RKO 281

In 1940, Orson Welles (Schreiber), RKO studio head George Schaefer (Scheider), and screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Malkovich) struggle in making what will be considered as the greatest American film of all time, Citizen Kane. Welles and Mankiewicz attend a party at Hearst Castle where meeting the hypocritical and tyrannical William Randolph Hearst (Cromwell) gives him the inspiration to make a film about his life. Mankiewicz is against it as he knows Hearst's wrath will be horrible, but Welles says this is the film. Mankiewicz finally agrees.

After learning from Hedda Hopper, who had viewed a press screening, that Welles' film is actually a thinly veiled and exceptionally unflattering biography of him, publishing tycoon Hearst uses his immense power and influence to try to deny the release of the picture. Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies (Griffith), endures the embarrassment of having their private lives exposed and vilified, while also offering Hearst consolation and even money when his finances begin to diminish (by selling all the jewelry he gave her and giving him the money in a check).

In the end, after considerable delays and harassment, plus the disintegration of the professional relationship between Welles and Mankiewicz and a costly blow to Schaefer's career, the film is finally released. Its publicity is muted by Hearst's ban on its mention in all his publications, and its commercial success is limited. Welles, however, ultimately has the satisfaction of having created one of the most critically admired films of all time.

• Liev Schreiber as Orson Welles
• John Malkovich as Herman J. Mankiewicz
• Roy Scheider as George Schaefer
• James Cromwell as William Randolph Hearst
• Melanie Griffith as Marion Davies
• Liam Cunningham as Gregg Toland
• David Suchet as Louis B. Mayer
• Brenda Blethyn as Louella Parsons
• Fiona Shaw as Hedda Hopper
• Lucy Cohu as Dolores del Río

Producer Ridley Scott wanted to film in the Hearst Castle, but was denied.[1] RKO 281 was filmed in the United Kingdom, mostly around London. The Gothic stairwell in Hearst Castle was filmed in the St Pancras Chambers, attached to St. Pancras Station. Hearst's private quarters and office, including a marble fireplace, were filmed in the high-ceilinged Gamble Room in the Victoria & Albert Museum.[1] The fireplace seen in the room was saved from Dorchester House prior to that building's demolition in 1929. The Hearst castle dining hall and ballroom was filmed in the Great Hall of the London Guildhall.[2]

On aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews.[3]

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• RKO 281 on IMDb