May 1 marks the 75th anniversary of “Citizen Kane,” one of the most admired and influential films of all time. There are clear parallels between the title character and the powerful newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, who tried to block the film’s release. But “Kane” fans may not be aware of all the other off-camera struggles, including multiple threats of lawsuits and a smear campaign against Orson Welles.
Variety chronicled all the events leading up to the (much-delayed) May 1, 1941, debut, and the struggles that continued afterwards for Welles and distributor Rko.
Jan. 13, 1941: Rko planned the world premiere on Feb. 14. But according to Variety Archives, Hearst threatened a court injunction to prevent the release of “Citizen Kane.” Rko prexy George Schaefer met with Hearst attorneys and the script “was put under a legal microscope” as they searched for anything that might be considered libelous to Hearst. Schaefer said he had...
Variety chronicled all the events leading up to the (much-delayed) May 1, 1941, debut, and the struggles that continued afterwards for Welles and distributor Rko.
Jan. 13, 1941: Rko planned the world premiere on Feb. 14. But according to Variety Archives, Hearst threatened a court injunction to prevent the release of “Citizen Kane.” Rko prexy George Schaefer met with Hearst attorneys and the script “was put under a legal microscope” as they searched for anything that might be considered libelous to Hearst. Schaefer said he had...
- 5/1/2016
- by Tim Gray
- Variety - Film News
Similar News
Harmony Korine’s Aggro Dr1ft Sets Theatrical Run for May
- 4/9/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Edinburgh Film Festival Expands Under Partnership With Fringe Festival Including New Venues And Competition Strands
- 3/29/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Rushes | IATSE Agreements, State Tax Incentives, M. Emmet Walsh and Richard Serra
- 3/28/2024
- MUBI
‘Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver’ Review: The Second Half of Zack Snyder’s Sci-Fi Debacle Is Almost as Disastrous as the First
- 4/19/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Avq&a: What’s your favorite debut feature from an actor turned director?
- 4/12/2024
- by Mary Kate Carr, Saloni Gajjar, Drew Gillis, William Hughes, Matthew Jackson, Jarrod Jones, Emma Keates, Jacob Oller, Matt Schimkowitz, and Cindy White
- avclub.com
How The Road House Remake Compares To The Original Classic
- 4/1/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Eric Church and Morgan Wallen’s New Job: ‘Field & Stream’ Magazine Owners
- 1/25/2024
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
How Lena Horne Won Over MGM — and Became a “Test Case” for Hollywood
- 10/12/2023
- by Donald Bogle
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
James Bond Hired (Then Fired) A Legendary Star Trek Writer For Tomorrow Never Dies
- 10/7/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Fallout’ Officially Renewed for Season 2 at Amazon
- 4/18/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘The Witcher’ Renewed For 5th & Final Season At Netflix
- 4/18/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Henry Cavill Says ‘Maybe I’m Too Old Now’ to Play James Bond as Fake Movie Trailer With Him as 007 Goes Viral With 2.5 Million Views
- 4/18/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Martin Scorsese’s Long-Gestating ‘Sinatra’ Film With Leonardo DiCaprio Adds Jennifer Lawrence
- 4/17/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
‘Scream’ Actors Support Fired Co-Star Melissa Barrera at ‘Abigail’ Premiere: ‘It Says a Lot About How True the Love Is’
- 4/18/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety - Film News
Henry Cavill Says ‘Maybe I’m Too Old Now’ to Play James Bond as Fake Movie Trailer With Him as 007 Goes Viral With 2.5 Million Views
- 4/18/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Was Recognized as Her ‘Seinfeld’ Character While Giving Birth
- 4/18/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Selena Quintanilla Deserves to Be Celebrated This Year - Not Exploited
- 4/16/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Bad Bunny's First NYC Show From His Most Wanted Tour Is Proof His Latine Fans Still Come First
- 4/12/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Spirit Awards Set February Date – Film News in Brief
- 4/18/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Selena Kuznikov and Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Title ‘Eephus’ Picked Up by Film Constellation (Exclusive)
- 4/18/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
The 10 Best Doppelganger Films, from ‘Dead Ringers’ to ‘Vertigo’
- 4/19/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
‘Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver’ Review: The Second Half of Zack Snyder’s Sci-Fi Debacle Is Almost as Disastrous as the First
- 4/19/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
‘Aang: The Last Airbender’ Delayed to 2026, ‘Transformers One’ Moves Back a Week
- 4/18/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Martin Scorsese’s Long-Gestating ‘Sinatra’ Film With Leonardo DiCaprio Adds Jennifer Lawrence
- 4/17/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
Director Steven Spielberg Is Quietly Planning Another Movie About Aliens
- 4/17/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
‘Fallout’ Officially Renewed for Season 2 at Amazon
- 4/18/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘The Witcher’ Renewed For 5th & Final Season At Netflix
- 4/18/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘Oldboy’ English-Language TV Series in the Works From Park Chan-wook, Lionsgate
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
‘Squid Game,’ ‘Night Agent’ Set for Second Half of 2024 on Netflix
- 4/18/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News