Citizen Kane

A comprehensive history of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs behind the creation of one of the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane.

2022 BRONZE Winner for Performing Arts & Music, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards

CITIZEN KANE: A Filmmaker's Journey is an updated and expanded softcover of Lebo's 2016 hardcover that traces the creation of Orson's Welles's classic film. This filmland history is itself a sinister tale of conspiracy, blackmail, and Coummunist witch hunts, while detailing the extraordinary rise of Welles, the legend who, at 23 years old, defied the studio system and became a Hollywood icon simply by making the greatest film of all time.

Commended for Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards (Performing Arts & Music) 2022

“"Here's another book that overcame my skepticism. What didn't I already know about Orson Welles and Citizen Kane ? Quite a bit, it turns out--and high time for a refresher. This welcome update and expansion of a 1990 book in trade paperback form tells the whole story of Welles and his notorious debut film in a concise and straightforward manner. He settles the Herman Mankiewicz screenplay kerfuffle in short order, as the final shooting script lacks dialogue and entire scenes that Welles added or invented at the last minute."”

“Here’s another book that overcame my skepticism. What didn’t I already know about Orson Welles and Citizen Kane? Quite a bit, it turns out—and high time for a refresher. This welcome update and expansion of a 1990 book in trade paperback form tells the whole story of Welles and his notorious debut film in a concise and straightforward manner. He settles the Herman Mankiewicz screenplay kerfuffle in short order, as the final shooting script lacks dialogue and entire scenes that Welles added or invented at the last minute.” -- Leonard Maltin

Harlan Lebo is a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future in the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He has written books about The Godfather, Casablanca, and a coffee-table book on Citizen Kane, and has served as a historical consultant to Paramount Pictures for the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Citizen Kane. He lives in California.

Citizen Kane: A Filmmaker's Journey is an updated and expanded softcover of Lebo's 2016 hardcover that traces the creation of Orson's Welles's classic film. This film land history is itself a sinister tale of conspiracy, blackmail, and Communist witch hunts, while detailing the extraordinary rise of Welles, the legend who, at 23 years old, defied the studio system and became a Hollywood icon simply by making the greatest film of all time.

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