REVIEW: STANLEY KUBRICK I PUBLISHED IN NEUE REVIEW, APRIL 2005 WRITTEN BY LEIF MAGNE TANGEN & ØYSTEIN AASAN
It’s a very familiar scenery and imagery that meets us in the exhibition of Stanley Kubricks work. “Full Metal Jacket”,(This is my rifle, this my gun!), the mean computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, the jumpy James Mason in “Lolita”. And so on.
“Opportunities and Problems”
(Slavoj Zizek)
When one wants to celebrate the films and work of Stanley Kubrick I presume it’s a whole range of possible solutions in the way of displaying and organizing the material. When trying to explore the various parts of the show in Martin Gropius Bau, one is somehow overwhelmed by the amount of information and details included in the show. Kubrick was a true collector and man of detail it seems. Everything from location photos, costumes, archives, letters, posters, preparatory reading and set designs are included in the display. And so on.
There are certain people on this godforsaken planet that seem to get around to an awful lot in their lifetime. Some got around to create stadiums, where it was fun to watch other humans’ slaughter each other, or some folks got around to rule huge countries and generally still didn’t give a fuck about the very same country. So all in all, some people do things in their time down here.
As already mentioned, Kubrick apparently collected a vast amount of things. He then used these things for props and gadgets for his films (or was it the other way around?). From the amount of pictures, archive folders, props and cameras Kubrick collected; he must have been quite occupied with preparing more then making, so to say.
He had a very long career though. I presume everyone being a hot new cool hotographer at age 17, is a promising cast.
What still is most interesting is the fact that he did not have the golden path chosen for him – well, one could guess that having a dad not only being a physician and a devoted amateur photographer and chess player – but still, going
from being someone totally uninterested in reading and studying in his school days, to the archivist and book-eater of the later Kubrick, is quite a transformation.
It is also the fact of being someone hired for a magazine, doing two documentaries (believing he would get rich), doing two major bad movies – with money from friends and family – and having the patience in the age of twenty something to do
nothing more than playing chess in the park for two years. This is someone who will not run into any project for a few bucks.
The Power of Display
The exhibition itself is organized in a fairly chronological manner. Starting with some of the lesser-known films. Two of the films that he didn’t come around to finish are documented as well (“Napoleon” and “Aryan Papers”). The work with these two films was halted because other filmmakers came up with similar films before him. It’s a cruel and speedy business I suppose. But still at least in the case of “Napoleon”, Kubrick got the last laugh. Do you really remember “Waterloo”, the film that hindered Stanley’s attempt to do his version? (The case with Second World War is of course a bit trickier, being Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”).
Fail-safe?
Anyway, the exhibition is very informative, but at the same time has certain homage to Kubrick in it. Sometimes this type of displays bores me a little. This might have something to do with who is ultimately responsible for the exhibition. In this case it’s the family. And family is family. One thing that is not provided is a proper discourse on his work. It’s a mere celebration; largely mining the myth of the great filmmaker, instead of throughout balanced view on his work.
“Man is a rope, fastened between animal and Superman – a rope over an abyss”(Nietzsche)
So, what did Kubrick make that was really good? A few of his films are of course great. But many filmmakers have conducted a larger body of truly good work (comparing). But then again art creates art as film creates art and film creates film. Maybe we are on the trail when we look at all the artist referring or wishing to refer to Kubrick. Maybe
this is where we find his main contribution to film making.
In Kubrick’s films there are juggling acts in which he tries to bring many ingredients vividly to life without losing track of their interaction. Talking big, one could say that narrative film is an abstract representation of reality that bridges the gap between “bias” of the moment and “total absence of emotional involvement”.
In the exhibition display every film has an area to itself, which is suppose to sustain a certain idea about the film, be it a visual idea or an idea of technical “invention”. This also amplifies his approach to the different films. It
seems he came up with a new set of rules and new impulses for every film he started. No wonder it took him so long.
For a man who was, to say the least, reluctant to be pictured in the press, he was a great lover of pictures, even pictures of himself. He also showed a great interest in the devices making the very same pictures. Displayed, in the exhibition, is a large collection of photo cameras, film cameras, camera wagons, cutting-machines and so on.
