In 1939, boy-wonder Orson Welles leaves New York, where he has succeeded in radio and theater, and, hired by RKO Pictures, moves to Hollywood with the purpose of making his first film.
Acting
Liev Schreiber's Welles is theatrical, hungry, impossible
Writing
Mankiewicz one-liners that cut like broken glass
Production
Recreated 1939 Hollywood with delicious period detail
Director
Benjamin Ross
Liev Schreiber
Orson Welles
James Cromwell
William Randolph Hearst
Melanie Griffith
Marion Davies
John Malkovich
Herman Mankiewicz
Liam Cunningham
Gregg Toland
David Suchet
Louis B. Mayer
Fiona Shaw
Hedda Hopper
Anastasia Hille
Carole Lombard
Brenda Blethyn
Louella Parsons
Roy Scheider
George Schaefer
Roger Allam
Walt Disney
William Armstrong
Mr. Lewis
Jay Benedict
Darryl Zanuck
Ron Berglas
David O. Selznick
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'RKO 281' was Citizen Kane's actual production number, kept secret from Hearst's spies.
Hearst really did offer to buy and destroy the negative — RKO's refusal essentially invented the 'studio stands by artist' PR playbook.
US
GB
