Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane

“A Film is an artistic fusion of aesthetics and language. Attracting viewers’ attention in films demands the use of powerful sound effects and conversations that they can easily understand.”  (Bordwell and Thompson 7). Citizen Kane (Directed by Orson Welles) is one of the most famous Hollywood masterpieces because of its sound, editing, and photography. The most effective of these is sound because any audience can recall Susan Alexander’s voice “Charlie! Charlie!” Sound can be designed ingeniously to revive illusion or even to convey the main characters’ emotions from one scene to the other.

Orson Welles made it hard for an average viewer to follow the soundtrack use. He did it intentionally to capture the audience as they enjoy an orchestra without understanding the musical tricks. The complex soundtracks combining multiple dialogues precede visual image for audience preparation on what they are about to witness. Viewers can at times notice confounding and nonsensical sounds from the clip. However, they are meant to bind different sequences inextricably during transitions. 

The producer used the sound intentionally to create a myriad of illusions on people not visible on the screen. For instance, in the scene of the public meeting, Kane delivers a speech on his presidential speech to masses. The viewer hears background sounds of supporters clapping and rallying for his support. Such individuals and the podium they are in are not visible. In addition, a sound of a marching band fills the air, though a viewer cannot pin-point the source. The producer intended to minimize the cost of movie production by eliminating the real casting of these scenes.  Instead, the production team chose sound effects whose total cost is a fraction of the actual expenditure.

The techniques of post-synchronization allowed Welles to produce a soundscape constituting additional post- film production elements. To add color to a particular scene, the producer employed a single sound. In addition, he paused or punctuated a line between sentences using grafted diegetic musical sounds and dialogues.  Welles made sure that all the non-diegetic sounds used in the movie are in harmony (Pramaggiore 210).  In Xanadu palace scene, the sound is used in adding depth and power. The voices of Suzan and Kane fill in the palace in an exploding manner as they engage in a dialogue. While sound echo is not used in this scene, many viewers will feel as though it is actually there. There is a use of expansive sound in the scene where the servant speaks with Thompson the journalist. It instills fear because the characters sound as if they are inside the grave.

Welles succeeded in expressing emotional situations of the character using sound.   For example, when the relationship between Suzan and Kane hit the rocks, she destroys the room. At the same time, a parrot screeches as it flaps its wings to symbolize Kane's broken heart (Naremore 48). In another instance, Kane slaps Suzan as the argument turns sour. The viewer can clearly hear distant voices of wailing women in the background. The voices substitute an inner emotional voice of Suzan.

The viewer can effortlessly and closely follow the scene transitions or the changes in the film because of sound use.  Comical scenes involve people holding multiple dialogues together at once. An immediate transition using a shocking sound characterizes scene change hence enabling the viewer to follow the development with ease. Moreover, non-diegetic musical tunes are used in major scenes to enrich the scene and the main characters. Foster's missing childhood (Rosebud) is highlighted in the opening scene. While the main characters talk, a variety of musical tunes plays in the background to reflect their unique emotional reactions.

In summary, the excellent work of composer is easily notable in Citizen Kane because a live recording of dialogues is evident. The producer, on the other hand, made sure that the music and the used sound is compatible with the character’s performance and the scenes to ensure that the viewer understands and appreciate the film. Rhythmic application of sounds contributed to the film’s reputation as one of the best Hollywood products of all times.

Works Cited

Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013: 1-352. Print.

Naremore, James. Citizen Kane: A Casebook. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011: 9-162. Print.

Pramaggiore, Maria, and Tom Wallis. Film: A Critical Introduction. London: Laurence King, 2014: 200-215. Print.