RKO 281

RKO 281
Australian poster
Directed by	Benjamin Ross
Produced by	Su Armstrong Ridley Scott Tony Scott
Written by	John Logan
Based on	The Battle Over Citizen Kane by Richard Ben Cramer Thomas Lennon
Starring	Liev Schreiber James Cromwell Melanie Griffith John Malkovich Brenda Blethyn Roy Scheider Liam Cunningham Kerry Shale
Production company	Scott Free Productions BBC Films WGBH Boston
Distributed by	HBO Pictures
Release date	November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20) (U.S.)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$12 million (est.)

RKO 281 is a 1999 American historical drama film directed by Benjamin Ross and starring Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, Melanie Griffith, John Malkovich, Roy Scheider and Liam Cunningham. The film depicts the troubled production behind the 1941 film Citizen Kane. The film's title is a reference to the original production number of Citizen Kane.

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.

After learning that Welles' film is actually a thinly veiled and exceptionally unflattering biography of him, publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst (Cromwell) uses his immense power and influence to try to bury the picture. Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies (Griffith), endures the embarrassment of having their private lives exposed and mocked, while also offering Hearst consolation and even money when his finances begin to diminish.

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.