Harrison Ford coming to Hearst Castle for historic screening

Posted: Jan 18, 2012 4:23 PM by Jeanette Trompeter
Updated: Feb 23, 2012 12:46 PM

Hearst Castle will relive its Hollywood heydays of the 1920s and '30s for a star-studded night as part of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF).

On March 9th, 2012, actor Harrison Ford will be hanging around the castle as part of the "Hollywood to Hearst Castle" event. The VIP event includes an historic movie screening of Citizen Kane, a private tour of the castle, indoor poolside food and wine and more.

Ford and renowned Hollywood photographer Timothy White, will start off the evening's festivities at 5 p.m. by flying into Hearst Ranch's private airfield, just as William Randolph Hearst's high-profile Hollywood friends once did. There will also be a motorcade of vintage cars to the castle.

It kind of surprised the film festival's organizers when Steve Hearst, William Randolph Hearst's great-grandson and a Vice-President of the Hearst Corporation, gave his hearty endorsement to this showing. They thought he might be resistant to the idea, since the film is a scathing indictment of Hearst's life as a press lord. And this occasion is almost certainly the first time Citizen Kane has been shown at San Simeon. Both William Randolph Hearst's companion Marion Davies and his son William Randolph Hearst, Jr. stated that Hearst himself never saw Citizen Kane.

70 years after its 1941 debut, many people still form their opinions of Hearst, Davies, and La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill)based solely on this film. Steve Hearst feels it is time to give Citizen Kane an informed viewing at San Simeon, and place it in its proper context as a sketch of Hearst's life drawn with considerable artistic license. "Citizen Kane is a classic American film but is in no way a historically accurate depiction of William Randolph Hearst or his favorite place in the world, his ranch," said Steve Hearst.

Tickets for the Spotlight Award tribute and Citizen Kane screening (7-10 p.m.) are $50 each, and include wine tasting and light appetizers. They will be available starting January 23 at slofilmfest.org or by phoning (805) 546-3456.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival happens March 7-11, 2012. The complete event lineup will be announced by January 31, 2012. For more information about festival passes, movie venues, lodging for the event and other guest information, visit slofilmfest.org.