Citizen Kane Scene 1 Summary

  • We open with a sign that says "No Trespassing" on a chain link fence. The camera slowly pans upward and we can see that the fence is incredibly high.
  • Beyond the fence, we see a giant mansion/castle-like building. For some reason, there are two monkeys hanging out on top of the fence, which makes us wonder if this mansion is in some tropical location.
  • We see two boats on water, then another shot of the mansion. An old sign tells us that there was once a golf course around the home. There is only one light on in the whole gigantic building.
  • We look in on the light and see a bunch of snow. But it's just the snow inside a snow globe. A man in a bed utters the word "rosebud" before dropping the snow globe and letting it break on the floor. A nurse runs into the bedroom to check on the man.
  • Next thing you know, the nurse is pulling the man's sheets over his head. It looks like he's died.