Editing Citizen Kane (section)

==Rights and home media==
The composited camera negative of ''Citizen Kane'' is believed to be lost forever. The most commonly reported explanation is that it was destroyed in a New Jersey film laboratory fire in the 1970s. However, in 2021, [[Nicolas Falacci]] revealed that he had been told "the real story" by a colleague, when he was one of two employees in the film restoration lab which assembled the 1991 "restoration" from the best available elements. Falacci noted that throughout the process he had daily visits in 1990-91 from an unnamed "older RKO executive showing up every day – nervous and sweating". According to Falacci's colleague, this elderly man was keen to cover up a clerical error he had made decades earlier when in charge of the studio's inventory, which had resulted in the original camera negatives being sent to a silver reclamation plant, destroying the [[nitrate film]] to extract its valuable silver content. Falacci's account is impossible to verify, but it would have been fully in keeping with industry standard practice for many decades, which was to destroy prints and negatives of countless older films deemed non-commercially viable, to extract the silver.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wellesnet.com/citizen-kane-negative/ |last=Falacci |first=Nicolas |author-link=Nicolas Falacci |title=Negative for 'Citizen Kane' may be lost forever |newspaper=Wellesnet |date=February 27, 2021 |access-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref>

Subsequent prints were derived from a master positive (a fine-grain preservation element) made in the 1940s and originally intended for use in overseas distribution.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McGreevey |first1=Tom |last2=Yeck |first2=Joanne L. |title=Our Movie Heritage |publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]] |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey|date=1997 |isbn=0-8135-2431-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ourmovieheritage0000mcgr/page/135 135–36] |url=https://archive.org/details/ourmovieheritage0000mcgr/page/135}}</ref> Modern techniques were used to produce a pristine print for a 50th Anniversary theatrical reissue in 1991 which [[Paramount Pictures]] released for then-owner [[Turner Broadcasting System]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/20/movies/for-citizen-kane-a-fresh-start-at-50.html |last=Rohter |first=Larry |author-link=Larry Rohter |title=For 'Citizen Kane,' a Fresh Start at 50 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 20, 1991 |access-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611053838/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/20/movies/for-citizen-kane-a-fresh-start-at-50.html |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> which earned $1.6&nbsp;million in North America<ref name="Mojo">{{cite web |title=Citizen Kane (1941) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=citizenkane.htm |access-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101036/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=citizenkane.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and {{US$|1.8 million|long=no}} worldwide.<ref name="Paducah">{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Bob |title=Treasure trove: Recycling movie classics financial success for film studio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/427330404/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=[[The Paducah Sun]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=3 August 1992 |page=58 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1955, RKO sold the American television rights to its film library, including ''Citizen Kane'', to [[C&C Group|C&C Television Corp.]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Boddy |first=William |title=Fifties Television: The Industry and Its Critics |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |location=Champaign, Illinois |date=1993 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sWjhCESKy4AC&q=c%26c%20%2B%20rko%20%2B%201955&pg=PA138 |isbn=978-0-252-06299-5 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114035151/https://books.google.com/books?id=sWjhCESKy4AC&pg=PA138&q=c%26c+%2B+rko+%2B+1955&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1960, television rights to the pre-1959 RKO's live-action library were acquired by [[United Artists]]. RKO kept the non-broadcast television rights to its library.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McCormick |first=Moira |title=RKO Focuses On Upscale Market for Classic Films |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22rko%20home%20video%22%2B%20%22citizen%20kane%22%2B%201984&pg=PT75 |date=August 23, 1986 |page=64 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114035140/https://books.google.com/books?id=UiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT75&sqi=2&q=%22rko+home+video%22%2B+%22citizen+kane%22%2B+1984 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1976, when home video was in its infancy, entrepreneur [[Snuff Garrett]] bought cassette rights to the RKO library for what [[United Press International]] termed "a pittance". In 1978 The Nostalgia Merchant released the film through [[Media Home Entertainment]]. By 1980 the 800-title library of The Nostalgia Merchant was earning $2.3&nbsp;million a year. "Nobody wanted cassettes four years ago," Garrett told UPI. "It wasn't the first time people called me crazy. It was a hobby with me which became big business."<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Vernon |title=Nostalgia King |publisher=United Press International |date=October 11, 1980}}</ref> RKO Home Video released the film on [[VHS]] and [[Betamax]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite book |title=Citizen Kane (Film, 1985) |publisher=[[WorldCat]] |oclc = 016396308}}</ref>

