Exterior of Xanadu Mansion.
In the beginning of the movie, the exterior of the Xanadu mansion of Kane is being shown. A ‘No Trespassing’ signboard comes into view, hanging on the fence, in gloomy lighting. It’s almost like a black screen due to its dark lighting and since it is in black and white. Slowly the camera travels upward, showing the huge gate, which on top of it, the letter ‘K’ stands. While the letter ‘K’ is being shown clearer on the left, on the upper right stands the mansion, in still the darkness of early dawn, in haze. In addition, the musical background is also strange, which adds up to the also creepy feeling acquired by the viewers.
Then the images slowly melt away.
Different imageries appear, which are still found on the exterior of the mansion. All these in darkness. The camera moves closer and closer to the mansion that still stands in darkness. The mansion appears closer. The camera moves toward the window until the frame of that window becomes the screen frame. There is light within the window. But all of a sudden, it turns off, while the movement of the camera stops as well. Background music ceases. The scene dissolves.
Snow Flakes.
Snow flakes come falling. A simple house appears in blur, in close-up, its roof covered with snow. Zoom out. There is a glass ball on a person’s palm. Inside the glass ball stands the simple house.
Mouth of perhaps Kane appears. He starts to talk in an old voice. Uttering the word ‘Rosebud.’ The camera retracts. Then a hand shows up (most probably Kane’s), holding the glass ball, then the ball just slides out if his hand.
Kane’s Room.
The base of Charles’ bed appears and the camera is in close-up. The silhouette of a nurse can be seen. The camera follows the movement of the hands of the nurse while she puts the arms on top of the stomach and pulls the bed sheet up over Kane’s head. Fade out. Total darkness.
Fade in.
News on the March.
Metallic music comes.
