Citizen Kane Trivia

1. Just following the film title the viewer hears ominous music. The picture then fades in to a metal sign hanging on a fence. What is written on this sign?

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' (Part 1)

Answer: No trespassing

Following the image of the 'No trespassing' sign, we are treated to some almost surreal images of the grounds of the Kane mansion. Among the unusual images are monkeys in Kane's zoo, Viking style boats and a golf course, complete with tattered flags identifying the holes. Always in the background are matte photos of the Kane mansion, each making the great house appear sinister and spooky as we pan in closer to a lit window where the dying Charles Foster Kane is about to emit his last word.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: Rosebud

The inspiration for "Citizen Kane" was the life of William Randolph Hearst, a man who created an empire of newspapers, radio stations and magazines. Rosebud was said to be an inside joke between cast and crew, for it was said that Rosebud was actually a pet name that Willian Randolph Hearst created for intimate areas of his lover's body. (eeew!)

From Quiz "Citizen Kane": Behind the Scenes

Answer: Dorothy Comingore

Dorothy Comingore (who played Susan Alexander Kane) was pregnant throughout a rather long segment of shooting. Director Orson Welles dressed her in flowing robes and gowns, and placed her behind obstacles in order to mask her condition.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: Orson Welles

He also starred in the film and helped write the script. And he was only 25 at the time! Imagine what he could have offered the world if RKO hadn't pulled him in so fiercely!

From Quiz Citizen Kane (Part 2)

Answer: The Crusader

Rosebud is the name of Charles' sled in Colorado. The fact that he is presented with a new and improved (?) sled, and not his beloved Rosebud, hints at the separation anxiety the young boy is feeling. As 'Rosebud' is Charles Foster Kane's last word, the viewer is led to believe that the sled, an inanimate object, is the poor chap's best wordly friend.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' (Part 1)

Answer: Rosebud

The word 'Rosebud' has almost become synonymous with this film. Fans of Orson Welles' know very well that this was the name of young Charlie Kane's sled. Also well known to fans of Mr. Welles is the rumored secret origin of this term. Apparently, it was a nickname that William Randolph Hearst had provided for certain body parts of his mistress Marion Davies. There is, of course, no way to substantiate the veracity of this claim.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: Orson Welles

Orson Welles, the boy wonder, was only 25 years of age when he created Mercury Theatre Company. Most of the members of the company each made their debut in "Citizen Kane." Jospeh Cotten played Jed Leland, Kane's supposed best friend. Everett Sloane played Mr. Bernstein the successful business man. William Alland played Thompson the reporter.

From Quiz "Citizen Kane": Behind the Scenes

Answer: Raymond, the butler

It's a common misconception that no one was in the room when Kane spoke his dying word(s), "Rosebud"...but the script itself contradicts this idea. At the end of the film, when "News on the March" reporter Mr. Thompson (William Alland) asks Raymond (Paul Stewart) about the meaning of the term "Rosebud," Raymond states that he heard Kane say "Rosebud" just after his second wife left Xanadu...and, he adds, "that other time, too." We never *see* Raymond in the room during the opening scene of the film when Kane dies, but the dialogue demands (as does logic) that *someone* heard Kane's final words, and Raymond appears to have been that critical witness -- "that other time, too" seems to be a reference to Kane's final moment alive.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: 9

Best Original Screenplay, Picture, Actor, Director, Black and White Cinematogoraphy, Black and White Interior Decorating, Sound Recording, Dramatic Picture Score, and Film Editing. It only won for Best Original Screenplay.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: We never actually get to see his face

We never get a good look at Thompson's face. His back is always turned to us or his face is in the shadows. It is said that at the premiere of "Citizen Kane" William Alland who played Thompson told the audience that he should probably turn around and show them his back or no one would recognize him.

From Quiz "Citizen Kane": Behind the Scenes

Answer: Alan Ladd

Ladd plays one of the reporters in the shadowy "News on the March" screening room early in the film, and appears again (still in shadow) in the final scenes. He received no official credit for his role.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: Gregg Toland

He also did some fantastic work with John Ford's 'Grapes of Wrath.' He artfully used the new technique of deep focus, as well as lighting to show the emotional positon of a character, as well as physical position.