On December 3, 1984, [[The Criterion Collection]] released the film as its first [[LaserDisc]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Criterion Collection |author-link=The Criterion Collection |user=Criterion |number=672452401195040771 |date=December 3, 2015 |title=On this day in 1984, we released our first laserdisc: Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE. |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |location= |access-date=April 18, 2023 |link= |quote= |ref=}}</ref> It was made from a fine grain master positive provided by the [[UCLA Film and Television Archive]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/840-citizen-kane |last=Smith |first=Roger P. |title=From the Current&nbsp;– ''Citizen Kane'' |publisher=[[The Criterion Collection]] |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603064847/http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/840-citizen-kane |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> When told about the then-new concept of having an [[audio commentary]] on the disc, Welles was skeptical but said "theoretically, that's good for teaching movies, so long as they don't talk nonsense."<ref name="Lunches"/>{{Rp|283}} In 1992 Criterion released a new 50th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc. This version had an improved transfer and additional special features, including the documentary ''The Legacy of Citizen Kane'' and Welles's early short "[[The Hearts of Age]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvduell.de/criterion_website/criterion/catalogpage-58.html |title=Criterion: Citizen Kane: 50th Anniversary Edition |publisher=The Criterion Collection |access-date=July 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221011/http://www.dvduell.de/criterion_website/criterion/catalogpage-58.html |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Turner Broadcasting System acquired broadcast television rights to the RKO library in 1986<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-03-26/business/8601220602_1_turner-broadcasting-system-ua-mgm |title=Turner Acquires MGM/UA |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=March 26, 1986 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129121208/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-03-26/business/8601220602_1_turner-broadcasting-system-ua-mgm |archive-date=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the full worldwide rights to the library in 1987.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-10-fi-27906-story.html |title=Turner Buys Rights to 800 RKO Movies |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 10, 1987 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120172828/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-10/business/fi-27906_1_rko-movie |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The RKO Home Video unit was reorganized into Turner Home Entertainment that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/03/29/an-ok-for-rko/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|title=An OK For RKO |first=Richard|last=Fuller|date=March 29, 1992 |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808172047/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-03-29/entertainment/9201290077_1_old-time-hollywood-studios-turner-label-orson-welles |archive-date=August 8, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991 Turner released a 50th Anniversary Edition on VHS and as a collector's edition that includes the film, the documentary ''Reflections On Citizen Kane'', Harlan Lebo's 50th anniversary album, a poster and a copy of the original script.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Jack E. |title=VideoView – UPI Arts & Entertainment; What's new on the home video scene&nbsp;... |publisher=United Press International |location=Washington D.C. |date=August 29, 1991}}</ref> In 1996, [[Time Warner]] acquired Turner and [[Warner Home Video]] absorbed Turner Home Entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/11/14/time-warner-phasing-out-turner-pictures-time/ |title=Time Warner phasing out Turner Pictures: Time Warner Inc |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 14, 1996 |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130234600/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-11-14/news/9611150315_1_turner-broadcasting-system-turner-pictures-time-warner |archive-date=January 30, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, [[Time Warner]]'s [[Warner Bros.]] unit had distribution rights for the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.warnerbros.com/citizenkane/ |title=Citizen Kane |publisher=Warner Brothers |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022174009/http://www2.warnerbros.com/citizenkane/ |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2001, Warner Home Video released a 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition [[DVD]]. The two-disc DVD included feature-length commentaries by [[Roger Ebert]] and [[Peter Bogdanovich]], as well as a second DVD with the feature-length documentary ''[[The Battle Over Citizen Kane]]'' (1999). It was simultaneously released on VHS.<ref>{{cite book |title=Citizen Kane (VHS tape, 2001) |publisher=WorldCat |oclc = 48011082}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Enrique |last=Rivero |url=http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_id=1384 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010715124739/http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_id=1384 |title=Warner Brings Orson Welles' 'Citizen Kane' to DVD Sept 25 |website=hive4media.com |archive-date=July 15, 2001 |date=June 29, 2001 |access-date=September 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The DVD was criticized for being "{{em|too}} bright, {{em|too clean}}; the dirt and grime had been cleared away, but so had a good deal of the texture, the depth, and the sense of film grain."