View source for RKO 281

{{Short description|1999 film by Benjamin Ross about the making of Citizen Kane (1941)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image          = Rko-281-poster-1.jpg
| image_alt      =
| caption        = Australian poster
| genre          = [[Historical drama]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[The Battle Over Citizen Kane]]''|[[Richard Ben Cramer]]|[[Thomas F. Lennon|Thomas Lennon]]}}
| writer         = [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]]
| screenplay     = 
| story          = 
| director       = [[Benjamin Ross]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Liev Schreiber]]
* [[James Cromwell]]
* [[Melanie Griffith]]
* [[John Malkovich]]
* [[Brenda Blethyn]]
* [[Roy Scheider]]
* [[Liam Cunningham]]
* [[Kerry Shale]]
}}

| music          = [[John Altman (composer)|John Altman]]
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ridley Scott]]
* [[Tony Scott]]
}} 
| producer       = Su Armstrong
| editor         = Alex Mackie
| cinematography = [[Mike Southon (cinematographer)|Mike Southon]]
| runtime        = 86 minutes
| company        = {{Plainlist|
* [[HBO Pictures]]
* [[BBC Films]]
* [[Scott Free Productions]]
* [[WGBH Educational Foundation|WGBH Boston]]
}}
| budget         = $12 million
| network        = [[HBO]]
| released       = {{Start date|1999|11|20}} 
}}
'''''RKO 281''''' is a 1999 American [[historical drama]] [[television film]] directed by [[Benjamin Ross]], written by [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]], and starring [[Liev Schreiber]], [[James Cromwell]], [[Melanie Griffith]], [[John Malkovich]], [[Roy Scheider]], and [[Liam Cunningham]]. The film depicts the troubled production behind the 1941 film ''[[Citizen Kane]]''. The film's title is a reference to the original production number of ''Citizen Kane''. It premiered on [[HBO]] on November 20, 1999.

==Plot==
In 1940, [[Orson Welles]], [[RKO Pictures|RKO]] studio head [[George J. Schaefer]], and [[screenwriter]] [[Herman J. Mankiewicz]] struggle in making what will be considered the greatest American film, ''[[Citizen Kane]]''. Welles and Mankiewicz attend a party at [[Hearst Castle]] where meeting the hypocritical and tyrannical [[William 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 the [[Screenplay for Citizen Kane|script]], 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 the [[screenplay]], giving him a joint credit. After learning from the [[gossip columnist]] [[Hedda 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, actress [[Marion 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. Later on in their relationship many years after the release of ''Citizen Kane'' 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.

==Cast==
* [[Liev Schreiber]] as [[Orson Welles]]
* [[John Malkovich]] as [[Herman J. Mankiewicz]]
* [[Roy Scheider]] as [[George J. Schaefer]]
* [[James Cromwell]] as [[William Randolph Hearst]]
* [[Melanie Griffith]] as [[Marion Davies]]
* [[Liam Cunningham]] as [[Gregg Toland]]
* [[David Suchet]] as [[Louis B. Mayer]]
* [[Brenda Blethyn]] as [[Louella Parsons]]
* [[Fiona Shaw]] as [[Hedda Hopper]]
* [[Anastasia Hille]] as [[Carole Lombard]]
* [[Roger Allam]] as [[Walt Disney]]
* Simeon Andrews as [[John Houseman]]
* [[Jay Benedict]] as [[Daryl Zanuck]]
* Ron Berglas as [[David O. Selznick]]
* Sarah Franzl as [[Dorothy Comingore]]
* Joseph Long as [[Harry Cohn]]
* Oliver Pierre as [[Sam Goldwyn]]
* [[Adrian Schiller]] as [[Paul Stewart (actor)|Paul Stewart]]
* [[Kerry Shale]] as [[Bernard Herrmann]]
* [[Tim Woodward]] as [[Jack L. Warner|Jack Warner]]
* [[Angus Wright (actor)|Angus Wright]] as [[Joseph Cotten]]
* Bobby Valentino as [[Clark Gable]]
* [[Lucy Cohu]] as [[Dolores del Río]]

