Sepiatone Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 While looking in on CITIZEN KANE just now, I came in at the point where Charlie sarcastically calls his wife's uncle, who's supposed to be, according to the story, the President of the United States, "Uncle John". I'm not sure what point in history the scene is supposedly taking place in, but checking through a chronological list of presidents, I don't see ANY president named JOHN! So, about WHOM was Kane speaking? For years I wondered that, but not until tonight did I bother to look into it. Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I always regarded that as a fictional composite-- just like the adult Kane is modeled loosely on Hearst, but the young child Kane is not based on young Hearst at all. They're playing with the 'facts' throughout this story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Kimble Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 checking through a chronological list of presidents, I don't see ANY president named JOHN! John Hanson John Hanson (April 14 [O.S. April 3] 1721 – November 15, 1783) was a merchant and public official from Maryland during the era of the American Revolution. After serving in a variety of roles for the Patriot cause in Maryland, in 1779 Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He signed the Articles of Confederation in 1781 after Maryland finally joined the other states in ratifying them. In November 1781, he was elected President of the Continental Congress, and became the first president to serve a one-year term under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation. While the Virginian George Washington is recognized by historians as the first President of the United States, having served under the current United States Constitution, some biographies of Hanson have made the unconventional argument that the Marylander was the first holder of the office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Sorry, Kimball----- As CITIZEN KANE doesn't take place in the 1700's, and as Ruth Warrick's character's uncle was supposed to be the CURRENT president during that period of the movie, Hanson REALLY doesn't qualify! Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 How about President John Garfield, Sepia??? That would've been just about the correct era, wouldn't it?! (...oh...wait...that was "James", wasn't it...sorry...never mind...I get SO confused sometimes, ya know) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 While looking in on CITIZEN KANE just now, I came in at the point where Charlie sarcastically calls his wife's uncle, who's supposed to be, according to the story, the President of the United States, "Uncle John". I'm not sure what point in history the scene is supposedly taking place in, but checking through a chronological list of presidents, I don't see ANY president named JOHN! So, about WHOM was Kane speaking? For years I wondered that, but not until tonight did I bother to look into it. Sepiatone It's fiction for crying out loud. Why would you use a real name in a work of fiction. TB already said as much. This is just plain stupid. sorry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 It's fiction for crying out loud. Why would you use a real name in a work of fiction. TB already said as much. This is just plain stupid. sorry. So true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrroberts Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 What about John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler? John Adams' brother Samuel made a fortune with Kane selling bootleg liquor . John Tyler's illegitimate daughter (aka Mary Moore) became an actress and named her son "Rosebud" (you have to know the Dick Van Dyke show to get that one). It all fits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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