Will someone help with Citizen Kane questions?

Question

What are the forces of good and evil and how does the photographic technique suggest it?
Why does the movie work well in black and white?

Answer 1

Citizen Kane employs many film noirish techniques to portray good and evil.
Film noirs tended to use low-key lighting schemes producing stark light/dark contrasts and dramatic shadow patterning. The shadows of Venetian blinds or banister rods, cast upon an actor, a wall, or an entire set, are an iconic visual in film noir. Characters' faces may be partially or wholly obscured by darkness—a relative rarity in conventional Hollywood moviemaking. Black-and-white cinematography is considered by many to be one of the essential attributes of classic noir.
Film noir is also known for its use of Dutch angles, low-angle shots, and wide-angle lenses. Other devices of disorientation relatively common in film noir include shots of people reflected in one or more mirrors, shots through curved or frosted glass or other distorting objects (seen in several instances in Citizen Kane), and special effects sequences of a sometimes bizarre nature.
Film noirs tend to have unusually convoluted story lines, frequently involving flashbacks, flashforwards, and other techniques that disrupt and sometimes obscure the narrative sequence. Film noir is often described as essentially pessimistic. The noir stories that are regarded as most characteristic tell of people trapped in unwanted situations (which, in general, they did not cause but are responsible for exacerbating), striving against random, uncaring fate, and frequently doomed. The movies are seen as depicting a world that is inherently corrupt.
A major struggle in Kane is the fight between good and evil inside of Charles Foster Kane. He wants to good and is idealistic, but his own selfish nature prevents him fulfilling his desires.

Answer 2

Citizen Kane was immediately criticized when it first came out. The film was an obvious jab at eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and his lavish lifestyle. The film utilized some of the most ingenious camera work that to this day cannot be topped. Lots of shadows and not seeing many of the faces suggest secretive intents and evil doings so to speak. Kane is portrayed as a powerful business mogul, who had to do some under handed things to get to the top. The reporter attempting to uncover the mystery of his last words feels its in the worlds best interest to know these things. Not necessarily good vs. evil but something along those lines. The film works in b&w simply to show the contrast between those forces. It seems that there was never any 'color' in Kane's life just one way or the other, yin & yang.

Answer 3

The couple of answers before mine are good.
Filming is black and white is so much more difficult then color as the lighting is so critical. Orson Wells did a magnificent job of the lighting and camera angles.
Just want to add it had nothing to do with Howard Hughes . It was more thought to be based on William Randolf Hurst. His estate, Xanadu, is a reference to Hurst Castle in San Simeon, CA.

Answer 4

meant to be the terrific action picture of all time....i presumed it became into undesirable, and rosebud is meant to be his sled he used as a baby, yet they by no skill extremely intricate on it in any previous scenes....i think possibly the digital camera angles and lighting fixtures have been progressive on the time, however the script has some severe holes.

Answer 5

The answer is always:
Rosebud