Kane in Continuity Main Menu About the Collection "It isn't enough to tell us what a man did. You've got to tell us who he was."-Rawlston Materiality "Old age. It's the only disease, Mr. Thompson, that you don't look forward to being cured of."-Bernstein Describing the Collection "I don't think there's one word that can describe a man's life" -- Charles Foster Kane The Digitization Process "I run a couple of newspapers. What do you do?"--Charles Kane The Continuity Collection "Forty-nine thousand acres of nothing but scenery and statues. I'm lonesome." Susan Kane The Production's Chronology "I can remember everything. That's my curse, young man. It's the greatest curse that's ever been inflicted on the human race: memory." -Leland

Kane & Continuity

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In his article “Digital Transformations and the Archival Nature of Surrogates,” Paul Conway discusses how digitization not only preserves archival materials, but allows them to transcend their original value. This path seeks to fulfill this vision by putting these photographs in a broader context to allow scholars and enthusiasts to make new discoveries.

The sets for Citizen Kane were the product of close collaboration between director Orson Welles, art director Perry Ferguson,  and cinematographer Gregg Toland. All three would meet together to decide how each scene would be shot and therefore how each set needed to be constructed. Ferguson would give notes from these conversations to the artists so they could begin their preliminary sketches. These sketches were then passed between Welles and Ferguson until Welles was satisfied. At this point, a master sketch was completed and photographed.Some of the sketches, however, had to be redone due to budget constraints.
This collection serves as evidence of this collaboration. Many of these stills align closely with the shots of the completed film. These photographs also provide a unique insight to each set due to their utilitarian nature. Because the filmmakers needed to see where each piece of the set was placed, the entire set was illuminated. This provides a unique perspective on sets such as Xanadu, where the lighting was dark and austere.  
This path places the photographs side-by-side with the film, allowing you to directly compare the sets and the film.
 

Contents of this path:

  1. News on the March: Exterior of the New York Enquirer building
  2. News on the March: Painting of Mrs. Kane's Boarding House
  3. News on the March: Thatcher Testifies before Congressional Committee
  4. Thompson visits the Thatcher Library
  5. Mrs. Kane's Boarding House: Young Kane Playing in Snow
  6. Mrs. Kane's Boarding House: Mrs. Kane sends Kane to live with Thatcher
  7. The New York Inquirer: Thatcher and Kane argue about the Inquirer
  8. Bernstein's Office: Thompson interviews Bernstein
  9. The New York Inquirer: Kane and Leland introduce themselves to the Inquirer staff
  10. The New York Inquirer: Bernstein crashes in with Kane's possessions
  11. Exterior of the New York Inquirer: Mr. Carter departs
  12. The New York Inquirer: Inquirer staff celebrates
  13. The New York Inquirer: Bernstein and Leland discuss cable from Kane in his statue-filled office
  14. Huntington Memorial Hospital: Thompson Interviews Leland
  15. Kane's New York Home: Kane and Emily at Breakfast
  16. City Street: Susan in the Pharmacy before meeting Kane
  17. Susan's Second Apartment: Kane watches Susan sing
  18. Susan's Second Apartment: Gettys threatens Kane
  19. Susan's Second Apartment: Kane shouts at Gettys from the stairs
  20. Kane for Governor Headquarters: Kane and Leland argue after the election
  21. Chicago Opera House: Stage with actors preparing for performance
  22. Chicago Inquirer: Kane reads Leland's notice
  23. Chicago Opera House: Kane watches Susan's performance
  24. Xanadu Great Hall: Kane talks to Susan
  25. Xanadu Great Hall: Susan works on puzzle
  26. Susan's Bedroom in Xanadu: Susan says goodbye
  27. Susan's Bedroom in Xanadu: Kane begs Susan to stay
  28. Xanadu Great Hall: Thompson interviews Raymond the butler
  29. Susan's Bedroom in Xanadu: Kane throws Susan's suitcase
  30. Susan's Bedroom in Xanadu: Kane destroys the room
  31. Xanadu Great Hall: Thompson and staff walk through Kane's possessions

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