From Quiz Citizen Kane (Part 3)

Answer: Norton

Miss Emily Monroe Norton, niece of the current president, becomes Kane's first wife. Their marriage is initially a happy one, but they lose interest in each other, as depicted in the famous breakfast table scene later in the film. In the Newsreel at the beginning of the film it states that, not long after their divorce, Emily and her son (with Kane) are killed in a car accident.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' (Part 1)

Answer: Florida

Welles' fans know very well that, though Kane's estate is built along Florida's Gulf coast, its 'model' is the great Hearst castle (La Cuesta Encantada) at San Simeon, California. The newsreel announcer claims that 100,000 trees were planted on the estate and 20,000 tons of marble used in the creation of the mansion. We are also told of the mansion's contents, which include paintings, statues and other priceless relics; 'enough for ten museums' we are told. Cost of the mansion: no man can say.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: Xanadu

Xanadu is the name of Kane's estate. San Simeo was the name of William Randolph Hearst's estate. Xanadu's location is supposedly on the dessert coast of Florida, except Florida doesn't have dessert coast. During the picnic scene on the beach the background is actually from some dated pre-historic setting from a movie. You can actually see pterodactyls flying around in the background!

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: William Randolph Hearst

Hearst was a powerful newspaperman, as well. Both Kane and Hearst had palatial and massive estates (Xanadu and San Simeon), and both had young female companions (Susan and Marion Davies).

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' (Part 1)

Answer: Teddy Roosevelt

The 'News on the March' film is intended to orient the viewer to the main character of the film, and also to relate this character (Kane) to William Randolph Hearst, the real-life newspaper magnate upon whom Kane was roughly based. Along with the clever film juxtaposition of Kane with Roosevelt, the title character is seen standing alongside other world leaders, including Hitler. Keep in mind that this movie was made over 50 years before Forrest Gump.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: An opera house

Kane built an opera house just for her. Susan never wanted it. The fact of the matter is that Susan never wanted anything Kane bought for her because it was always things that Kane thought she should like.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: Thompson

Though he never discovers the true meaning of Kane's last words, the audience does. If you sit and think about it, the meaning is heart-wrenchingly tragic. The movie is REALLY deep.

From Quiz Citizen Kane (Part 3)

Answer: Love

Jedidiah Leland probably knows Charles Foster Kane better than anyone else, so when he makes this revelation it seems rather believable. Leland insists that Kane wanted love from his wife, and later from the American people in general, and this is what drove his ambition. Unfortunately, according to Leland, Charles 'just didn't have any [love] to give', the exceptions being to himself and to his mother.

From Quiz Citizen Kane (Part 2)

Answer: We are never told

Bernstein is always referred to as 'Mr. Bernstein' throughout the film...I'm not sure why. He is portrayed by Everett Sloane, another member of Welles' Mercury Theater group. Sloane went on to work with Welles' in several more films, including 'Journey into Fear', 'The Lady from Shanghai' and 'Prince of Foxes'.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: Statues

At the end of the movie, the camera pans across thousands of statues left in Kane's storage warehouse, some were never even taken out of their crate.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: Emily Norton Kane

She was a direct descendant of James Monroe, I believe. Many thought that Charles Kane married her in order to further his chances at becoming president one day. He, however, never even became governor.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: El Rancho

The outside of the club was actually a model. So when the camera panned over the roof and through the skylight to show Susan sitting at a table, they would either have a bolt of lightning separate the model from the actual set or go to a dissolve.

From Quiz "Citizen Kane": Behind the Scenes

Answer: Margaret

Dorothy was born Margaret Louise Comingore, and appeared in several "Three Stooges" features before being tapped by Orson Welles for "Citizen Kane."

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: singer

She didn't even like singing, virtually all of her singing career was Charlie's idea. When she couldn't land a part with any prestigous comapanies, Charlie built her an opera house where she could perform.

From Quiz Citizen Kane: A Small Miracle In Cinema

Answer: Governor

Charles Foster Kane made an unsuccessful bid for Governor. Perhaps he would have won, but Kane's opponent, Gettys, blackmailed him when he discovered that he was cheating on his wife (who was the President's niece) with Susan Alexander. Kane refused to step back and the scandal was released to the public with the headline, "Kane Caught In Love Nest With 'Singer'".

From Quiz "Citizen Kane": Behind the Scenes

Answer: D. B. Sweeney

MacFayden played Welles in "Cradle Will Rock" (1999); Schrieber played Welles quite brilliantly in "RKO 281" (1999); D'Onofrio played Welles (with a dubbed-in voice) in "Ed Wood" (1994). As of September 2003, Sweeney has never portrayed Welles in a motion picture.

From Quiz 'Citizen Kane' - One of America's Greatest Films

Answer: nursing home

They sit at a large reflective desk with an enormous picture of Charlie gazing down at them. Dripping with symbolizm, that scene is.

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