Citizen Kane Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros.' "Citizen Kane" Blu-ray delivers a striking 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer within its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, derived from a meticulous 4K digital restoration. This respectful treatment preserves the authentic film grain, ensuring an authentic filmic feel that honors the original nitrate elements. The transfer showcases Gregg Toland's iconic deep focus cinematography with exceptional sharpness and detail, allowing viewers to appreciate the intricate lighting setups and craftsmanship. The contrast levels impress, presenting true black-and-white images that shine, with rich blacks and pristine whites devoid of compression artifacts.

Images exhibit incredible depth and depth of field, bringing out excellent delineation in close-ups and mid-level shots. The textures of surfaces, faces, hair, and clothing are rendered with palpable clarity, giving the frame a lifelike appearance. Dynamic range and consistency in blacks play harmoniously against varying shades of white and gray, maintaining superb shadow detail even in low-level sequences. Occasional minor blemishes such as processing chemical marks and light scratches exist but do not detract significantly from the overall visual experience, which far surpasses prior VHS and DVD releases.

This Blu-ray presentation sets a new standard for classic film releases, maintaining the natural grain structure that gives it a genuinely cinematic feel. Minute imperfections like slight ringing in a couple of scenes or minimal haloing around actors' heads are barely noticeable within this stunning restoration. Whether through the unparalleled deep focus work or the beautifully rendered backlighting, this presentation much more closely mirrors the look of an original 35mm print. It allows audiences to engage with "Citizen Kane" on an entirely new level, appreciating Orson Welles' masterpiece as it was meant to be seen. Warner Bros. has undoubtedly delivered an exceptional product that beautifully respects this timeless classic.

The audio presentation of "Citizen Kane" on Blu-ray features a meticulously restored DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono track that pays due respect to Orson Welles' masterpiece. Maintaining the authenticity of the original mono soundtrack while avoiding any reimagining into surround sound, the restoration achieves a near-pristine clarity. Dialogue is crisp and clear with no extraneous noise, hiss, or "hanky over the mouth" effects. The film's iconic Bernard Herrmann score benefits greatly from this lossless format, exhibiting an impressive dynamic range and presence devoid of the common wow, flutter, or distortion usually found in older tracks.

Despite some minor flaws, such as persistent distortion in the upper midrange audible during the opening cues and Susan Alexander Kane's first appearance, these minor artifacts are endemic to the original stems rather than the remastering process. The audio clarity allows Welles' pioneering sound design to shine through brilliantly. Unlike Dolby's traditional noise reduction methods, which might have masked some of these imperfections but compressed the sound, this DTS-HD MA track provides a refreshingly unadulterated audio experience. Overall, for a film over 70 years old, this restoration offers a high-fidelity listening experience that does justice to its historical significance while bringing its audio elements closer to modern standards.

Additionally, the track includes Portuguese and Polish DD mono options and offers subtitles in numerous languages including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Greek, and Romanian. The dedicated approach to maintaining the mono format and enhancing audio fidelity results in a remarkable auditory experience that enhances the rich legacy of "Citizen Kane."

