Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has distinguished himself in many genres of cinema throughout his career, from film noir to science fiction. At the same time, he was able to develop his own unique recognizable style. Most of his films (for example, A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining) are considered unsurpassed classics today.
Kubrick's early years and first films
Stanley Kubrick was born in 1928 in the city of New York. Since childhood, he was fond of photography, and at the age of seventeen he became a photojournalist for the notorious Look magazine.
In 1951, Kubrick created his first documentary film about the boxer Rocky Graziano. It was named "Fight Day". RKO Pictures bought the film from an aspiring director for $ 100. And then the same company gave Kubrick money to create the next short film - about an unusual priest from New Mexico.
At some point, the talented self-taught Kubrick (and he really did not have a higher education) decided to test himself in a feature film and shot the film "Fear and Lust". It received positive reviews from critics, but failed to bring the authors financial success.
In 1954, together with James Harris, Kubrick organized an independent film company and shot two low-budget noir films - Killer's Kiss (here he acted simultaneously in several guises - as a director, scriptwriter, cameraman and editor) and Murder. It is important to add that one of the roles in Killer's Kiss was played by the actress Ruth Sobotka, whom the director married in 1955. But their marriage was short-lived - they divorced already in 1957.
In 1958, Kubrick directed the anti-militarist drama Trails of Glory. This film is distinguished by the sharpness of the chosen theme and harsh sarcasticity (this is especially noticeable in the scenes of the trial of the military, accused of disrupting the French offensive in the First World War). Kubrick in "Paths of Glory" managed to show war as a realm of incredible absurdity. In Europe, this film caused a scandal and, for example, in France it was actually banned. It is interesting that on the set of "Paths of Glory" Kubrick met the main love of his life - singer Christina Harlan. In the same 1958, they officially became spouses and lived in marriage until the death of the filmmaker.
From Spartak to A Space Odyssey
In 1960, Kubrick was hired by Universal to direct the epic Spartacus. The film had a very high budget and paid off with interest at the box office. But after participating in this project, Kubrick began to look for other ways to finance his work - he did not want to be dependent on the producers. As a result, the director made an important decision for his future career - he moved to England, where, in fact, he lived until the end of his days.
In 1962 he directed a film based on the famous novel by Vladimir Nabokov "Lolita". It is known that Nabokov took an active part in the creation of the picture and gave certain recommendations to the director. However, the last word still remained with Kubrick. The picture, like the novel, caused a heated discussion in the press.
Another film by the master, released on screens, was called "Doctor Strangelove." In this black comedy, the US military doctrine is mercilessly ridiculed and a hypothetical situation of a nuclear war between the superpowers is shown. The film received three Oscar statuettes at once - for the best production and script, as well as in the nomination for Best Film.
On the next picture, Kubrick worked for about five years, but it was worth it. Released back in 1968, the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (its plot is based on a short story by Arthur Clarke "The Sentinel") and today amazes with its realism, elaboration of special effects. According to many film critics, "A Space Odyssey" is generally the best science fiction film of the twentieth century.
Later work of Kubrick
In the 1970s, Kubrick directed A Clockwork Orange (based on the novel by Anthony Burgess), Barry Lyndon and The Shining (based on the novel by King). Each of them can be called a masterpiece in its own way. And although very controversial topics were raised in these films, they paid off at the box office.
The director's next film, Full Metal Jacket, was released in 1987. This is a dark and dramatic film about the Vietnam War, in which there is a lot of Kubrick's trademark black humor.
Kubrick's last work was the surreal drama Eyes Wide Shut. She came out on movie screens in 1999. In the center of the story is a seemingly ideal married couple. But in fact, the husband and wife have long become bored with each other and are experiencing sexual dissatisfaction … The main roles in the film went to Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.
On March 7, 1999, a few days after completing work on the last film, Kubrick died of a sudden heart attack. The master was buried in his own estate in Hertfordshire.
