A Questioning Thought for the Day

[deckroid]

A new day, a new question!

If Charles Foster Kane died alone - how did anyone know what his final utterance was?

Have you seen the film? It's a very long, but good flick. I liked it, but really got interested in it in college when I was studying American History.

Anyway, to answer your question...

In the opening scene, where Charles Kane whispers "Rosebud", it appears he is on his own in the room, while a nurse enters a couple of seconds after he dies. Many often suggest that no one could have heard him whisper the word, as the room appears to be occupied by only Kane himself. However, in the opening scene, the bedroom is only shown in fragments and closeups (this may have been intentional on Welles' part to withhold information) - the room in its entirety is never shown, and thus it is not entirely possible to ascertain that Kane was alone. Indeed, later in the film, Raymond, Kane's butler, informs Thompson the reporter that he was indeed in the room at the time of Kane's demise and heard the word "Rosebud" spoken.

George