DramaHistoryTV Movie

RKO 281

- What went on the screen was nothing compared to what went on behind the scenes.

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.

Release Date : 2000-04-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Scott Free ProductionsBBC FilmHBO FilmsGBH

Production Country : United States of AmericaUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles : RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane

Cast

Character Name : Orson Welles

Original Name : Liev Schreiber

Gender : Male

Character Name : William Randolph Hearst

Original Name : James Cromwell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marion Davies

Original Name : Melanie Griffith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Herman Mankiewicz

Original Name : John Malkovich

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gregg Toland

Original Name : Liam Cunningham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louis B. Mayer

Original Name : David Suchet

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hedda Hopper

Original Name : Fiona Shaw

Gender : Female

Character Name : Carole Lombard

Original Name : Anastasia Hille

Gender : Female

Character Name : Louella Parsons

Original Name : Brenda Blethyn

Gender : Female

Character Name : George Schaefer

Original Name : Roy Scheider

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walt Disney

Original Name : Roger Allam

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Houseman

Original Name : Simeon Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Lewis

Original Name : William Armstrong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Darryl Zanuck

Original Name : Jay Benedict

Gender : Male

Character Name : David O. Selznick

Original Name : Ron Berglas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Top Brass #2

Original Name : Paul Birchard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Thomson

Original Name : Neil Conrich

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joseph Willicombe

Original Name : Michael Cronin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dorothy Comingore

Original Name : Sarah Franzl

Gender : Female

Character Name : Script Girl

Original Name : Briony Glassco

Gender : Female

Character Name : Flunkie #2

Original Name : Louis Hammond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Orson Welles

Original Name : Aaron Keeling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harry Cohn

Original Name : Joseph Long

Gender : Male

Character Name : Top Brass #1

Original Name : Gareth Marks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam Goldwyn

Original Name : Olivier Pierre

Gender : Male

Character Name : News Reader

Original Name : Roger Rose

Gender : Male

Character Name : Flunkie #1

Original Name : Rolf Saxon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paul Stewart

Original Name : Adrian Schiller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bernard Herrmann

Original Name : Kerry Shale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeweller

Original Name : Cyril Shaps

Gender : Male

Character Name : Welles' Mother

Original Name : Tusse Silberg

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sound Technician

Original Name : Toby Whithouse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Warner

Original Name : Tim Woodward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joseph Cotten

Original Name : Angus Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clark Gable

Original Name : Bobby Valentino

Gender : Male

Reviews

Gurre

@Gurre

2021-06-23

RKO 281 is a very underrated movie I haven't seen alot of people talking about. It's based in part upon the real-life story of the behind the scenes of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, and in part of the documentary The Battle over Citizen Kane that made as a part of The American Experience. Orson Welles (Liev Schreiber) has been offered a carte blanche-contract with RKO after his legendary War of the Worlds broadcast, however he has troubles coming up with a picture, and he lacks inspiration. One night, at a party hosted by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell) he finds the inspiration. He wants to make a movie about this powerful man. He and writer Herman Mankeweizc (John Malkovich) starts writing the screenplay and Citizen Kane gets into production. When the movie is near completion, Hearst gets the information that Citizen Kane is about him (and not the most flattering portrait either) so he is determined to have the film destroyed. He blackmails the studio-bosses in Hollywood to buy the filmnegative... and burn it... Honestly, I find this movie much more interesting and BETTER than Citizen Kane itself. Although I love that movie, I find this so much better! A compelling, well-written film (with a kind of downbeat ending) that keeps your (atleast my) attention all the way through. The highlight of the film for me is when Welles is filming Kane! Great re-creation of the sets in Kane, the details are just right! The actors do a good job at portraying their characters and it's well-directed. To fully appreciate this movie, you have to watch Citizen Kane first. If you have already seen Citizen Kane, then go right ahead and watch RKO 281! Highly recommended! I give it a 10/10