On the other hand, it is alcohol that gives him the courage to stand up for himself; to stand up for what he believes in. In that way, it is simultaneously his greatest enemy and his greatest ally.
Mr. Bernstein is the pragmatist. He is also the pathetic one. His height, his male pattern baldness, his meek speech patterns, and even his posture illustrate this pathetic disposition. He is the lackey of Kane and Leland, and he looks up to the other two, especially Mister Kane, as he always addresses him. The way he takes off his hat when Kane enters the room, the formality he uses while addressing Kane, the portrait of Kane that hangs in his office prove his devotion to Kane. His loyalty always lies with Kane, and, in Bernstein's eyes, Kane can do no harm. It is really Bernstein that keeps the newspaper in tact. While Kane is working on his political career or Leland is dreaming into a bottle, Bernstein is spending his time on the newspaper. Bernstein never really gets respect from anyone but Kane, and even his patronizing and shallow. .
Kane and Leland start out the best of friends. They arrive together in the nice coach the first day they take over the Inquirer. They walk in together, and the editor even confuses them! They stand tall together, despite Welles's (Kane) height advantage over Joseph Cotton (Leland). Such an obvious departure from reality must be a purposeful move on the part of Welles. Shooting them at equal heights gives the impression that they are equals. This camera trick is used throughout the movie to contrast the two. After all, both were kicked out of college. Both had family issues. Both were full of ideas and values, and excited to be there. Jedidiah is Charles's best friend, or as Leland put it: "If he ever had one, I was it." .
The party celebrating the capture of the Chronicle's best reporters is the first time Leland sits to the left of Charles.
