Mank (2020)

Last updated:
January 3, 2026

David Fincher’s Mank (2020) is a black-and-white, dialogue-driven period drama that explores one of Hollywood’s most famous creative controversies: who really wrote Citizen Kane? Stylish, sharp, and unapologetically talkative, the film is both a love letter to classic cinema and a political character study.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Framing Device: A Writer in Decline

The film opens in 1940, with Herman J. Mankiewicz—known as Mank—confined to a desert ranch after a car accident. Broken physically and professionally, he is tasked with writing a screenplay for a young prodigy: Orson Welles. The script’s working title is American, and Mank has 60 days to deliver it.

From the start, we learn two crucial things:

Mank is brilliant but self-destructive.
This script will change cinema history.

The story unfolds through non-linear flashbacks, mirroring the structure of Citizen Kane itself.

Old Hollywood: Wit, Alcohol, and Power Games

Flashbacks take us to 1930s Hollywood, where Mank is a sharp-tongued screenwriter navigating studio politics. He becomes a regular at lavish parties hosted by William Randolph Hearst, the powerful newspaper magnate, and Marion Davies, Hearst’s longtime companion.

Mank initially enjoys Hearst’s company, impressed by his intellect and influence. Over time, however, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with how media, money, and politics intertwine behind the scenes.

The Political Turning Point

One of the film’s most important sequences involves the 1934 California gubernatorial election. Hearst-backed studios actively manipulate newsreels to smear socialist candidate Upton Sinclair. Mank witnesses firsthand how cinema is used as propaganda.

This moment is pivotal: Mank realizes that Hollywood doesn’t just entertain—it shapes reality. This disillusionment becomes the moral backbone of the screenplay he is writing.

Marion Davies: The Misunderstood Muse

Contrary to popular myth, the film portrays Marion Davies as intelligent, perceptive, and emotionally generous. She understands Mank’s bitterness and warns him—gently—that attacking Hearst will have consequences.

Her portrayal subtly reframes Citizen Kane, suggesting that the film’s criticism of power may have unfairly damaged her reputation.

Writing Citizen Kane

As Mank’s script takes shape, it becomes clear that the central character—Charles Foster Kane—is directly inspired by Hearst. The parallels are unmistakable. Mank writes not out of revenge alone, but from a desire to expose the corruption of idealism by power.

Meanwhile, tension grows between Mank and Orson Welles over authorship and credit, setting the stage for the film’s emotional and ethical climax.

Movie Ending

The final act focuses on the credit dispute between Herman Mankiewicz and Orson Welles. Initially, Mank had agreed to remain uncredited for the screenplay, but as he recovers physically and emotionally, he reconsiders. He realizes that Citizen Kane is not just another script—it is his personal reckoning with Hollywood and Hearst.

Welles reacts angrily, confronting Mank and attempting to intimidate him into backing down. Their confrontation is intense and layered: Welles accuses Mank of bitterness, while Mank accuses Welles of arrogance and theft. Importantly, the film does not portray Welles as a villain, but as a genius unwilling to share authorship.

Mank refuses to withdraw his claim.

The film then jumps forward to the 1942 Academy Awards, where Citizen Kane wins Best Original Screenplay. Mank accepts the Oscar alone. Welles is absent. This quiet moment serves as Mank’s final victory—not over Welles, but over erasure.

In the closing scenes, Mank reflects on Hearst, Marion Davies, and the cost of telling the truth. The film ends not with triumph, but with a bittersweet acknowledgment: Mank won credit, but lost influence, health, and belonging.

The final title cards confirm that Citizen Kane went on to be hailed as one of the greatest films ever made—while Mankiewicz’s career never fully recovered.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Mank does not include any post-credits or mid-credits scenes. The film ends definitively, in keeping with its classical Hollywood style.

Type of Movie

Mank is a biographical drama and historical period film that blends political commentary with an insider’s portrait of Golden Age Hollywood. It is dialogue-heavy, character-driven, and intentionally paced like a 1930s studio production.

Cast

Gary Oldman – Herman J. Mankiewicz
Amanda Seyfried – Marion Davies
Charles Dance – William Randolph Hearst
Lily Collins – Rita Alexander
Arliss Howard – Louis B. Mayer
Tom Pelphrey – Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, marking their first fully orchestral film score. Unlike their electronic-heavy work, this soundtrack mimics the sound of 1930s Hollywood, using period-appropriate instrumentation and recording techniques.

Filming Locations and Their Importance

Victorville, California – Used for desert ranch scenes where Mank writes the script, symbolizing isolation and reflection.
Los Angeles County locations – Recreated studio offices and MGM-era Hollywood.
Sound stages – Carefully designed to replicate Golden Age cinematography, including deep focus and artificial cigarette burns.

These locations reinforce the film’s obsession with authenticity, even down to camera movement and lighting.

Awards and Nominations

Won 2 Academy Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Production Design
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor
Multiple nominations at Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards

Behind the Scenes Insights

The screenplay was written by Jack Fincher, David Fincher’s late father, in the 1990s
David Fincher waited decades to make the film until digital technology could replicate old film stock
The movie intentionally includes fake reel-change markers (“cigarette burns”)
Gary Oldman studied Mankiewicz’s letters and interviews extensively
Netflix initially hesitated due to the film’s lack of commercial appeal

Inspirations and References

Pauline Kael’s essay Raising Kane
Herman J. Mankiewicz’s real-life correspondence
Orson Welles’ radio interviews
Classical Hollywood cinematography and sound design

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate ending has been released. Some scenes involving extended political discussions and additional Hearst dialogue were cut to maintain pacing, but the core narrative remained unchanged.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Mank is not a direct book adaptation, but it draws heavily from historical accounts and essays. The film clearly sides with Mankiewicz in the authorship debate, a stance still contested by some historians.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The manipulated newsreels sequence
Mank’s drunken monologue at Hearst Castle
The Oscar acceptance scene

Iconic Quotes

“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”
“I am the author of Citizen Kane.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The screenplay formatting matches 1940s studio standards
Sound effects replicate mono audio imperfections
MGM lion logos subtly altered to match the era
Dialogue references real but obscure Hollywood scandals

Trivia

Shot entirely in black-and-white by choice, not budget
The film uses digital cameras modified to mimic old lenses
Fincher banned improvisation to preserve period accuracy

Why Watch?

Watch Mank if you enjoy smart dialogue, cinema history, and films that challenge the myth of genius. It’s especially rewarding for viewers familiar with Citizen Kane, but stands strong as a character study on its own.

Mank (2020)