Citizen Kane, the 1942 drama made by Orson Welles, is frequently cited as one of the greatest movies ever made. In the 76 years since its release, critical support for the film has gone from strength to strength, and historians of cinema have recognized its crucial importance in setting the agenda for filmmaking in the 20th century. So why did this classic of modern cinematography fail at the box office? The movie was the brainchild of Orson Welles, a rising star on the 1930s theater and radio scene. According to the Guardian, by the tender age of just 22, Welles...