hearst's attempts at intimidation, the world will get to see Citizen Kane after all.

Lindsey Graham
History Daily is sponsored by indeed in my line of work I tell a lot of stories. Many follow one of seven basic plots, including the Quest, an epic search for a thing of value with all sorts of obstacles in the way, a treasure guarded by a dragon, a magic amulet. Hidden in a faraway land. And while these are great stories, in reality searching is a bit tedious. And when it comes to hiring, perhaps.

Will William Simpson
The best way to search for a. Candidate isn't to search at all. Don't search match with indeed with over 350 million global monthly visitors, according to indeed data, their matching engine helps you find quality candidates fast. And as a listener of this show, you'll get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@indeed.com. OnThIsDay just go to indeed.com onthisday rightnow and support our show by saying you heard about indeed on this podcast, indeed.com onthisday.

Lindsey Graham
Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire you. Need indeed. Do you ever wonder where all your money went? Like every single time you look at your bank account.

Honestly, its probably all those subscriptions. I felt that way too until I got Rocket money. Rocket money helped me see all the subscriptions im paying for and it was eye opening between streaming services, fitness apps, delivery services, it all adds up so quickly. Rocket money is a personal finance app that finds and cancels your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and has helped save its members an average of $720 a year with over 500 million in canceled subscriptions.

Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to rocketmoney.com wondry. That's rocketmoney.com wondry. Rocketmoney.com wondry.

Will William Simpson
It's the evening of May 1, 1941, in the heart of New York City. Outside the RKO Palace Theater on Broadway, Orson Welles and RKO president George Schaeffer smile for the flashing cameras. The sidewalk is packed with crowds of onlookers and journalists with a thin line of New York policemen holding the public back. Above the marquee is an enormous photograph of Orson and lit up in enormous letters are the words Orson Welles, Citizen Kane. With one last smile for the crowds, Orson and George turn and walk together into the theater.

The premiere of Citizen Kane is about to begin. At last, audiences are able to see the film that everyone in America has been talking about. The critics love it. The New York Times calls Citizen Kane close to being the most sensational film ever made in Hollywood. Newsweek goes even further, declaring Orson the best actor in the history of acting.

Later, the film will win Orson and his co writer Herman J. Mankiewicz the Oscar for best original screenplay. But despite all the praise, Citizen Kane is not the box office smash Orson and RKO hope for. The malign efforts of William Randolph Hearst may not have shut the film down completely, but they still checked its momentum. Many theaters never show Citizen Kane and after a limited release, the film seems.

Lindsey Graham
Destined to be quickly forgotten. But in the 1950s, Citizen Kane will be rediscovered when its shown on television. Over the decades it would become regarded as a classic, one of the greatest and most influential films of all time. Orson himself would go on to have a four decade career as a writer, director and actor. But despite all his later achievements, he will perhaps never surpass his first film, the brilliant Citizen Kane, which finally had its premiere after a long and bitter battle on May 1, 1941.

Will William Simpson
Next on History Daily May 2, 2011 in one of the most important covert operations ever deployed by the CIA, Osama bin Laden is killed by us special forces in Pakistan.

Lindsey Graham
Thanks for listening to History daily, but. Did you know that you can listen ad free in the Wondry or Amazon Music app? Or for even more history content including the entire History Daily archive and other fantastic history podcasts, go to into history.com from Noiser and airship this is History daily. Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio Editing by Emily Burke Sound Design by Molly Bach Music by Lindsey Graham this episode is written and researched by Will William Simpson. Produced by Alexandra Curry Buckner.

Will William Simpson
Executive producers are Stephen Walters for airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Coriant. Coriant provides wealth management services centered around you. They focus on exceeding your expectations and simplifying your life. Coriant has been helping high achievers just like you enjoy their lives more fully, preserve their wealth and provide for the people, causes and communities they care about. As one of the largest integrated, fee only registered investment advisors in the US, Coriant has deeply experienced teams in 23 strategic locations.

Coriant has extensive knowledge spanning the full spectrum of planning, investing, lending and money management disciplines. Leverage Coriant's exclusive network of experts to craft custom solutions designed to help you reach your financial goals. No matter how complex they may be, real wealth requires real solutions. For more information, connect with a wealth advisor today@coriant.com. That's corient.com.

Corient.com.