Mank (2020) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Mank defied Hearst after experiencing firsthand the manipulative power dynamics Hearst embodied. During a dinner at Hearst's estate, after Mank delivered a drunken tirade, Hearst told him the "parable of the organ grinder's monkey", essentially warning Mank that he must "dance" whenever Hearst commands. This confrontation, combined with Mank's growing guilt over his moral compromises during the Sinclair campaign, led him to align with Orson Welles in creating Citizen Kane, a film that would thinly veil criticism of Hearst himself.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Mank participating in MGM's disinformation campaigns against Sinclair, planting the seeds of his eventual guilt and defiance.

• hearst
• defiance
• mankiewicz
• citizen kane
• welles
• power

The parable Hearst tells Mank describes a monkey who believes he is free because he is given a coin for his performances, but in reality, he is still chained to the organ grinder. Hearst uses this story to illustrate that Mank, like everyone in his circle, must perform and obey to receive rewards. The parable reveals Hearst's cynical view of loyalty and power, and foreshadows Mank's eventual break from this system.

Foreshadowing: This scene occurs after Mank's drunken tirade, where his underlying discontent with Hollywood's elite becomes visible.

• parable
• hearst
• monkey
• mank
• metaphor
• control

After breaking his leg in a car accident and becoming confined to his bed, Mank used his isolation to channel his frustrations into writing. Bedridden and cut off from friends and family, he struggled desperately with alcohol dependency while working on the screenplay. This period of confinement became the creative crucible for what would become Citizen Kane, allowing him to draw on his deep knowledge of Hollywood and his personal experiences with figures like Hearst.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Mank's wit, screenwriting skills, and his complex relationship with the Hollywood elite he would later critique.

• citizen kane
• writing
• bedridden
• screenplay
• alcoholism
• isolation

Hollywood studios, particularly MGM, opposed Sinclair's left-leaning gubernatorial campaign because his progressive platform was viewed as "anti-American" by the entertainment industry establishment. Studios launched aggressive disinformation campaigns to discredit Sinclair, fearing his election would threaten their business interests and influence. Mank became entangled in this political battle, contributing to the propaganda effort against Sinclair, which later contributed to his moral crisis.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with the Great Depression's economic hardships, setting the stage for Sinclair's populist appeal.

• upton sinclair
• campaign
• california
• mgm
• disinformation
• politics

Mank lost his job as a screenwriter after openly defying William Randolph Hearst, backed by his support from Orson Welles. This act of defiance against one of Hollywood's most powerful figures had immediate consequences: studios blacklisted him, and he found himself unable to find work in the industry. His alcohol addiction compounded his problems, further isolating him from the Hollywood community that had once embraced him.

Foreshadowing: The parable scene earlier establishes Hearst's retaliatory nature and the consequences of crossing him.

• job loss
• hearst
• welles
• blacklisted
• career
• hollywood

Mank's relationship with Welles evolved from professional collaboration to a partnership driven by shared ambition and artistic vision. Welles, a young and ambitious director, sought Mank's screenwriting expertise for his debut film. Mank, emboldened by his break with Hearst, saw in Welles a vehicle to create something meaningful. Together, they worked on Citizen Kane, with Welles providing the platform and Mank providing the substance, though their collaboration was complicated by Mank's alcoholism and isolation.

Foreshadowing: Mank's early scenes show his reputation as a talented but struggling screenwriter, making him an attractive prospect for Welles.

• orson welles
• citizen kane
• collaboration
• partnership
• screenwriter

Mank's primary moral compromise involved participating in MGM's disinformation campaign against Upton Sinclair, spreading lies about Sinclair's supposed communist ties to protect Hollywood's interests. He also repeatedly told small lies throughout his career to maintain his position among Hollywood's elite. These compromises weighed heavily on him, contributing to his eventual break with Hearst and his desire to create something genuinely meaningful with Citizen Kane.

Foreshadowing: The Sinclair campaign scenes directly show Mank actively engaging in the propaganda effort.

• moral compromise
• sinclair
• lies
• ethics
• guilt
• hollywood

Mank won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Citizen Kane because the screenplay represented a revolutionary approach to storytelling, non-linear narrative, complex character studies, and veiled criticism of real-life figures. Despite his personal struggles with alcohol, isolation, and professional backlash from Hearst, Mank delivered a script that transformed cinema. The Oscar represented both artistic recognition and redemption for his complicated legacy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Mank's exceptional screenwriting abilities and his deep understanding of Hollywood's power structures.

• oscar
• academy award
• citizen kane
• screenplay
• recognition
• redemption

Mank is set against the backdrop of 1930s America during the Great Depression, with the looming threat of World War II. The political climate is dominated by Upton Sinclair's populist campaign for California governor, which terrified Hollywood's establishment. This era defined Mank's personal and professional struggles, as he navigated economic hardship, political manipulation, and his own ethical failures within a system controlled by powerful media moguls like Hearst.

Foreshadowing: The film opens in 1933, establishing the Depression-era setting immediately.

• 1930s
• great depression
• politics
• hollywood
• upton sinclair
• world war

Mank's alcoholism intensified throughout the film, isolating him from friends, family, and the Hollywood community. His dependency worsened during his bedridden period while writing Citizen Kane, where he desperately battled cravings while trying to work. His drinking contributed to his job loss, damaged relationships, and created a cycle of guilt and self-destruction. Yet his creative output during this troubled period produced his most significant work.

Foreshadowing: Mank's drinking is established early in the film as a coping mechanism for his professional and personal frustrations.

• alcoholism
• addiction
• isolation
• career
• citizen kane
• struggle