RKO 281
{{Short description|1999 film by Benjamin Ross about the making of Citizen Kane (1941)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Rko-281-poster-1.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption = Australian poster
| genre = Historical drama
| based_on = {{Based on|The Battle Over Citizen Kane|Richard Ben Cramer|Thomas Lennon}}
| writer = John Logan
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = Benjamin Ross
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Liev Schreiber
- James Cromwell
- Melanie Griffith
- John Malkovich
- Brenda Blethyn
- Roy Scheider
- Liam Cunningham
- Kerry Shale
}}
| music = John Altman
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
}}
| producer = Su Armstrong
| editor = Alex Mackie
| cinematography = Mike Southon
| runtime = 86 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
}}
| budget = $12 million
| network = HBO
| released = {{Start date|1999|11|20}}
}}
RKO 281 is a 1999 American historical drama television film directed by Benjamin Ross, written by John Logan, 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. It premiered on HBO on November 20, 1999.
Plot
In 1940, Orson Welles, RKO studio head George J. Schaefer, and screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz 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 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.
At first, Welles tries to take credit for everything, including the script, and Mankiewicz is furious with Welles—he faces him, and Welles says he has every right and cuts ties with Mankiewicz. Orson later reconsiders and asks Mankiewicz to continue re-drafting the screenplay, giving him a joint credit. 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 prevent the release of the picture. Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies, endures the embarrassment of having their private lives exposed and vilified. Hopper threatens to do the same to the studio executives of Hollywood if they release the film. Later on in their relationship many years after the release of Citizen Kane Marion gives Hearst money when his finances begin to diminish (by selling all the jewelry 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 J. 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
- Anastasia Hille as Carole Lombard
- Roger Allam as Walt Disney
- Simeon Andrews as John Houseman
- Jay Benedict as Daryl Zanuck
- Ron Berglas as David O. Selznick
- Sarah Franzl as Dorothy Comingore
- Joseph Long as Harry Cohn
- Oliver Pierre as Sam Goldwyn
- Adrian Schiller as Paul Stewart
- Kerry Shale as Bernard Herrmann
- Tim Woodward as Jack Warner
- Angus Wright as Joseph Cotten
- Bobby Valentino as Clark Gable
- 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.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/the-battle-over-citizen-kane-1200444283/|title=The Battle Over Citizen Kane|work=Variety|first=Sheri|last=Linden|date=January 28, 1996|accessdate=December 27, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308154030/https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/the-battle-over-citizen-kane-1200444283/|url-status=live}}
Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the Hearst Castle, but was refused access.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-05-ca-6925-story.html|title=The Los Angeles Times Television Section September 05, 1999|access-date=2010-10-23|first=David|last=Gritten|date=1999-09-05|archive-date=2019-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711112049/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-05-ca-6925-story.html|url-status=live}} 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. The fireplace mantelpiece seen in the room was saved from Dorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929.{{cite web |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349954/chimneypiece-chimney-piece-stevens-alfred-george/ |title=Chimneypiece |date=1873 |publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum |accessdate=2022-06-11}} The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the London Guildhall.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/Buildings_within_the_City/guildhall.htm|title=The City of London - Guildhall|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513213124/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/Buildings_within_the_City/guildhall.htm|archive-date=May 13, 2008}}
Reception
On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rko_281_the_battle_over_citizen_kane/|title=RKO 281 Review|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=August 24, 2012|archive-date=August 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819073835/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rko_281_the_battle_over_citizen_kane/|url-status=live}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan="39"| {{center|2000}}
| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television | Alex Mackie | {{nom}} | align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000017/2000/1/?ref_=ev_eh |title=Nominees/Winners |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=April 3, 2019}} |
| Artios Awards
| Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week | Lora Kennedy | {{won}} |
| Columbus International Film & Video Festival
| colspan="2"| Chris Award (Entertainment) | {{won}} | align="center"| |
| rowspan="3"| Golden Globe Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | {{won}} | align="center" rowspan="3"| {{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/rko-281 |title=RKO 281 – Golden Globes |website=Golden Globe Awards |access-date=June 26, 2023 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|2000}} |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626220749/https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/rko-281 |url-status=live }} |
| Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film
| {{nom}} |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="18"| Online Film & Television Association
| colspan="2"| Best Motion Picture Made for Television | {{won}} |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| Liev Schreiber | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| John Malkovich
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| Melanie Griffith
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}} |
| colspan="2"| Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}} |
| rowspan="13"| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Diane Minter Lewis, | {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="13"| {{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/rko-281 |title=RKO 281 |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626220749/https://www.emmys.com/shows/rko-281 |url-status=live }} |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
| Liev Schreiber | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
| James Cromwell | {{nom}} |
| John Malkovich
| {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
| Melanie Griffith | {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| Maria Djurkovic, Lucinda Thomson, and | {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| Lora Kennedy and Joyce Nettles | {{won}} |
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| Roseann Samuel, Elaine Browne, Karen Z.M. Turner, | {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| {{won}} |
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
| Alex Mackie | {{nom}} |
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a 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}} | align="center"| |
| Satellite Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Television Film | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| {{center|2001}}
| Best Foreign Director | Benjamin Ross | {{nom}} | align="center"| |
| Writers Guild of America Awards
| John Logan; | {{won}}{{efn|Tied with Thomas Rickman for Tuesdays with Morrie.}} |
See also
- Mank (2020)
Notes
{{notelist}}
Sources
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{IMDb title|id=0120801|title=RKO 281}}
{{Citizen Kane}}
{{John Logan}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film 1971–1999}}
Category:1999 television films
Category:1990s English-language films
Category:1990s historical drama films
Category:American drama television films
Category:American historical drama films
Category:Best Miniseries or Television Movie Golden Globe winners
Category:Films about Orson Welles
Category:Historical television films
Category:Scott Free Productions films
Category:Films scored by John Altman (composer)
Category:Films with screenplays by John Logan (writer)