| RKO 281 | |
|---|---|
 Australian poster | |
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on | |
| Written by | John Logan |
| Directed by | Benjamin Ross |
| Starring | |
| Music by | John Altman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producer | Su Armstrong |
| Cinematography | Mike Southon |
| Editor | Alex Mackie |
| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20) |
RKO 281 is a 1999 Americanhistorical dramatelevision film directed byBenjamin Ross, written byJohn Logan, and starringLiev Schreiber,James Cromwell,Melanie Griffith,John Malkovich,Roy Scheider, andLiam Cunningham. The film depicts the troubled production behind the 1941 filmCitizen Kane. The film's title is a reference to the original production number ofCitizen Kane. It premiered onHBO on November 20, 1999.
In 1940,Orson Welles,RKO studio headGeorge J. Schaefer, andscreenwriterHerman J. Mankiewicz struggle in making what will be considered the greatest American film,Citizen Kane. Welles and Mankiewicz attend a party atHearst Castle where meeting the hypocritical and tyrannicalWilliam 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 thescript, 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 thescreenplay, giving him a joint credit. After learning from thegossip columnistHedda 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, actressMarion 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. 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.
The script is based in part on the 1996 American documentary filmThe Battle Over Citizen Kane written byThomas Lennon andRichard Ben Cramer.[1]
Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in theHearst Castle, but was refused access.[2]RKO 281 was filmed in theUnited Kingdom, mostly aroundLondon. The Gothic stairwell in Hearst Castle was filmed in theSt Pancras Renaissance London Hotel. Hearst's private quarters and office, including a marble fireplace, were filmed in the high-ceilinged Gamble Room in theVictoria & Albert Museum.[2] The fireplace mantelpiece seen in the room was saved fromDorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929.[3] The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of theLondon Guildhall.[4]
On aggregate review siteRotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 92%, based on 13 reviews.[5]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television | Alex Mackie | Nominated | [6] |
| Artios Awards | Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week | Lora Kennedy | Won | [7] | |
| Columbus International Film & Video Festival | Chris Award (Entertainment) | Won | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won | [8] | ||
| Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film | Liev Schreiber | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Melanie Griffith | Nominated | |||
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Won | [9] | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Liev Schreiber | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | James Cromwell | Nominated | |||
| John Malkovich | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Brenda Blethyn | Nominated | |||
| Melanie Griffith | Nominated | ||||
| Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | ||||
| Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | ||||
| Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | ||||
| Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | ||||
| Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | ||||
| Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | ||||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Ridley Scott,Tony Scott, Diane Minter Lewis, Chris Zarpas, and Su Armstrong | Nominated | [10] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Liev Schreiber | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | James Cromwell | Nominated | |||
| John Malkovich | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Melanie Griffith | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Benjamin Ross | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | John Logan | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Maria Djurkovic, Lucinda Thomson, and Tatiana Macdonald | Nominated | |||
| 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, Aileen Seaton, and Lesley Noble | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | John Altman | Won | |||
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Alex Mackie | Nominated | |||
| 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 | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Television Film | Nominated | [11] | ||
2001 | Nastro d'Argento | Best Foreign Director | Benjamin Ross | Nominated | |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Long Form – Adapted | John Logan; Based in part on the documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane(fromAmerican Experience) | Won[a] | [12] | |
Works byJohn Logan | |
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| Films written |
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| Television series |
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| Theater |
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