„How old is Dave Allen really, and what is his connection to Kubrick?“
Unknown
All this leads us, I suppose, to a point were we can ask ourselves why is it so fascinating to see the work-progress of his films? Are we feeling intimidated by all the research he conducted before filming? Are we seeing ourselves as amateurs? I can’t help quote the joke: (introduced by “Private Joker” on the set of Full Metal Jacket) Steven enters heaven and has but one wish – to see Stanley Kubrick. “No,” Gabriel the Arch Angel answers him “Why did you ask for
that? You know that Kubrick doesn’t take visitors. I can help you on every thing but this” – then Steven sees a guy in army clothes and with a huge beard on a bicycle. And when asking the angles if he can go and talk to Kubrick, this is the answer he gets: “It’s not Kubrick, you fool, it’s God thinking he is Kubrick”. (Who is this Steven Guy?)
There is an account on the music used in his films, in a little black room in the exhibition. Here is a more complete record:
“Atmospheres”
“The Awakening of Jacob”
“Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing”
Bach, Johann Sebastian:
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
“The Blue Danube” Waltz
“The British Grenadiers”
Cello Concerto in E Minor
“Chapel of Love”
“Fidelio”
“Fifth Symphony”
“German Dance #1 in C Major”
“Goodbye, darling”
“Greenslaves”
“Grey Clouds”
“Hair”
“Happy Birthday”
“Hello, Vietnam”
“Hohenfriedberger March”
“Home”
“I Only Have Eyes for You”
“Jazz Suite Waltz #2”
“Lilliburlero”
“Lontano”
“Lux Aeterna”
“Midnight with the Stars and You”
“Molly Malone”
“Mont Blank”
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
“Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary”
“Musica Ricercata II”
Napoleon Symphony
Ninth Symphony
The Nutcracker Ballet
“Overture to the Sun”
“Paint It Black”
Piano Trio in E-flat Major
“Pomp and Circmstance March #1”
“Pomp and Circmstance March #4”
Requiem
“Sarabande”
Scheherazade
“Singing in the Rain”
“Strangers in the Night”
“These Boots Are Made for Walking”
The Thieving Magpie Overture
Third Symphony
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
“Timesteps”
“Tin Whistles”
“Try with a Little Tenderness”
“Utrendja”
“We ̈ll Meet Again”
“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
William Tell Overture
“Women of Irland”
“Wolly Bully”
Stanley Kubrick:
1. Filmmaker.
2. Photographer.
3. Literature maniac.
4. Drummer.
5. Chess player.
6. Big beard. (Jerry Garcia look-alike)
7. New Yorker living in Britain.
8. Soft voiced.
9. Archivist/collector.
10. Dead?
Some technical information on Stanley Kubrick’s filmography:
CAST IN KUBRICKS FEATURE FILMS:
1953
Fear and Desire
Frank Silvera (Mac), Kenneth Harp (Corby), Virginia Leith (the girl), Paul Mazursky (Sidney), Steve Coit (Fletcher),
Dave Allen (Narrator)
1955
Killers Kiss
Jamie Smith (Davy Gordon), Frank Silvera (Vincent Rapallo), Irene Kane (Gloria), Jerry Jarret (Albert), Ruth Sobotka (Iris)
1956
The Killing
Sterling Hayden (Johnny Clay), Colleen Gray (Fay), Jay C. Flippen (Marv Unger), Marie Windsor (Sherry Peatty), Elisha Cook (George Peatty), Ted de Corsia (Randy Kennan), Joe Sawyer (Mke O ́Reilly), James Edwards (Val), Joseph Trkel (Tiny), Kola Kwariani (Maurice)
1957
Paths of Glory
Kirk Douglas (Colonel Dax), Ralph Meeker (Captain Paris), Adolphe Menjou (General Broulard), George Macready (General Mireau), Wayne Morris (Lieutenant Roget), Richard Anderson (Major Saint-Aubain), Joseph Turkel (Private Arnaud), Thimpthy Carey (Private Ferol), Peter Cappel (Judge), Susanne Christian (German girl), Bert Freed (Sergeant Boulanger), Emile meyer (Priest), John Stein (Captain Rousseau)
1960
Spartacus
