--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It…" description: "\"I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It isn't that great, anyway. And Orson Welles I knew well, of course. He made other incredible films that no one wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/patrick-macnee-27262_citizen-kane_i-mean-everyone-says-citizen-kane-it-isn_1642147.jpg" --- # I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It isn't that great… ![“I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It isn't that great, anyway. And Orson Welles I knew well, of course. He made other incredible films that no one would let him make, which were much better than Citizen Kane, really.” quote by Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/patrick-macnee-27262_citizen-kane_i-mean-everyone-says-citizen-kane-it-isn_1642147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/patrick-macnee-27262_citizen-kane_i-mean-everyone-says-citizen-kane-it-isn_1642147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/patrick-macnee-27262_citizen-kane_i-mean-everyone-says-citizen-kane-it-isn_1642147.jpg) > “I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It isn't that great, anyway. And Orson Welles I knew well, of course. He made other incredible films that no one would let him make, which were much better than Citizen Kane, really.” [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses the fame of a classic film, claiming lesser works are superior. **In simple terms:** He downplays Citizen Kane, favoring other films. Key Takeaway Question popular opinions and seek personal judgment. Themes film criticism personal taste culture Mood conversational critical Type opinion analytical When to use this quote - movie reviews - classroom discussions - personal playlists - cultural analysis Key Concepts cinema history subjectivity media bias Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define a film’s greatness? - How does nostalgia shape taste? A Different Perspective Opinion may ignore broader impact and legacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-kane/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Incredible Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredible-films-576517/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orson-welles-576515/) [Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welles/) [Welles Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welles-knew-576516/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Orson Welles was a force of nature, who just came in and wiped the slate clean. And Citizen Kane is the greatest risk-taking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/orson-welles-was-a-force-of-nature-who-just-came-in-and-wiped-the/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I wanted to be in a Baz Luhrmann film. It's just extraordinary. He's so amazing at what he does. He makes the most incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/i-wanted-to-be-in-a-baz-luhrmann-film-it-s-just-extraordinary-he-s-so/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [I was watching Orson Welles and Jean Vigo films at a ridiculously young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-corbet/i-was-watching-orson-welles-and-jean-vigo-films-at-a-ridiculously/) [Brady Corbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-corbet/) > [“The word genius was whispered into my ear the first things I ever Heard while I was still mewling in my crib, laughs Orson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-genius-was-whispered-into-my-ear-the-first-things-i-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Orson Welles was one of these people who was defying everything the doctors told him he wasn't supposed to be doing. He was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/orson-welles-was-one-of-these-people-who-was-defying-everything-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [Good evening, ladies and gentleman. My name is Orson Welles. I am an actor. I am a writer. I am a producer. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/good-evening-ladies-and-gentleman-my-name-is-orson-welles-i-am-an/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [When Orson Welles was acting in 'Compulsion,' the director Richard Fleischer let him just take over and direct the courtroom scenes. To be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/when-orson-welles-was-acting-in-compulsion-the-director-richard/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [Orson Welles's second 'I-did-it' should show once and for all that film making, radio and the stage are three different guys better kept separated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/orson-welles-s-second-i-did-it-should-show-once-and-for-all-that-film/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Like so many people, I only remembered Orson Welles as this huge, fat, bearded figure selling wine in TV commercials. So whenever anyone said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mckay/like-so-many-people-i-only-remembered-orson-welles-as-this-huge-fat/) [Christian McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mckay/) > [I was nine. I saw Orson Welles in 'Julius Caesar.' It was involving, emotional, imaginative. I've never forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-was-nine-i-saw-orson-welles-in-julius-caesar-it-was-involving/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [ \[On Orson Welles:\] When I talk to him, I feel like a plant that's been watered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/on-orson-welles-when-i-talk-to-him-i-feel-like-a-plant-that-s-been/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [If I could steal someone's dream myself, I'd have to go for one of Orson Welles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/if-i-could-steal-someone-s-dream-myself-i-d-have-to-go-for-one-of/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Orson Welles lists Citizen Kane as his best film, Alfred Hitchcock opts for Shadow of a Doubt, and Sir Carol Reed chose The Third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cotten/orson-welles-lists-citizen-kane-as-his-best-film-alfred-hitchcock/) [Joseph Cotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cotten/) > [It always amazed me that he was able to do it, and that Orson Welles was able to do it. I never understood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/it-always-amazed-me-that-he-was-able-to-do-it-and-that-orson-welles/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [I discovered Orson Welles in college; my freshman English professor screened 'Citizen Kane' for us, and I wound up writing a 20-page term paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-discovered-orson-welles-in-college-my-freshman-english-professor/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) ## More by Patrick Macnee > [It doesn't work that way, you know, because most parts that you think you'd do well, most other people don't. So they offer you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/it-doesn-t-work-that-way-you-know-because-most-parts-that-you-think/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [They call it The New Avengers but it's really the old Avengers with new people except for me, looking rather fat and rather old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/they-call-it-the-new-avengers-but-it-s-really-the-old-avengers-with/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [These things don't just come, arrive and settle like a bird picking up a few bits of crumbs. They develop. I think the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/these-things-don-t-just-come-arrive-and-settle-like-a-bird-picking-up/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [But I did an awful lot of work in Hollywood, and in New York for that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/but-i-did-an-awful-lot-of-work-in-hollywood-and-in-new-york-for-that/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [The only danger