This is one of my favorite scenes from Citizen Kane for the following reasons.
1. The Use of Lighting. This film was produced between 1940 and 41. Back then the film wasn't as sensitive to the absence of light as the film stock used now so in order to get the shades of gray in this scene is really amazing. Also you really aren't able to see who is talking. The characters are left in the shadows. They propel the story yet are not the main protagonists. I could spend a long time writing about why Orson Welles chose to do that but suffice it to say, it was a pretty brave choice when most audiences then were used to seeing every character in bright light. The exception was in the Film Noir genre but that really didn't reach a defined style for another four years.
2. The Use of Sound. Notice how Welles has everybody stepping on each others lines. As you listen to the talking each line is important in the scene. This type of chaotic dialogue is still used by many filmmakers, most notable is Steven Spielberg. Whether in Jaws or Catch Me If You Can he has taken a style used by Welles and made it his own.
3. Screenplay Structure. This is the launch pad for the rest of the film. Prior to this scene Charles Foster Kane has died whispering one word. That begins the mystery but this scene really propels the audience into the rest of the story. As the audience, we know exactly what the goal is. Every scene following brings us closer to this goal. There are no wasted scenes.
The compression really doesn't allow you to appreciate the subtleties in the lighting but hopefully it will motivate you to rent it or pull it off the shelf and watch this classic once again.
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