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"'RKO'
is AOK"
by Scott Mantz
"RKO 281"
Liev Schreiber,
James Cromwell
Directed by Benjamin Ross
We've already
seen many Hollywood magazines list the top 100 greatest films of
all time, and you can be sure that no two lists are the same. However,
one thing you can be sure of is that Orson Welles' cinematic masterpiece
"Citizen Kane" resides at the top of every list. And rightly so.
This is one movie that truly lives up to all the hype and praise
that surrounds it. Welles would prove to be a master craftsman who
was way ahead of his time when it came to structure, focus, lighting,
and cinematography. Although he would later claim himself to be
the only director who started at the top and worked his way down,
the reputation of "Citizen Kane" is secure.
What most people
don't seem to realize is that the behind-the-scenes story to get
the film made is almost as dramatic as the one that was eventually
brought to the screen. Never before had a film been so awash with
controversy, and never before had the power of the First Amendment
been put to such a test. Had it not been for a simple (and expensive)
twist of fate, it is probable that "Kane" would never have seen
the light of day. These are the dramatic circumstances that make
up the story for HBO's "RKO 281". Bolstering strong performances
from a stellar cast, "RKO' could easily be one of the best movies
about movies ever made.
Time for "Film
History 101". After taking New York's stage scene by storm while
still in his early 20's. Orson Welles (Liev Schreiber) was given
an unprecedented deal by RKO Studios to make his first feature film.
Never before had a filmmaker been given the creative control that
was allotted by the terms of his contract. Everyone eagerly awaited
to see what the boy wonder would do first. After several proposed
projects like "Heart of Darkness" and "War of the Worlds" never
came to fruition, many joked that Welles would produce nothing and
simply go back to New York with his tail between his legs.
Finally, inspiration
hit. With the help of veteran screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (John
Malkovich), Welles would film the story of a wealthy newspaper tycoon
who married a former starlet half his age, collected artwork like
there was no tomorrow, and lived in a huge palatial estate in the
middle of nowhere. The problem was that there was already someone
who possessed these very similar qualities. When newspaper magnate
William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell) found out what young Welles
was up to in Hollywood, he did everything in his power to halt the
film's release. He even threatened to buy the negative and burn
every copy.
What makes this
story all the more remarkable is just how much these two warring
factors had in common. They were both raving egotists who would
stop at nothing to get what they wanted, and they were both driven
masters of their professions. They even shared a passion for art,
but while one was intent on creating it, the other was intent on
simply buying it.
Liev Schreiber's
brilliant performance as Welles successfully captures his charisma,
his passion, and his ego. Once he settled on the project that would
eventually lead to his downfall, he sold his soul to get it made
and alienated everyone who got him that far. One powerful scene
captures Welles' little-seen insecurities. When RKO studio head
George Schaefer (played by Roy Scheider) threatens to pull the plug
on the film, Welles, in a fit of desperation, screams "It's all
I've got!".
James Cromwell
balances Hearst's notorious power with a sensitive side. On the
surface, he is clearly intimidating to the other Hollywood studio
heads when he threatens to release incriminating information about
the business. Behind closed doors, he is a defeated man who is hurt
by this unflattering portrait of him. Just when he is poised to
buy the film, only to have it destroyed, financial hardships get
in the way. He accepts this and confronts Welles with the admission
that while his problems are almost over, Welles' are just beginning.
John Malkovich
puts in a touching performance as the drunk screenwriter who's best
days are behind him, and Melanie Griffith is heartfelt as Hearst's
girlfriend Marion Davies. Brenda Blethyn steals the show as the
scorned Hollywood gossip columnist in Hearst's employ. When she
realizes that Welles lied to her about the true nature of "Kane",
look out! This is one person you don't want to mess with.
Hearst died
10 years later, and his home became a California tourist attraction.
"Citizen Kane" was released in 1941 to rave reviews and lackluster
box office, and never again would Welles have so much creative control
over his films. He went on to direct the classics "The Magnificent
Ambersons" and "Touch of Evil", but it is "Kane" that most will
remember him by. "RKO 281" captures a time in show business that,
even in its day, there was no business like it. It also characterizes
two amazingly similar men who would leave behind towering works
of art.
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