RKO 281 poster

RKO 281( 2000)

TV-MADramaHistoryTV Movie
64%
User
Score

What went on the screen was nothing compared to what went on behind the scenes.

Overview

In 1939, boy-wonder Orson Welles leaves New York, where he has succeeded in radio and theater, and, hired by RKO Pictures, moves to Hollywood with the purpose of making his first film.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Liev Schreiber

      Orson Welles

    2. cast image

      James Cromwell

      William Randolph Hearst

    3. cast image

      Melanie Griffith

      Marion Davies

    4. cast image

      John Malkovich

      Herman Mankiewicz

    5. cast image

      Liam Cunningham

      Gregg Toland

    6. cast image

      David Suchet

      Louis B. Mayer

    7. cast image

      Fiona Shaw

      Hedda Hopper

    8. cast image

      Anastasia Hille

      Carole Lombard

    9. cast image

      Brenda Blethyn

      Louella Parsons

    10. cast image

      Roy Scheider

      George Schaefer

    11. cast image

      Roger Allam

      Walt Disney

    12. cast image

      Simeon Andrews

      John Houseman

    13. cast image

      William Armstrong

      Mr. Lewis

    14. cast image

      Jay Benedict

      Darryl Zanuck

    15. cast image

      Ron Berglas

      David O. Selznick

    16. cast image

      Paul Birchard

      Top Brass #2

    17. cast image

      Neil Conrich

      Mr. Thomson

    18. cast image

      Michael Cronin

      Joseph Willicombe

    19. cast image

      Sarah Franzl

      Dorothy Comingore

    20. cast image

      Briony Glassco

      Script Girl

    21. cast image

      Louis Hammond

      Flunkie #2

    22. cast image

      Aaron Keeling

      Young Orson Welles

    23. cast image

      Joseph Long

      Harry Cohn

    24. cast image

      Gareth Marks

      Top Brass #1

    25. cast image

      Olivier Pierre

      Sam Goldwyn

    26. cast image

      Roger Rose

      News Reader

    27. cast image

      Rolf Saxon

      Flunkie #1

    28. cast image

      Adrian Schiller

      Paul Stewart

    29. cast image

      Kerry Shale

      Bernard Herrmann

    30. cast image

      Cyril Shaps

      Jeweller

    31. cast image

      Tusse Silberg

      Welles' Mother

    32. cast image

      Toby Whithouse

      Sound Technician

    33. cast image

      Tim Woodward

      Jack Warner

    34. cast image

      Angus Wright

      Joseph Cotten

    35. cast image

      Bobby Valentino

      Clark Gable

    Social

    Review 1Discussion
    G

    A review by Gurre

    10
    Written by Gurre on Sat May 31 2014
    RKO 281 is a very underrated movie I haven't seen alot of people talking about. It's based in part upon the real-life story of the behind the scenes of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, and in part of the documentary The Battle over Citizen Kane that made as a part of The American Experience. Orson Welles (Liev Schreiber) has been offered a carte blanche-contract with RKO after his legendary War of the Worlds broadcast, however he has troubles coming up with a picture, and he lacks inspiration. One night, at a party hosted by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst (James Cromwell) he finds the i...

    Media

    Videos 1Backdrops 3Posters 9

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • cinema on cinema
    • yellow press
    • movie business
    • biography
    • anti-semitism
    • filmmaking
    • movie star
    • based on movie
    • 1940s
    • aspiring director