RKO 281

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RKO 281
Australian poster
Based on	The Battle Over Citizen Kane by Richard Ben Cramer Thomas Lennon
Written by	John Logan
Directed by	Benjamin Ross
Starring	Liev Schreiber James Cromwell Melanie Griffith John Malkovich Brenda Blethyn Roy Scheider Liam Cunningham Kerry Shale
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Su Armstrong Ridley Scott Tony Scott
Running time	86 minutes
Production companies	Scott Free Productions BBC Films WGBH Boston HBO Pictures
Distributor	HBO
Budget	$12 million (est.)
Release
Original release	November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20)

RKO 281 is a 1999 American historical drama film directed by Benjamin Ross and starring Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich, Roy Scheider, and Liam Cunningham. The film depicts the troubled production behind the 1941 film Citizen Kane. The film's title is a reference to the original production number of Citizen Kane.

Plot[]

In 1940, Orson Welles (Schreiber), RKO studio head George Schaefer (Scheider), and screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Malkovich) struggle in making what will be considered the greatest American film, Citizen Kane. Welles and Mankiewicz attend a party at Hearst Castle where meeting the hypocritical and tyrannical William Randolph Hearst (Cromwell) gives Welles the inspiration to make a film about Hearst's life. Mankiewicz is against it because he knows Hearst's wrath will be horrible but Welles says this is the film. Mankiewicz finally agrees.

After learning from the gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, who had viewed a press screening, that Welles' film is actually a thinly veiled and exceptionally unflattering biography of him, publishing tycoon Hearst uses his immense power and influence to try to deny the release of the picture. Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies (Griffith), endures the embarrassment of having their private lives exposed and vilified. Later on in their relationship many years after the release of Citizen Kane she gives Hearst money when his finances begin to diminish (by selling all the jewellery he gave her and giving him the money in the form of a check).

In the end, after considerable delays and harassment, plus the disintegration of the professional relationship between Welles and Mankiewicz and a costly blow to Schaefer's career, the film is finally released. Its publicity is muted by Hearst's ban on its mention in all his publications and its commercial success is limited. Welles ultimately has the satisfaction of having created one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.

Cast[]

• Liev Schreiber as Orson Welles
• John Malkovich as Herman J. Mankiewicz
• Roy Scheider as George Schaefer
• James Cromwell as William Randolph Hearst
• Melanie Griffith as Marion Davies
• Liam Cunningham as Gregg Toland
• David Suchet as Louis B. Mayer
• Brenda Blethyn as Louella Parsons
• Fiona Shaw as Hedda Hopper
• Lucy Cohu as Dolores del Río

Filming locations[]

Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the Hearst Castle, but was refused access.^[1] RKO 281 was filmed in the United Kingdom, mostly around London. The Gothic stairwell in Hearst Castle was filmed in the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel. Hearst's private quarters and office, including a marble fireplace, were filmed in the high-ceilinged Gamble Room in the Victoria & Albert Museum.^[1] The fireplace seen in the room was saved from Dorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929.^{[citation needed]} The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the London Guildhall.^[2]

Reception[]

On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews.^[3]

Awards and nominations[]

Notes[]

Sources[]

See also[]

• Mank (2020)

External links[]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: RKO 281

• RKO 281 at IMDb
• RKO 281 at AllMovie