Even though people now think it's one of the best movies ever, Citizen Kane was a bit of a box office flop when it first came out. People disliked it so much that it got booed every time it was announced as a nominee during the 1942 Academy Awards. (Source)

When Kane makes his big speech during the election for New York governor, the crowd watching him is actually just a still picture. Welles poked holes all through it and made it move to create the illusion of movement and shifting light. Pretty clever eh? (Source)

How about this for directing savvy? Apparently, Orson Welles included the shot of the squawking bird at the Everglades party scene just to make sure his audience was still awake. (Source)