Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter who is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of the twentieth century. His films are known for their technical perfection, their intellectual ambition, and their wide range of genres.
Early Life
Kubrick was born in 1928 in New York City to a family of Jewish immigrants. He was a poor student but was interested in photography and in chess.
He worked as a photographer for Look magazine. He made a series of short documentaries before his first feature film, Fear and Desire, in 1953.
He directed Killer's Kiss and The Killing, which established his reputation as a talented young director. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1961 and spent the rest of his life there.
The Major Films
Paths of Glory, released in 1957, is an anti-war film set in the First World War. It is one of his most admired early works.
Spartacus, released in 1960, was a large-scale historical epic. Lolita, released in 1962, was based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov.
Dr. Strangelove, released in 1964, is a black comedy about nuclear war. The film is regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made.
2001 and A Clockwork Orange
2001: A Space Odyssey, released in 1968, is a landmark of science fiction cinema. The film is celebrated for its visual effects and for its treatment of the themes of evolution and of technology.
A Clockwork Orange, released in 1971, is a dystopian film about violence and about social conditioning. The film provoked controversy and was withdrawn from distribution in the United Kingdom for many years.
Barry Lyndon, released in 1975, is a period film notable for its photography by candlelight. The Shining, released in 1980, is a horror film based on the novel by Stephen King.
The Later Films
Full Metal Jacket, released in 1987, is a film about the Vietnam War. It is divided into two parts, the training of the recruits and the fighting in the city of Hue.
Eyes Wide Shut, released in 1999, was his last film. It was completed shortly before his death and was released posthumously.
The films were characterised by meticulous research and by an unrelenting attention to detail. He was known for his perfectionism and for the number of takes that he required.
Working Method
Kubrick wrote or co-wrote most of his screenplays. He adapted novels by Nabokov, Burgess, Thackeray, King, and Schnitzler.
He used the camera with great precision and developed new techniques for special effects. He insisted on the control of every aspect of production.
He was reclusive and avoided publicity. He gave few interviews and was the subject of much speculation about his working methods.
Death and Legacy
Kubrick died in 1999 at his home in Hertfordshire, England, at the age of seventy. He had been working on the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, which was completed by Steven Spielberg.
His films have been the subject of extensive critical study. The Kubrick Archives preserve his papers and his equipment.
He is remembered as one of the greatest directors of the cinema. His influence on the filmmakers of the following generation has been profound.
The Early Films
Kubrick made a series of short documentaries before his first feature. Fear and Desire was his first feature, released in 1953.
Killer's Kiss and The Killing followed. The Killing is a crime film with a complex narrative structure.
Paths of Glory, released in 1957, is an anti-war film set in the First World War. It is one of his most admired early works.
The Historical Films
Spartacus was a large-scale historical epic released in 1960. Kubrick took over the direction from Anthony Mann.
Barry Lyndon, released in 1975, is a period film based on the novel by Thackeray. The film is notable for its photography by candlelight.
The films show his interest in history and in the human condition. They are characterised by their visual beauty and by their attention to detail.
The Science Fiction and Horror
2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark of science fiction cinema. The film is celebrated for its visual effects and for its treatment of the themes of evolution and of technology.
A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian film about violence and social conditioning. The Shining is a horror film based on the novel by Stephen King.
The films are among the most influential of their genres. They are studied for their technique and for their themes.
The War Films
Paths of Glory is an anti-war film. Full Metal Jacket, released in 1987, is a film about the Vietnam War.
The films treat the themes of the dehumanisation of war. They are regarded as among the most powerful war films ever made.
Kubrick researched the subjects in detail. He was committed to accuracy and to authenticity.
The Legacy
Kubrick is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of the cinema. His films are studied for their technique and for their themes.
His influence on the filmmakers of the following generation has been profound. He is remembered for his perfectionism and for his vision.
The Kubrick Archives preserve his papers and his equipment. His films remain popular and are frequently revived.
See also
- Science fiction film
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
References
- ↑ Baxter, John. Stanley Kubrick: A Biography. New York: Carroll and Graf, 1997.
- ↑ Kubrick, Stanley. Stanley Kubrick: Interviews. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001.
- ↑ LoBrutto, Vincent. Stanley Kubrick: A Biography. New York: Donald I. Fine Books, 1997.
- ↑ Nelson, Thomas Allen. Kubrick: Inside a Film Artist's Maze. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1982.