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Rosebud

Um, well...

 

If you've seen the movie Citizen Kane, "Rosebud" was, (as I recall), the last word that Kane (Hearst) uttered on his deathbed. The film gradually revealed that Rosebud was the name of a snow sled that Kane had as a child. I guess it was meant to symbolize his longing for the relatively carefree time of his childhood. As such, nothing remotely sexual about it.

 
 
I’ve seen Citizen Kane countless times and, yes, in the movie the symbolism of the sled, named “Rosebud” being burned is anything but sexual in nature. But I have read in more than one place that Orson Wells was told by someone that this was also WR Hearst’s name for a part of Marion Davies anatomy, and was purposely used in the film. The dis was not lost on Mr, Hearst, and was one of the many reasons he hated this film.

“The connections between Hearst and Kane were clear, as noted Citizen Kane scholar Robert L. Carringer has written. Both built massive mansions. Both contrived yellow journalism plots to draft the United States into war with Spain. Both had publishing empires which barely made it through the financial disaster of the Great Depression. In the film, Kane runs unsuccessfully for New York governor, while the real-life Hearst, who served in Congress as a Manhattan Democrat, suffered the same fate in his run for mayor. Both crusaded against corrupt political machines.

The surface connections were real, but so were similarities about which the public was ignorant. The film’s famous “Rosebud” motif is drawn from the real-life Hearst’s love for flowers. The term also is said to signify Hearst’s nickname for the genitalia of Marion Davies, his Hollywood mistress.

The famous death scene in the film, some speculate, must have grated on Hearst, who was said to have an acute fear of death, never allowing the subject to be spoken of in his presence. It’s not difficult to imagine why Hearst hated the film and did all he could to assure that it would not be commercially successful. His publications ignored it and Hearst used his Hollywood connections to limit its availability in movie houses.

Despite Hearst’s best efforts, Welles’ movie won critical acclaim. As a result, much of the American public now remembers Hearst as the meandering figure of the movie, roaming his castle mansion alone, bereft of true human companionship, immersed in money and power. But Hearst may have had the last word. Largely because of pressure he brought, the movie had a limited theatrical run and was not commercially successful, tarnishing the brilliant young director’s Hollywood career. Although Welles was just 26 when the film was released, many film critics feel he never made another movie that had anywhere near the impact of Citizen Kane.”

https://daily.jstor.org/why-william-randolph-hearst-hated-citizen-

I also read that supposedly Orson Wells learned of this nickname from actress Louise Brooks, which sounds plausible, since she and Marion were actresses during the same time and very likely friends.

Eddie

[this post was last edited: 11/10/2019-10:46]
 
another one of my famous "off-topic" posts...

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">A number of years ago my good friend was a branch VP and investment counselor for the now defunct Security Pacific Bank in Studio City California. Patty Hearst was one of his clients. He said she was always pleasant to deal with, kind and courteous. Maybe it had something to do with her wealth being "old money". Isabel Sanford (Wezie on the Jeffersons) was extremely nice too. That was "new money".  They weren't all nice. There was this gruffly old guy (don't remember his name)  that did these commercials for diabetes supplies on TV. He was mean and picky. He insisted that my friend be down at the curb when his car and driver pulled up.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">He even looks crabby...</span>

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I know this is old stuff...

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">...but as an addition to my comment here, I was just reading an article on some of the richest heiresses, and Patty Hearst's net worth is listed at 28 billion dollars. Sort of makes Jed Clampet's millions seem like pocket change.</span>

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A defective Google?

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Just goes to show you, don't believe everything you read. If Google tells you the Moon is made of green cheese...try thinking again...</span>

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I've been there 3 times I believe, twice when I was young and once when I was older. Truly one of the most wonderful, splendid, places ever. I read Marion Davies autobio "The Times We Had" and it certainly opened my eyes about San Simeon, The Beach House, and Wyntoon. I heard that the Hearst family still owns and maintains Wyntoon, several huge homes there, all in a fairytale style architecture. San Simeon had it's own zoo!!! It had been rumored way back in the 60's about WR and Marion having a child. Had read that the spirit of WR Hearst walks and protects the mausoleum of Marion Davis, numerous sightings. Anyway, I concur that San Simeon is breathtaking. If I ever wondered what Mt. Olympus was like, living like gods, I do believe San Simeon was close to it. After my family left there we would drive down to Solvang for Danish treats, a perfect ending, in a most unexpected Danish town in California.

Barry

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