What does it take to be considered the "greatest American film" made? This question can be discussed upon for hours, but when it comes down to the crux of the matter, originality in camera and lighting techniques, as well as suspense, are what characterize a great film. In 1941, a 25-year-old named Orson Wells produced his first movie that is now considered one of the greatest American films ever. Citizen Kane broke down every frontier, surpassing films of its time through the use of camera techniques, setting, scene transitions, soundtrack, and suspense.
Orson Wells is renowned in the way in which he combines camera techniques along with lighting and sound. Citizen Kane opens in a mystifying way, with suspenseful music narrating the changing of the settings. The minute the screen lights up, the audience is immediately in for one hundred and nineteen minutes of complicated camera movements that had never been seen before. The greater part of the film takes place in a flashback, as the reporters try to assemble some sort of story as to what "rosebud", Kane's final words, mean. With every new person that is interviewed, another point-of-view is outlined. Wells uses reflection and close-ups in order to describe an individual's feelings. For example, Charles is viewed as superior than the others in a particular scene with him. This technique is used to show the power in which the character holds. During the celebration for the new staff of the Inquirer, Bernstein and Leland are drawn in an intense conversation about Kane and his thoughts. To highlight their conversation, the camera focuses in on the reflection of Kane dancing and singing in the window. Another way in which Wells is able to show expression is when the camera focuses in on facial expressions of the speakers. Wells also uses lighting to portray Emily during the breakfast scenes. When she is happy during her younger years with Charles, there is a soft light upon her face, but as the years go by and her unhappiness grows, the lighting becomes darker then the two separate further at the side of the breakfast table.