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RKO 281
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Synopsis
When RKO Pictures began work on production number 281, no one could have imagined that they were making perhaps the greatest American film of all time. But the moment Orson Welles (played by Liev Schreiber) announced that he intended to make a film based on the life of tyranical multi-millionaire publisher William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell), they knew that they had trouble on their hands. Welles, the enfant terrible of American theater and a household name thanks to his infamous radio adaptation of H.G. Wells's "The War Of The Worlds," was signed to direct films for RKO, and he was given an unusually free hand to make whatever sort of film he wanted. But what Welles didn't count on was the power of Hearst to keep his film from being seen. RKO 281 is based on the true story of the making of Citizen Kane and the war of words between Welles and Hearst. It also stars Melanie Griffith as Hearst's mistress Marion Davies, John Malkovich as screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, Brenda Blethyn as Hearst's movie columnist Louella Parsons, and Roy Scheider as George Schaefer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast

Roger Allam Walt Disney
Jay Benedict Darryl F. Zanuck
Ron Berglas David O. Selznick
Brenda Blethyn Louella Parsons
James Cromwell William Randolph Hearst
Melanie Griffith Marion Davies
Geoffrey Hutchings Harry Cohn
John Malkovich Herman Mankiewicz
Roy Scheider George Schaefer
Fiona Shaw Hedda Hopper
David Suchet Louis B. Mayer
Tim Woodward Jack Warner
Kerry Shale Bernard Herrmann
Liam Cunningham Gregg Toland
Liev Schreiber Orson Welles
Lucy Cohu Dolores Del Rio
Anastasia Hille Carole Lombard

Production Crew

Joyce Nettles Casting
Lora Kennedy Casting
Mike Southon Cinematographer
John Altman Composer (Music Score)
Benjamin Ross Director
Alex Mackie Editor
Chris Zarpas Executive Producer
Diane Minter Lewis Executive Producer
Ridley Scott Executive Producer
Tony Scott Executive Producer
David Daniels First Assistant Director
Su Armstrong Producer
Mark Taylor Re-Recording Mixer
John Logan Screenwriter
Clive Derbyshire Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1999
Runtime: 90
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: R
for language and some graphic sexual images
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
HBO
Scott Free Productions

Awards
1999 - Best Miniseries or TV Movie - Golden Globe
1999 - Best Picture Made for Television - Broadcast Film Critics Association