RKO 281 | |
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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 |
Music by | John Altman |
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 |
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
Production
The script is based in part on the 1996 American documentary film The Battle Over Citizen Kane written by Thomas Lennon and Richard Ben Cramer.[1]
Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the Hearst Castle, but was refused access.[2] 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.[2] The fireplace mantelpiece seen in the room was saved from Dorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929.[3] The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the London Guildhall.[4]
Reception
On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews.[5]
Awards and nominations
Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|
American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television | Alex Mackie | Nominated |
Casting Society of America | Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week | Lora Kennedy | Won |
Columbus International Film & Video Festival | Entertainment | RKO 281 | Won |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Won | |
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film | Liev Schreiber | Nominated | |
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Melanie Griffith | Nominated | |
Il Festival Nazionale del Doppiaggio Voci nell'Ombra | Best Character Actor Voice | Luca Biagini (for dubbing John Malkovich) | Nominated |
Nastro d'Argento | Best Foreign Director | Benjamin Ross | Nominated |
Online Film & Television Association | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | RKO 281 | Won |
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Liev Schreiber | Won | |
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | James Cromwell | Nominated | |
John Malkovich | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Brenda Blethyn | Nominated | |
Melanie Griffith | Nominated | ||
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Benjamin Ross | Won | |
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | John Logan | Won | |
Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Stewart Meachem | Nominated | |
Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Alex Mackie | Won | |
Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | RKO 281 | Won | |
Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Elaine Browne, Lesley Noble, Demelza Rogers, Roseann Samuel, Aileen Seaton, Karen Z.M. Turner and Christina Webster | Nominated | |
Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | John Altman | Nominated | |
Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||
Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | RKO 281 | Nominated | |
Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Maria Djurkovic, Lucinda Thomson and Tatiana Macdonald | Nominated | |
Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Clive Derbyshire, Mark Taylor and Mike Dowson | Nominated | |
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | RKO 281 | Won | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Nominated | |
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie | Liev Schreiber | Nominated | |
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie | James Cromwell | Nominated | |
John Malkovich | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Melanie Griffith | Nominated | |
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | Benjamin Ross | Nominated | |
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | John Logan | Nominated | |
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie | Maria Djurkovic, Lucinda Thomson and Tatiana Macdonald | Nominated | |
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | Lora Kennedy and Joyce Nettles | Won | |
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | Roseann Samuel, Elaine Browne, Karen Z.M. Turner, Aileen Seaton and Lesley Noble | Nominated | |
Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | John Altman | Won | |
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | Alex Mackie | Nominated | |
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Movie | Clive Derbyshire, Mark Taylor and Mike Dowson | Won | |
San Francisco International Film Festival | Best Television – Drama-Television Feature | Benjamin Ross and Su Armstrong | Won |
Satellite Awards | Best Television Film | RKO 281 | Nominated |
Writers Guild of America Awards | Long Form – Adapted | John Logan | Won[a] |
See also
- Mank (2020)
Notes
- ^ Tied with Thomas Rickman for Tuesdays with Morrie.
Sources
- ^ Linden, Sheri (January 28, 1996). "The Battle Over Citizen Kane". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Gritten, David (1999-09-05). "The Los Angeles Times Television Section September 05, 1999". Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- ^ "Chimneypiece". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "The City of London - Guildhall". Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "RKO 281 Review". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 24, 2012.