==Production==
The script is based in part on the 1996 American documentary film ''[[The Battle Over Citizen Kane]]'' written by [[Thomas Lennon (filmmaker)|Thomas Lennon]] and [[Richard Ben Cramer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/the-battle-over-citizen-kane-1200444283/|title=The Battle Over Citizen Kane|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Sheri|last=Linden|date=January 28, 1996|accessdate=December 27, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308154030/https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/the-battle-over-citizen-kane-1200444283/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the [[Hearst Castle]], but was refused access.<ref name="The Los Angeles Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-05-ca-6925-story.html|title=The Los Angeles Times Television Section September 05, 1999|access-date=2010-10-23|first=David|last=Gritten|date=1999-09-05|archive-date=2019-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711112049/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-05-ca-6925-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''RKO 281'' was filmed in the [[United Kingdom]], mostly around [[London]]. The Gothic stairwell in Hearst Castle was filmed in the [[St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel]]. Hearst's private quarters and office, including a marble fireplace, were filmed in the high-ceilinged Gamble Room in the [[Victoria & Albert Museum]].<ref name="The Los Angeles Times"/> The fireplace mantelpiece seen in the room was saved from [[Dorchester House]] prior to that building's demolition in 1929.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349954/chimneypiece-chimney-piece-stevens-alfred-george/ |title=Chimneypiece |date=1873 |publisher=[[Victoria and Albert Museum]] |accessdate=2022-06-11}}</ref> The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the [[Guildhall, London|London Guildhall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/Buildings_within_the_City/guildhall.htm|title=The City of London - Guildhall|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513213124/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/Buildings_within_the_City/guildhall.htm|archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref>

==Reception==
On aggregate review site [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a "fresh" rating of 92%, based on 13 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rko_281_the_battle_over_citizen_kane/|title=RKO 281 Review|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=June 13, 2025|archive-date=August 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819073835/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rko_281_the_battle_over_citizen_kane/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| rowspan="39"| {{center|2000}}
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television|Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television]]
| Alex Mackie
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000017/2000/1/?ref_=ev_eh |title=Nominees/Winners |publisher=[[IMDb]] |accessdate=April 3, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Casting Society of America#Artios Awards|Artios Awards]]
| Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week
| Lora Kennedy
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web|title=2000 Artios Awards|url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2000|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.castingsociety.com|language=en|archive-date=2022-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326175423/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Columbus International Film & Video Festival]]
| colspan="2"| Chris Award (Entertainment)
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[57th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film|Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television]]
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/rko-281 |title=RKO 281 – Golden Globes |website=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=June 26, 2023 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|2000}} |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626220749/https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/rko-281 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film]]
| [[Liev Schreiber]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]
| [[Melanie Griffith]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="18"| Online Film & Television Association
| colspan="2"| Best Motion Picture Made for Television
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="18"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/4th-annual-tv-awards-1999-2000/ |title=4th Annual Television Awards (1999-2000) |website=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804141218/http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/4th-annual-tv-awards-1999-2000/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| Liev Schreiber
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| [[James Cromwell]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[John Malkovich]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| [[Brenda Blethyn]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Melanie Griffith
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="13"| [[52nd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie|Outstanding Made for Television Movie]]
| [[Ridley Scott]], [[Tony Scott]], Diane Minter Lewis, <br> Chris Zarpas, and Su Armstrong
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="13"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/rko-281 |title=RKO 281 |website=Emmys.com |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626220749/https://www.emmys.com/shows/rko-281 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]
| Liev Schreiber
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]
| James Cromwell
| {{nom}}
|-
| John Malkovich
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie]]
| Melanie Griffith
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| [[Benjamin Ross]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie|Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| Maria Djurkovic, Lucinda Thomson, and <br> Tatiana Macdonald
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| Lora Kennedy and Joyce Nettles
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie|Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| Roseann Samuel, Elaine Browne, Karen Z.M. Turner, <br> Aileen Seaton, and Lesley Noble
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| [[John Altman (composer)|John Altman]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]
| Alex Mackie
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|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}}
| align="center"|
|-
| [[4th Golden Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Satellite Award for Best Television Film|Best Television Film]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2000.shtml |title=International Press Academy website – 2000 4th Annual SATELLITE Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2000.shtml|archive-date=1 February 2008}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| {{center|2001}}
| [[Nastro d'Argento]]
| Best Foreign Director
| Benjamin Ross
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[53rd Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted|Long Form – Adapted]]
| John Logan; <br> Based in part on the documentary <br> ''[[The Battle Over Citizen Kane]]'' {{small|(from ''[[American Experience]]'')}}
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with [[Thomas Rickman (writer)|Thomas Rickman]] for ''[[Tuesdays with Morrie (film)|Tuesdays with Morrie]]''.}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517|title=Writers Guild Awards Winners|access-date=March 7, 2019|publisher=WGA|year=2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525050852/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517|archive-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* ''[[Mank]]'' (2020)

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Sources==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0120801|title=RKO 281}}

{{Citizen Kane}}
{{John Logan}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film 1971–1999}}

[[Category:1999 television films]]
[[Category:1999 films]]
[[Category:1999 drama films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s historical drama films]]
[[Category:American drama television films]]
[[Category:American historical drama films]]
[[Category:Best Miniseries or Television Movie Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Citizen Kane]]
[[Category:Films about films]]
[[Category:Films about Orson Welles]]
[[Category:HBO Films films]]
[[Category:Historical television films]]
[[Category:Scott Free Productions films]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Altman (composer)]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by John Logan (writer)]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of William Randolph Hearst]]
[[Category:English-language historical drama films]]