Directed by:
Benjamin RossCinematography:
Mike SouthonComposer:
John AltmanCast:
Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich, Brenda Blethyn, Roy Scheider, Liam Cunningham, David Suchet, Fiona Shaw, Anastasia Hille (more)Plots(1)
Two strong-willed titans clash over the making of one of the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane--originally known as studio production RKO 281. 1940. After triumphs on Broadway and radio, 24-year-old wunderkind Orson Welles (Liev Schreiber) arrives in Hollywood to make his first movie--with a guarantee of total control. Despite the warnings of his collaborator, screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (John Malkovich), Welles makes a thinly veiled biography of media magnate William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell). The formidable, 76-year-old Hearst refuses to allow ads in his newspapers for any RKO Studio films. And when the studio forges ahead with its plan to release Citizen Kane, Hearst resorts to even further blackmail. The HBO Pictures presentation RKO 281 is the 1999 Golden Globe winner for Best Miniseries or Movie Made for TV. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Liev Schreiber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/409/162409864_eeff8d.jpg)
Liev Schreiber
USA
Best movies:
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spotlight (2015)
Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003) (TV movie)
![James Cromwell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267704_246aa1.jpg)
James Cromwell
USA
Best movies:
The Green Mile (1999)
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Ściana (1982) (TV movie)
![Melanie Griffith](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/054/164054975_32800f.jpg)
Melanie Griffith
USA
Best movies:
Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (1998) (concert)
RKO 281 (1999) (TV movie)
Nobody's Fool (1994)
![John Malkovich](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/542/164542331_1727d2.jpg)
John Malkovich
USA
Best movies:
Of Mice and Men (1992)
Changeling (2008)
The Killing Fields (1984)
![Brenda Blethyn](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/054/164054963_e6ce43.jpg)
Brenda Blethyn
UK
Best movies:
Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) (TV movie)
Atonement (2007)
Between the Sheets (2003) (series)
![Roy Scheider](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267381_f2a54e.jpg)
Roy Scheider
USA
Best movies:
Jaws (1975)
The Rainmaker (1997)
The French Connection (1971)
![Liam Cunningham](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/343/163343147_23b04a.jpg)
Liam Cunningham
Ireland
Best movies:
Prime Suspect 6 (2003) (TV movie)
The Tale of Sweety Barrett (1998)
A Little Princess (1995)
![David Suchet](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270432_7bae78.jpg)
David Suchet
UK
Best movies:
Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) (TV movie) - narrator
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
![Fiona Shaw](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/142/164142090_fcfdfb.jpg)
Fiona Shaw
Ireland
Best movies:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
My Left Foot (1989)
Gormenghast (2000) (series)
![Anastasia Hille](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/111/656/111656158_cad409.jpg)
Anastasia Hille
UK
Best movies:
Hamlet (2015) (theatrical recording)
Hawking (2004) (TV movie)
New Year's Day (2000)
![Roger Allam](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/429/162429102_b817b3.jpg)
Roger Allam
UK
Best movies:
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010) (theatrical recording)
Endeavour (2012) (series)
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
![Rolf Saxon](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/471/471144_cd239b.jpg)
Rolf Saxon
USA
Best movies:
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
1984 (1984)
![Tim Woodward](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/687/162687701_2f5c6e.jpg)
Tim Woodward
UK
Best movies:
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Murder Rooms: The Photographer's Chair (2001) (TV movie)
K-19 (2002)
![Roger Rose](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/901/157901387_8b3420.jpg)
Roger Rose
USA
Best movies:
RKO 281 (1999) (TV movie)
The Man Who Loved Women (1977)
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton (1996) (TV movie)
![Lucy Cohu](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/781/160781265_cccf2b.jpg)
Lucy Cohu
UK
Best movies:
Ripper Street (2012) (series)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Inspector George Gently (2007) (series)
![Adrian Schiller](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/669/161669060_b02297.jpg)
Adrian Schiller
UK
Best movies:
The Crucible (2014)
Endeavour (2012) (series)
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
Ron Berglas
Best movies:
Jonathan Creek (1997) (series)
Messiah (2001) (TV movie)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
![Michael Cronin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/683/163683359_29ac47.jpg)
Michael Cronin
UK
Best movies:
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) (TV movie)
Anna Karenina (2000) (series)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Jay Benedict
USA
Best movies:
Aliens (1986)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The French Revolution (1989) (TV movie)
![Cyril Shaps](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/539/161539222_ae2b78.jpg)
Cyril Shaps
UK
Best movies:
The Pianist (2002)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
To Sir, with Love (1967)