about websites, you know, is people who remember something you did or said thirty or forty years ago, and bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/the-only-danger-about-websites-you-know-is-people-who-remember/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [Until the year 1967, it was a crime, for which you could be put in prison, to make homosexual love to someone in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/until-the-year-1967-it-was-a-crime-for-which-you-could-be-put-in/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [I like most of the Humphrey Bogart movies because they had to act then, and they acted very well. Edward G. Robinson is probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/i-like-most-of-the-humphrey-bogart-movies-because-they-had-to-act/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [The radio even weren't allowed to say there was a Holocaust and people were being killed right, left and center in these terrible camps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/the-radio-even-weren-t-allowed-to-say-there-was-a-holocaust-and/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [The strange thing about the English character is that they understate everything. It's considered bad form to comment on the food, money, romance, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/the-strange-thing-about-the-english-character-is-that-they-understate/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [Well, you know, I was through the whole of the Second World War and saw all my friends killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/well-you-know-i-was-through-the-whole-of-the-second-world-war-and-saw/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [I went to acting school, but only for nine months. If you're an actor, you know, don't really need to learn how to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/i-went-to-acting-school-but-only-for-nine-months-if-you-re-an-actor/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [And there was a very famous man called Michael Powell, who probably is the greatest director all round, except possibly a couple of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/and-there-was-a-very-famous-man-called-michael-powell-who-probably-is/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [I was producing a series about Sir Winston Churchill, about which I was extremely proud, and earning a lot of money as a producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/i-was-producing-a-series-about-sir-winston-churchill-about-which-i/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [Accomplishment is such a patronizing, dangerous word, isn't it? I haven't really accomplished anything. The most accomplished thing I've done is to have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/accomplishment-is-such-a-patronizing-dangerous-word-isn-t-it-i-haven/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [And in the Second World War, you didn't just read about it in the newspapers because you weren't allowed to read it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/and-in-the-second-world-war-you-didn-t-just-read-about-it-in-the/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) [Explore all 20 Patrick Macnee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) ## More Citizen kane quotes > [You make a film and always hope you're going make "Citizen Kane" or "The Bicycle Thief." You make the film, and for one reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-make-a-film-and-always-hope-you-re-going-make-citizen-kane-or-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I really like my first movie a lot, 'Kicking and Screaming.' I think it's a - I'm very pleased and proud of that movie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/i-really-like-my-first-movie-a-lot-kicking-and-screaming-i-think-it-s/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [Orson Welles lists Citizen Kane as his best film, Alfred Hitchcock opts for Shadow of a Doubt, and Sir Carol Reed chose The Third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cotten/orson-welles-lists-citizen-kane-as-his-best-film-alfred-hitchcock/) [Joseph Cotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cotten/) > [“The book is almost always better than the movie. You could have no better case in point than FROM HELL, Alan Moore's best graphic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/the-book-is-almost-always-better-than-the-movie-you-could-have-no/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“I wasn't an Irishman, but I knew how it felt to have someone standing over you, controlling your life and wanting to call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-huang/i-wasn-t-an-irishman-but-i-knew-how-it-felt-to-have-someone-standing/) [Eddie Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-huang/) > [“It was time for me to go that Thursday night. We’d just watched Citizen Kane --a throwback to my Cinema 190 class at USC--and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/it-was-time-for-me-to-go-that-thursday-night-we-d-just-watched/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“The most famous snow globe was featured in the movie Citizen Kane”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-anderson/the-most-famous-snow-globe-was-featured-in-the-movie-citizen-kane/) [Adam Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-anderson/) > [We didn't even think about it, you know? I used to collect laser discs, and you'd have some college professor analyzing It's a Wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/we-didn-t-even-think-about-it-you-know-i-used-to-collect-laser-discs/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [I personally think 'Chimes of Midnight' is a much better film than 'Citizen Kane.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mckay/i-personally-think-chimes-of-midnight-is-a-much-better-film-than/) [Christian McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mckay/) > [I don't believe that Citizen Kane or Gone With the Wind, or any damn picture that you can name, would be better off in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-don-t-believe-that-citizen-kane-or-gone-with-the-wind-or-any-damn/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [Orson Welles was a force of nature, who just came in and wiped the slate clean. And Citizen Kane is the greatest risk-taking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/orson-welles-was-a-force-of-nature-who-just-came-in-and-wiped-the/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [“You think you know it, but you always find out new stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/you-think-you-know-it-but-you-always-find-out-new-stuff/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [“Without the witty, potent dialogue and the puzzling shape of the story, the movie would have been merely an American version of the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/without-the-witty-potent-dialogue-and-the-puzzling-shape-of-the-story/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Movies such as 'Citizen Kane' and 'The Front Page' portrayed an era when driven newspapermen would do anything to get a story. The U.K.'s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/movies-such-as-citizen-kane-and-the-front-page-portrayed-an-era-when/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [“She had an old friend from the vaudeville days named Buck Mack who lived with her. Buck had been part of a vaudeville team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wagner/she-had-an-old-friend-from-the-vaudeville-days-named-buck-mack-who/) [Robert Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wagner/) [Browse all 37 Citizen kane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-kane/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I mean, everyone says Citizen Kane. It isn't that great, anyway. And Orson Welles I knew well, of course. 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