"Citizen Kane" is widely considered to be not only one of the most influential pieces of cinema ever created, but also the best film of all time.
Its director, writer, and star, Orson Welles was only 25 when the film premiered in 1941, but quickly became one of the most talked about personalities in Hollywood, as "Citizen Kane" was lauded for its brilliant camera work, lighting, and dialogue.
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And now, threee of the masterpiece's scripts - as well as a collection of other Welles memorabilia - are set to be auctioned off by Profiles In History starting September 29. One of the scripts is an early first draft of the film, when it was still titled "American," written by Welles's co-writer Herman Mankiewicz, while another is a later, much more developed draft.
Perhaps most impressive, though, is the third script up for auction, the final shooting script Welles actually used while directing the film. It features handwritten notes by the icon himself, and is signed by most of the principal cast.
Each of the three scripts will hit the auction block with a starting bid of $20,000.
Also up for auction as a part of the Orson Welles collection is a rare transcript of Welles's production of "A War of the Worlds," and his typed manuscript for a proposed television adaptation of "Citizen Kane," according to the Seattle Times.
The auction is expected to bring in at least a million dollars, so interested buyers better have pockets as deep as Charles Foster Kane himself.
