The American Kublai Khan.

So far, this film has moved at a breakneck pace in its opening "news reel" sequence of the rise and grandeur of Charles Foster Kane, which on its own is an amazing feat, simply because it works, and still holds up today. Something like this could have been easily botched in terms of transition with cheezy dissolve shots or a transition into an arbitrary scene. This didn't happen, and the film reel was being watched by main characters in the film, making it completely relevant. Another thing that I would like to touch upon is how people compared Kane to Kublai Khan, which I find interesting. Kublai, was the mongolian "khan" (king) that ruled over what is now modern day Mongolia and Eastern China, during the Yuan dynasty. What I found really interesting about this is that khan was generally despised by the Chinese, but exalted by fellow Mongolians and the foreigners, much like how Charles Foster Kane was despised by half of the nation, but revered by tho other half. Kublai Khan was an outsider in a foreign nation and was regarded by many as a menace to Chinese culture, yet his followers (mostly Mongolians and foreigners) considered Kublai Khan as a gracious host, and generous with his wealth. Similarly alienated from the masses, some people regarded Kane as a communist or fascist, yet he still connected with the common man, and prospered because of it.