Steven Spielberg’s Favorite Old Hollywood Masterpiece Dubbed ‘The Best of All Time’ Is Available on Max

Summary:

• Back in 1941, there was a drama that changed the whole game in cinema.
• Following the life and legacy of an influential industrialist, it brought brand-new cinematic code and narration style in the industry.
• It inspired many accoladed titles, including the ones of Steven Spielberg, who expressed his glowing praise of this timeless movie.

Being one of the most important figures of New Hollywood and the most commercially successful director in history, Steven Spielberg has prominently inscribed his name in history. Movie recommendations of the pioneer of the modern blockbuster or even the whole 21st century’s cinema definitely deserve our close attention.

Speaking of one classic feature, the filmmaker stated it meant everything to him, calling it “one of the great movies ever made”, while many critics claim it’s the best film ever made in cinematic history. Indeed, its impact on the industry is hard to overestimate.

The 1941 drama that we’re talking about focuses on the rises and falls of a big publishing magnate, the character based on the renowned media barons and tycoons of that time and partially of the movie screenwriters' own real-life experiences. And yes, you guessed it right: the movie in question is Citizen Kane.

Why Does Everyone Need to See Citizen Kane?

It'd be a fair question to ask: why do we need to pay our attention to the depiction of the rich of more than 80 years ago? And here’s a clear answer to it, which lies in the movie’s great cinematic language, that defined the subsequent movie history.

The director and the leading actor of it appeared to be the acclaimed Orson Welles, and it was his way of storytelling and unique visual style that left a lasting mark on pop culture. Welles’ masterpiece was called back and parodied in numerous movie and TV titles, from Blade Runner, Pulp Fiction and Groundhog Day to The Simpsons.

Besides, references to this Old Hollywood movie are seen in the works of Spielberg himself. These include the use of the definite camera effects and methods of building a dialogue in the filmmaker’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and, obviously, Schindler’s List.

“We’re going to see from one inch to infinity in every shot. We’re going to see ceilings. We’re going to tell a very convoluted mystery story about a man’s life,” concludes Spielberg about Citizen Kane.

Cinema lovers can also recall here David Fincher’s Mank, the 2020 biopic fully based on development of the screenplay for this movie, which was written by Herman J. Mankiewicz, portrayed by Gary Oldman, with Tom Burke as Orson Welles.

No words can fully describe the impact which Citizen Kane had on cinema, so check out this masterpiece by yourself and try to reveal all the familiar techniques, as it’s now available for streaming on HBO Max .

Source: AFI