<ref name="Kaplan">{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/dvdextras/2011/09/buy_the_citizen_kane_bluray.html |last=Kaplan |first=Fred |title=Buy the Citizen Kane Blu-ray |publisher=slate.com |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209204555/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/dvdextras/2011/09/buy_the_citizen_kane_bluray.html |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, Welles's daughter Beatrice Welles sued Turner Entertainment, claiming the Welles estate is the legal [[copyright]] holder of the film. She claimed that Welles's deal to terminate his contracts with RKO meant that Turner's copyright of the film was null and void. She also claimed that the estate of Orson Welles was owed 20% of the film's profits if her copyright claim was not upheld. In 2007 she was allowed to proceed with the lawsuit, overturning the 2004 decision in favor of Turner Entertainment on the issue of video rights.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-31-fi-kane31-story.html |title=Welles' daughter could get profit from 'Kane' |first=Josh|last=Friedman|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225143835/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/31/business/fi-kane31 |archive-date=December 25, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, it was released on [[Blu-ray]] and DVD in a 70th Anniversary Edition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/movies/new-dvds-citizen-kane-going-places-birth-of-a-nation.html |last=Taylor |first=Charles |title=The New Season DVDs: Movies That Said, 'Look What I Can Do' |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 16, 2011 |access-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513224203/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/movies/new-dvds-citizen-kane-going-places-birth-of-a-nation.html |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' called it "the Blu-ray release of the year".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/PK8B1LGVAR.DTL |last=Johnson |first=G. Allen |title=DVD Review: ''Citizen Kane'' |publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] (1996) |date=October 23, 2011}}</ref> Supplements included everything available on the 2001 Warner Home Video release, including ''The Battle Over Citizen Kane'' DVD. A 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition added a third DVD with ''[[RKO 281]]'' (1999), an award-winning [[TV movie]] about the making of the film. Its packaging extras included a hardcover book and a folio containing mini reproductions of the original souvenir program, lobby cards, and production memos and correspondence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50668/citizen-kane/ |last=McQuain |first=Christopher |title=Citizen Kane (Blu-ray) |publisher=[[DVD Talk]] |date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502092849/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50668/citizen-kane/ |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The transfer for the US releases were scanned as [[4K resolution]] from three different 35mm prints and rectified the quality issues of the 2001 DVD.<ref name="Kaplan"/> The rest of the world continued to receive home video releases based on the older transfer. This was partially rectified in 2016 with the release of the 75th Anniversary Edition in both the UK and US, which was a straight repackaging of the main disc from the 70th Anniversary Edition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=1145 |title=DVDCompare.net: ''Citizen Kane'' (1941) DVD |access-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324223856/http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=1145 |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=19703 |title=DVDCompare.net: ''Citizen Kane'' (1941) Blu-ray |access-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224030/http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=19703 |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 11, 2021 Criterion announced their first [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Ultra HD]] releases, a six-film slate, would include ''Citizen Kane''. Criterion indicated each title was to be available in a combo pack including a 4K UHD disc of the feature film as well as the film and special features on the companion Blu-rays.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Machkovech |first1=Sam |title=Criterion announces support for 4K UHD Blu-ray, beginning with Citizen Kane |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/08/criterion-announces-support-for-4k-uhd-blu-ray-beginning-with-citizen-kane/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=Ars Technica |date=August 11, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> ''Citizen Kane'' was released on November 23, 2021 by the collection as a 4K and 3-Blu-ray-disc package. However, the release was recalled because at the half-hour mark on the regular Blu-ray, the contrast fell sharply, which resulted in a much darker image than what was supposed to occur.<ref>{{cite news |title=How to Get Your ''Citizen Kane'' Blu⁠-⁠ray Disc 1 Replaced |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7615-how-to-get-your-citizen-kane-blu-ray-disc-1-replaced |date=November 24, 2021|access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=Criterion |language=en-us}}</ref> However, this issue does not apply to the 4K version itself.

