Setting the Scene

While watching Orson Welles' Citizen Kane I was always drawn to the setting of the scene. Cinematographer Gregg Toland really sets a scene incorporating small detailed props. The majority of the film is busy, but not overwhelming. Within the mansion some rooms appeared bare, but if you notice the walls they are very detailed and filled with carvings and sculptures too. During scenes set at Kane's office, the room is always very cramped with desks and people, and papers scattered on top of there desks. There is always people shuffling around, unless the scene is set later in the night, even then it was busy at times. Though Gregg Toland included alot in each of the sets, it didn't distract the audience from what is important and what we, as the audience, should be paying attention to. For instance, when Charles Foster Kane first meets Susan Alexander, he places the snow globe in her room, that is one thing you wouldn't notice the first time viewing the film becuase the attention is on Mr. Kane and Ms. Alexander. He does the same thing with the sled, until after you've already seen the film, the sled would have played no significant part. Overall Gregg Toland does a great job with setting the scene in Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.