Difference between revisions of "Citizen Kane"

Latest revision as of 17:53, May 30, 2026

Citizen Kane is a 1941 film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. The film became a classic and is often called "the greatest film of all time" by film critics and therefore frequently referenced on The Simpsons. So much, in fact, that one of the writers claimed that it may be, alongside The Godfather, the most parodied film on the show.

References to Citizen Kane in The Simpsons[edit]

Episodes[edit]

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference 1 04 "There's No Disgrace Like Home" Burns' Manor first appears, which is modelled after Kane's manor, particularly the gate with the first letter of the owner's name inside a circle. 2 017 "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" The scene where Mr. Burns is trying to be elected governor in front of a large black and white poster of his own face references a similar scene in the movie where Kane running for Governor of New York. Homer and Bart are on the couch at home watching when Bart asked, "Is your boss governor yet?" with Homer replying, "Not yet, son, not yet." In the movie Kane's wife and son are seated in the crowd at the speech when his son questioned, "Mother, is Pop governor yet?" and she answered, "Not yet, Junior." Later, when Burns' election campaign begins to plummet he shouts, "You can't do this to me. I'm Charles Montgomery Burns!" This is a parody of the line that Kane speaks when he fails in getting elected, "You can't do this to me. I'm Charles Foster Kane." 035 "Blood Feud" The windows and curtain behind Mr. Burns' death bed match those of the death scene at the beginning of Citizen Kane. 4 061 "A Streetcar Named Marge" When Homer watches the musical rendition of "A Streetcar Named Desire" he becomes uninterested and begins amusing himself by playing with a piece of paper, similar to the way a bored Joseph Cotten does in the theater audience while watching the opera in which Kane's mistress performs. 066 "Marge Gets a Job" Smithers' dance act for Mr. Burns, Tribute to Mr. Burns, is a direct parody of a dance act organized for Charles Foster Kane. 068 "Mr. Plow" A snow globe is smashed in the second commercial for Mr. Plow like at the start of the movie.. 076 "Last Exit to Springfield" The scene transition where Mr. Burns's vulture in his birdhouse is shown in close-up, is very similar to a famous transition scene in Citizen Kane, where a cockatoo in Kane's birdhouse briefly squawks. Both birds are shown from the same camera position too. 5 085 "Rosebud" The opening shots of Mr. Burns lying near-death with a snowglobe in his hand parody of the opening scenes of the film. Burns also smashes the snowglobe on the floor. Also, the flashback where Mr. Burns leaves his teddy bear Bobo behind to go along with a rich millionaire and leave his parents references a similar scene where Charles Foster Kane is told to leave his parents for a richer life. Kane then leaves his sled behind. 6 108 "Sideshow Bob Roberts" When Sideshow Bob is elected major of Springfield the black-and-white poster seen behind him is similar to the one seen behind Kane. 7 132 "Bart Sells His Soul" A sled with the name "Rosebud" can be seen in Moe's new tavern, in reference to the film. 8 154 "Treehouse of Horror VII" The third segment is named "Citizen Kang". 11 229 "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?" When the Simpsons were in the Mall they see a cane in a glass case and Lisa comments "Oh, look, there's the cane from Citizen Kane", and then Homer, Marge and Bart give each other confused looks and walk off purposefully, leading Lisa to reprimand herself: "Wait a minute... there was no cane in Citizen Kane". 14 305 "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" Mayor Quimby has air traffic redirected away from the motel where he has his extramarital affairs. With no planes overhead he hears the sound of his mistress' voice and "regrets building her that opera house" which is a reference to Kane building an opera house for Susan Alexaner, his mistress and later second wife who is not a good singer. 18 360 "Treehouse of Horror XVII" When Orson Welles visits Springfield in 1938 Chief Wiggum threatens him: "... Or I'll kick you in the nose, bud", whereupon Welles mutters "Nosebud", in reference to "Rosebud" from Citizen Kane. 25 538 "White Christmas Blues" Citizen Cane is a parody of Citizen Kane. 29 629 "Frink Gets Testy" In a documentary about Nostradamus, Orson Welles mentions he was the director of Citizen Kane. 37 800 "Guess Who's Coming to Skinner" The scene of Milhouse holding the snowy cabin snow globe is a reference to the opening of Citizen Kane.

Comics[edit]

Picture Comic issue Story name Reference Simpsons Comics Simpsons Comics #23 Reverend Lovejoy's Hellfire Comics: Citizen Shame! Punned in the title. Simpsons Comics #47 The Rise and Fall of Bartholomew J. Simpson The comic's plot of adult Lisa trying to learn about the significance of the words "Fish Logs" from Bart's past is loosely based the film. Simpsons Comics #145 Worst Competition Ever! The sled from Citizen Kane is among the items in the Simpsons' attic. Simpsons Comics #209 The cover mimics the scene where Charles Foster Kane talks to a crowd in front of a huge poster depicting himself. The shot is also titled, like in the film. Bart Simpson Bart Simpson #44 Citizen Cane Punned in the title. Simpsons Winter Wingding Simpsons Winter Wingding #9 The Radioactive Man Christmas Special! Comic Book Guy calls the The Radioactive Man Christmas Special! so awful at it makes the Ewok Christmas Special look like Citizen Kane.

External links[edit]

• Citizen Kane at Wikipedia