Stanley Kubrick

Born: 1928-07-26

Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career. Kubrick was noted for the scrupulous care with which he chose his subjects, his slow method of working, the variety of genres he worked in, his technical perfectionism, and his reclusiveness about his films and personal life. He maintained almost complete artistic control, making movies according to his own whims and time constraints, but with the rare advantage of big-studio financial support for all his endeavors. Kubrick's films are characterized by a formal visual style and meticulous attention to detail—his later films often have elements of surrealism and expressionism that eschews structured linear narrative. His films are repeatedly described as slow and methodical, and are often perceived as a reflection of his obsessive and perfectionist nature. A recurring theme in his films is man's inhumanity to man. While often viewed as expressing an ironic pessimism, a few critics feel his films contain a cautious optimism when viewed more carefully. The film that first brought him attention to many critics was Paths of Glory (1957), the first of three films of his about the dehumanizing effects of war. Many of his films at first got a lukewarm reception, only to be years later acclaimed as masterpieces that had a seminal influence on many later generations of film-makers. Considered especially groundbreaking was 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) noted for being both one of the most scientifically realistic and visually innovative science-fiction films ever made while maintaining an enigmatic non-linear storyline. He voluntarily withdrew his film A Clockwork Orange (1971) from England, after it was accused of inspiring copycat crimes which in turn resulted in threats against Kubrick's family. His films were largely successful at the box-office, although Barry Lyndon (1975) performed poorly in the United States. Living authors Anthony Burgess and Stephen King were both unhappy with Kubrick's adaptations of their novels A Clockwork Orange and The Shining (1980) respectively, and both authors were engaged with subsequent adaptations. All of Kubrick's films from the mid-1950s to his death except for The Shining were nominated for Oscars, Golden Globes, or BAFTAs. Although he was nominated for an Academy Award as a screenwriter and director on several occasions, his only personal win was for the special effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Even though all of his films, apart from the first two, were adapted from novels or short stories, his works have been described by Jason Ankeny and others as "original and visionary". Although some critics, notably Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael, frequently disparaged Kubrick's work, Ankeny describes Kubrick as one of the most "universally acclaimed and influential directors of the postwar era" with a "standing unique among the filmmakers of his day."


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as (voice) (uncredited)
Released: 1968-04-02

Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its...

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Eyes Wide Shut

as Man at Café Sonata (uncredited)
Released: 1999-07-16

After Dr. Bill Harford's wife, Alice, admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met,...

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as Murphy (voice) (uncredited)
Released: 1987-06-26

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow...

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Filmworker

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2018-05-11

The story of Leon Vitali, who surrendered his promising acting career to become Stanley...

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Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2019-10-25

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

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Kubrick by Kubrick

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2020-10-22

A rare and transcendent journey into the life and films of the legendary Stanley Kubrick like...

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Dark Side of the Moon

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-10-16

A French documentary or, one might say more accurately, a mockumentary, by director William...

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Kubrick Remembered

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2014-11-04

An 83-minute candid look into the life of Kubrick, including interviews with his widow, family,...

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Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2001-05-02

With commentary from Hollywood stars, outtakes from his movies and footage from his youth, this...

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Trumbull Land

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2018-10-15

Everyone has seen a Trumbull sequence in Stanley Kubrick's "2001 A Space Odyssey", Ridley...

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A Forbidden Orange

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2021-10-23

Spain, 1970s. A Clockwork Orange, a film considered by critics and audiences as one of the best...

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Day of the Fight

as Self (man at ringside with camera) (uncredited)
Released: 1951-04-26

'Day of the Fight' shows Irish-American middleweight boxer Walter Cartier during the height of...

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Edge of Outside

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2006-06-11

An hour-long documentary designed to celebrate the spirit of the independent filmmaker from D.W....

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S Is for Stanley

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2016-05-30

The incredible story of the Italian Emilio D'Alessandro, personal driver of the great director...

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Making 'The Shining'

as Self
Released: 1980-10-04

Directed and edited by Stanley Kubrick's daughter Vivian Kubrick, this film offers a look behind...

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James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

as Archive Footage
Released: 1984-01-01

Retrospective of the life and movie work of British actor James Mason. The documentary presents...

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Once Upon a Time… A Clockwork Orange

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2012-12-01

A dystopian crime film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on Anthony...

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The Day It Happened

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-03-11

A 25 year old film maker is trying his absolute hardest to get his big break through into the...

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Dreams That Money Can Buy

as Theatre Extra (uncredited)
Released: 1947-09-01

An attempt to bring the work of surrealist artists to a wider public. The plot is that of an...

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'2001: A Space Odyssey' – What Is Out There?

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-10-23

Keir Dullea, interspersed with archive clips of Arthur C. Clarke, discusses the probability of...

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Secrets of British Animation

as Self (archive Footage)
Released: 2018-11-19

BBC Four’s new documentary takes us on a journey through more than a century of animation. It...

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'2001: A Space Odyssey' – A Look Behind the Future

as Self
Released: 1966-01-01

A short documentary about the making of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and its impact...

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Spécial cinéma

as Self
First aired: 1974-09-25

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