Kirk Douglas (Spartacus), Laurence Olivier (Marcus Crassus), Jean Simmons (Varinia), Charles Laughton (Gracchs), Peter Ustinov (Batiatus), Tony Curtis (Antoninus), John Gavin (Julius Caesar), Nina Foch (Helena), Herbert Lom (Tiogranes), John Irland (Crixus), John Dall (Glabrus), Charles McGraw (Marcellus), Harold J. Stone (David), Woody Strode (Draba)
1962
Lolita
James Mason (Humbert Humbert), Peter Sellers (Clare Quilty), Shelly Winters (Charlotte Haze), Sue Lyon (Lolita), Marianne Stone (Vivian Darkbloom), Jeff Stovin (John Farlow), Diana Decker (Jean Farlow), Gary Cockrell (Dick Schiller), Suzanne Gibbs (Mona Farlow), William Green (Mr. Swine), Cec Linder (physician), Lois Maxwell (Nurse Lord), John Harris (Tom)
1964
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Peter Sellers (Group Captain Mandrake, President Muffley, Dr. Strangelove), George C. Scott (General “Buck” Turgidson), Sterling Hayden (General Jack D. Ripper), Keenan Wynn (Colonel “Bat” Guano), Slim Pickens (Major T.J. “King” Kong), Peter Bull (Ambassador de Sadesky), James Earl Jones (Lieutenant Lothar Zogg), Tracy Reed (Miss Scott), Jack Creley (Mr. Staines), Frank Berry (Lieutenant Dietrich), Glenn Beck (Lieutenant Kivel), Shane Rimmer (Captain Ace Owens), Paul Tamarin (Lieutenant Goldberg)
1968
2001: A Space Odyssey
Keir Dullea (Dave Bowman), Gary Lockwood (Frank Poole), Willliam Richter (Moonwatcher), Leonard Rossiter (Smylov), Margaret Tyzack (Elena), Robert Beatty (Halvorsen)
1975
A Clockwork Orange
Malcolm McDowell (Alex), Patrick Magee (Mr. Alexander), Michael Bates (Chief guard), Anthony Sharp (minister of the Interior), Godfrey Quigley (Prison Chaplain), Adrenne Corri (Mr. Alexander), Warren Clarke (Dim), Miriam Karlin (Cat Laidy), Paul Farrell (tramp), Philip Stone (Dad), Sheila Raynor (Mum), Aubrey Morris (Mr. Deltoid), Carl Duering (Dr.
Brodsky), John Clive (Stage Actor), Madge Ryan (Dr. Branom), Pauline Taylor (psychiatrist), Margaret Tyzack (conspirator), john Savident (conspirator), Steven Berkoff (Constable), David Prowse (Julian), Michael Tarn (Peter)
1975
Barry Lyndon
Ryan O ́Neal (Redmond Barry / Barry Lyndon), Marisa Berenson (Lady Lyndon), Patrick Magee (Chevalier de Balibari), Hardy Kruger (Captain Potzdorf), Steven Berkoff (Lord Ludd), Gay Hamilton (Nora Brady), Marie Kean (Mrs. Barry), Murray Melvin (Reverend Rundt), Godfrey Quigley (Captain Grogan), Leon Vitali (Lord Bullington), Diana Koerner (Lischen), Frank Middelmass (Sir Charles Lyndon), André Morell (Lord Wendover), Philip Stone (Graham), Anthony Sharp (Lord Hallum), Michael Hordern (Narrator)
1980
The Shining
Jack Nicholson (Jack Torrance), Shelley Duvall (Wendy Torrance), Danny Lloyd (Danny Torrance), Scatman Crothers (Halloran), Phillip Stone (Delbert Grady), Joe Turkel (Lloyd), Barry Nelson (Ullman), Anne Jackson (Doctor), Lia Beldam (young woman in bath), Billie Gibson (old woman in bath), Lisa and Louise Burns (the Grady girls)
1987
Full Metal Jacket
Matthew Modine (Private Joker), Lee Ermey (Sergeant Hartman), Vincent D’Onofrio (Private Pyle), Adam Baldwin (Animal Mother), Arliss Howard (Private Cowboy), Dorian Harewood (Eightball), Kevyn Major Howard (Rafterman), Ed O ́Ross (Lt.
Touchdown), John Terry (Lt. Lockhart), Ngoc Le (V. C. Sniper)
1999
Eyes Wide Shut
Tom Cruise (Dr. William Harford), Nicole Kidman (Alice Harford), Sydney Pollack (Victor Ziegler), Todd Field (Nick Nightingale), Sky Dumont (Sandor Szavost), Marie Richardson (Marion), Thomas Gibson (Carl), Vinessa Shaw (Domino), Rade Sherbedgia (Milich), Leelee Sobieski (Milich’s Daughter)
photo:
Stanley Kubrick and Jack Nicholson on the set of THE SHINING (Shining, GB/USA 1980). © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.