===Colorization controversy===
In the 1980s, ''Citizen Kane'' became a catalyst in the controversy over the [[film colorization|colorization]] of [[black-and-white]] films. One proponent of film colorization was [[Ted Turner]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/04/movies/council-opposes-coloring-old-films.html |last=Molotsky |first=Irwin |title=Council Opposes Coloring Old Films |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 4, 1986 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121055017/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/04/movies/council-opposes-coloring-old-films.html |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> whose Turner Entertainment Company owned the RKO library.<ref>{{cite news |title=TBS acquires rights to RKO film and television library |publisher=[[Business Wire]] |date=December 9, 1987}}</ref> A Turner Entertainment spokesperson initially stated that ''Citizen Kane'' would not be colorized,<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Toole |first=Lawrence |title=No computer coloring for 'Kane' |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=December 18, 1987}}</ref> but in July 1988 Turner said, "''Citizen Kane?'' I'm thinking of colorizing it."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bawden |first=James |title=Colorful Turner sees ''Citizen Kane'' in a different light |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 28, 1988}}</ref> In early 1989 it was reported that two companies were producing color tests for Turner Entertainment. Criticism increased when filmmaker Henry Jaglom stated that shortly before his death Welles had implored him "don't let Ted Turner deface my movie with his crayons."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/4c23402df90437fb0816882f7e22ff27 |title=Turner Says It's Testing To Colorize 'Citizen Kane' |publisher=Associated Press |date=January 30, 1989 |access-date=January 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042154/http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1989/Turner-Says-It-s-Testing-To-Colorize-Citizen-Kane-/id-4c23402df90437fb0816882f7e22ff27 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1989, Turner Entertainment President Roger Mayer announced that work to colorize the film had been stopped due to provisions in Welles's 1939 contract with RKO that "could be read to prohibit colorization without permission of the Welles estate."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/3da27b3969212eb7885db3dbd81b597e |last=Antczyk |first=John |title=We'll Never Know If Rosebud Was Red |publisher=Associated Press |date=February 14, 1989 |access-date=January 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042152/http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1989/We-ll-Never-Know-If-Rosebud-Was-Red/id-3da27b3969212eb7885db3dbd81b597e |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mayer added that Welles's contract was "quite unusual" and "other contracts we have checked out are not like this at all."<ref>{{cite news |title=Turner won't colorize 'Kane' |publisher=[[United Press International]] |date=February 14, 1989 }}</ref> Turner had only colorized the final [[Reel#Motion picture terminology|reel]] of the film before abandoning the project. In 1991 one minute of the colorized test footage was included in the BBC ''[[Arena (UK TV series)|Arena]]'' documentary ''The Complete Citizen Kane''.{{efn| The colorized ''Citizen Kane'' footage appears at approximately 1:17:00.}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wellesnet.com/the-complete-citizen-kane-is-now-online/ |title=The Complete Citizen Kane' documentary is now online |publisher=Wellesnet |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=January 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101213935/http://www.wellesnet.com/the-complete-citizen-kane-is-now-online/ |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The colorization controversy was a factor in the passage of the [[National Film Preservation Act]] in 1988 which created the National Film Registry the following year. [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] anchor [[Peter Jennings]] reported that "one major reason for doing this is to require people like the broadcaster Ted Turner, who's been adding color to some movies and re-editing others for television, to put notices on those versions saying that the movies have been altered".<ref>{{cite news |last=Jennings |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Jennings |title=World News Tonight |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] Transcripts, [[American Broadcasting Company]] |date=September 19, 1989 |title-link=ABC World News }}</ref>