When the film Citizen Kane finally appeared in 1941 despite the brouhaha that attended its release  delayed because of distributors fears of the harm William Randolph Hearst its alleged subject might do to them  and largely ecstatic reviews it was not a commercial success It was television that brought it back to the public consciousness It is perhaps the one film above all others that has inspired people to become filmmakers This is all the more astonishing since it was Orson Welless first film Welles always maintained that its success arose from his having no idea of what he was or wasnt allowed to do he just went ahead and did it But he had an extraordinary team at his disposal cameraman Gregg Toland screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz and the specialeffects wizard Linwood Dunn When Welles and Mankiewicz hit on the idea of portraying a newspaper magnate who both was and wasnt Hearst Welles realised that he had found a perfect vehicle for himself both as director and actor and seized his chance with the energy of a whirlwind