Citizen kane Quote by Anonymous
““For a time, the press lord William Randolph Hearst did everything in his vast powers to keep the film “Citizen Kane” from finding an audience. He intimidated theater owners, refused to let ads run in his newspapers, and even pressured studio sycophants to destroy the negative. At first, the titan of San Simeon had his way: the film faded from view after a splashy initial release. But over the years, “Citizen Kane” came to be recognized for the masterpiece it is, and now regularly tops lists as the greatest film ever made.””
About This Quote
Source Film: Citizen Kane, 1941, directed by Orson Welles
Powerful media owners can suppress art, but lasting quality eventually prevails.
In simple terms: Even strong opposition can’t stop a true masterpiece.
Recognize that quality endures beyond suppression.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- film distribution
- media criticism
- archival restoration
- academic study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can protect art from powerful suppression?
- How does time affect cultural valuation?
Suppression may delay recognition, but not guarantee obscurity.