The Battle Over Citizen Kane on AllMovie

Arguably the greatest film ever made, Citizen Kane almost never saw the light of day. In this documentary from directors Michael Epstein and Thomas Lennon, the story behind the legendary film is told, highlighting the attempts by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst to kill the thinly-veiled biographical film by first-time filmmaker, 25-year-old Orson Welles. The meteoric rises of both figures are chronicled, drawing parallels between the lives of not only Hearst and the fictional Charles Foster Kane, but Welles, as well. Along with archival footage and clips from Citizen Kane, the documentary includes interviews with journalists, historians, and filmmakers, such as long-time Welles assistant William Alland, newspaper writer Jimmy Breslin, and director Peter Bogdanovich.