Citizen Kane, The Fiftieth - Anniversary Album [Hardcover]

Harlan Lebo (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this volume, illustrated by over 100 never-before-published photographs, Lebo chronicles the intricacies of this masterpiece's creation. Also included is a detailed account of RKO Studio's imbroglio with William Randolph Hearst, upon whom the character of Charles Foster Kane was based. Hearst exercised his formidable wealth and power as a newspaper magnate to halt Citizen Kane 's initial production and later release. With 1991 marking the film's 50th anniversary, there will be additional interest in Citizen Kane , so libraries should be sure to have this on their shelves and also stock up on the video: despite the passage of years this remains on everyone's "best" list.
- Michael Rogers, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 243 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385414730
• ISBN-13: 978-0385414739
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,479,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars As intriquing as Kane itself, December 16, 2010

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Citizen Kane, The Fiftieth - Anniversary Album (Hardcover)

The making of Welles masterpiece is almost as fascinating as the movie itself and Harlan Lebo has provided a very readable account of how Kane was made. I think this is as good as Pauline Kael's 1971 `Raising Kane' though that has the very real advantage of having the shooting script and the interesting RKO Cutting Continuity script. Lebo's book doesn't need these as he looks at Hollywood, how the movie was made and sold, its reception when released in 1941 and eventual triumph.

Included in the book are eighty-five photos, mostly off-screen shots by Alexander Kahle, the RKO staff snapper. I thought it was a pity the book wasn't better produced to show of the photos, studio documents and the twenty-page souvenir program featured in the book's back pages. Nicely a long Index is included.

As historical background to the movie rather than an aesthetic analysis of Citizen Kane (plenty of these listed by Amazon) Lebo's book can't be beat.

***LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.