The extras on the Blu-ray release of "Citizen Kane" offer an exhaustive and enlightening glimpse into the making and legacy of this cinematic masterpiece. This carefully curated package includes insightful commentaries from Roger Ebert and Peter Bogdanovich, revealing a wealth of background information and technical details. Both commentators bring unique perspectives, with Ebert providing a more nuts-and-bolts analysis and Bogdanovich sharing personal anecdotes from his time with Orson Welles. In addition to these, the opening night footage, interviews with key cast and crew, various featurettes on production and post-production elements, and an inventive theatrical trailer make for an engaging delve into the film's historical context and innovative techniques. Supplementing these are two comprehensive DVDs: "The Battle Over Citizen Kane," an award-winning documentary, and "RKO 281," a dramatized account of the film's creation, along with exquisite printed materials.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentaries: Insights by critic Roger Ebert and director Peter Bogdanovich.
• Opening Night World Premiere for 'Citizen Kane': Newsreel footage from 1941.
• Interviews: Conversations with Ruth Warrick and Robert Wise about their experiences.
• The Production: Featurettes on storyboards, call sheets, and still photography with Roger Ebert's commentary.
• Post-Production: Deleted scenes reconstructions, ad campaign materials, and press book pages.
• Theatrical Trailer: Unique teaser created by Welles.
• The Battle Over Citizen Kane: A comprehensive documentary on the struggle between Welles and Hearst.
• RKO 281: Dramatization of the film's production starring Liev Schreiber and James Cromwell.
• 48-page Hardcover Collector’s Book: Storyboards, pictures, and behind-the-scenes information.
• Reproductions: Studio memos, one-sheet posters, and the 1941 souvenir program.

Orson Welles' magnum opus, "Citizen Kane", makes a stunning entry into the world of Blu-ray with a meticulously restored 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer that maintains the film's original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, lending a fresh sharpness and excellent contrast while preserving the granular texture of the original print. This visual revival is paired with an expertly cleaned DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track, delivering pristine dialogue and robust musical scores that enhance the cinematic experience. The restoration work effectively removes age-related audio artifacts such as hiss, snap, crackle, and pop without compromising the integrity of the film’s sound design.

The narrative brilliance of "Citizen Kane" is complemented by its innovative, non-linear structure that unravels through multiple perspectives. This avant-garde storytelling approach was quite revolutionary for its time, drawing comparisons to later films like "Rashomon". The movie captures the tumultuous life of Charles Foster Kane, portrayed intensely by Welles himself, through an assemblage of viewpoints from his associates and ex-wife, fused with the engaging mystery of his final word, “Rosebud.” The use of deep focus cinematography by Gregg Toland and elaborate soundscapes were groundbreaking then and continue to influence films today.

Welles' directorial debut stands as a triumph of creative freedom and technical prowess, demonstrating an impeccable grasp of visual and auditory storytelling techniques. The film's structure incorporates rapid transitions between time periods, mid-sentence segueing supported by Robert Wise's artistic editing. Furthermore, Welles' adept use of brief handheld camera shots and effective sound mixing—such as the unsettling reverb in the Thatcher Archives scene—showcase his foresight in film innovation. The enduring resilience of "Citizen Kane" is evident in its captivating drama, expressive performances by the Mercury Theatre players, and its larger-than-life portrayal of the American Dream's tragic unraveling. This Blu-ray edition not only honors the film's historical significance but also ensures that its artistic brilliance continues to captivate new generations of film enthusiasts.

Citizen Kane, often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, continues to captivate audiences with its innovative storytelling and cinematic techniques. Warner Bros. has released an Ultimate Collector's Edition on Blu-ray that does full justice to this iconic classic. The video quality is nothing short of gorgeous, featuring sharp details and rich textures that bring Orson Welles' masterpiece to life. The audio quality, while not groundbreaking by today's standards, is authentic to the original experience and complements the stunning visuals perfectly.

The Collector’s Edition goes beyond just the film itself by offering a wealth of physical extras. Inside the slipcase, viewers will find a meticulously crafted folio containing a reproduction of the original 20-page souvenir program, postcard reproductions of the film's posters, and various correspondences related to the film’s production. Additionally, a 48-page hardback book filled with production details and insights into Welles' career provides a deeper dive into the film's historical context and artistic impact.

In conclusion, whether you are experiencing Citizen Kane for the first time or revisiting it as a long-time fan, this Blu-ray edition is an essential addition to any film collection. The high-quality video and faithful audio presentation, coupled with an array of informative and beautifully designed extras, make this release worthy of its legendary status. Warner Bros. has delivered a sumptuous package that not only preserves the film's original grandeur but also enhances it for the modern viewer. This release comes with our highest recommendation.