"Citizen Kane" - Please Don't Read This Post If You Haven't Seen The Movie Or Last Night's "AFI" Special?

Question

Just so I don't somehow spoil the ending of this great film, please don't read this post if you haven't seen it or the "AFI" special.

Jeers to last night's "AFI" special for revealing the movie's ending. To do that was to assume that everyone watching the special, has already seen "Citizen Kane", and that's just not true.

Showing the climatic ending (which is what the whole movie hinged on in the first place!), I feel, was the equivalent of that annoying neighbor or cousin (or whoever) telling you what happens at the end of a movie you've been _dying_ to see or a really terrific book everyone's been talking about.

Now I know that there are more important things in our world that we could talk about, but I'm interested in knowing your opinion.

And for those of you who have never seen this classic gem and have now had it spoiled because of last night's "AFI" special, are you ticked? Not ticked? Don't care?

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes:

You're correct. "CK" _was_ based on the life of Hearst. And here's a bit of information you might find interesting.

Sometime after the release of "CK", Hearst and Welle's ran into each other in an elevator, and there was immediate discomfort between the two of them. Hearst was pretty angry with Welle's portrayal of him. Welles tried to break the ice with a little joke and Hearst was _not_ amused.

Duck C and Vincent:

Guys, are you kidding? I've never seen the first "Star Wars" from '77! So of course it's possible. Thanks for responding.

Answer 1

I'm of two minds about telling the meaning of Rosebud". Generally, I don't like getting told the endings of movies. I nearly punched out a friend who told me the ending of "Murder on the Orient Express" five minutes before I saw it for the first time. By the same token, you have to admit that nearly anyone who's heard or read about Citizen Kane picks up the answer to the Rosebud question somewhere along the line, whether they've seen the film or not---even Charles Schulz gave it away in a Peanuts comic strip some years back.
However, the question to ask yourself is whether the meaning of "Rosebud" is what the movie is all about in the first place---it's a great plot hook, yes, but it's the story of Kane that's the really vital element, how he was seen, how he saw himself, the puzzle of any man's inner and outer life. And that can only be found by watching the movie all the way through.
So, is Rosebud as much of a spoiler as it's supposed to be? Or only one of the many clues to the mystery of Charles Foster Kane?

Answer 2

I agree with you about AFI spoiling the ending. Citizen Kane is one of my favorite films of all time and I have seen it on many occasions, one of which was in a college film course with film a bunch of film majors who after seeing the entire film did not know what Rosebud was supposed to be. They had to either watch it again or have someone explain it to them. I think they could have left the ending out but they kind of ruined the ending on many of the films that were featured in the special. I don't think that it will make that much of a difference to people who have not seen the movie since a lot of the people that I have seen the movie with are usually pretty dense about it anyway.

Answer 3

I honestly couldn't agree with that decision. I thought Casablanca was better than Citizen Kane. Humphrey Bogart is a great actor. Also The Godfather should have been #1. I love watching Marlon Brando movies and l love mafia movies.
But if I had to choose, it should have been Citizen Kane, then The Godfather, and #1 should have been Casablanca.

Also I can't believe that "To Kill A Mockingbird" was not in the top 10. What B.S. is that?!?!!? Long live Gregory Peck!

Answer 4

I just assumed that everyone had seen this movie which most all critics call the "best". The showing of the ending was not a bother.
I still believe Casablanca to be the best.

Do you really believe that there are people who have not seen Kane? That does not sound possible.

Answer 5

This film is so well-known, or oft-mentioned in trivia-type questions, even if not everyone has actually seen it, it is probably assumed to be common knowledge what Rosebud is. It's been satirized and discussed for years.
Besides, I don't see how that knowledge could possibly spoil the film for anyone watching it for the first time.

.

Answer 6

Are you talking about the old Orson Welles movie where he keeps going on about his sled "Rosebud" when he's dying? The movie is older that dirt, how can you ruin the ending? That's like ruining the end of "The Wizard of OZ".

Answer 7

It's such a masterpiece, that knowing the ending won't make much difference in your enjoyment of this great film.

Answer 8

did you know that the movie is supposed to be based on William Randolph Hearst I ...life?
i hate it when endings are ruined..........