Stanley Kubrick Essays - 1577 Words

quot;I would not think of quarreling with your interpretation nor offering any other, as I have found it always the best policy to allow the film to speak for itself.quot; As one of the most widely acclaimed and influential directors of the postwar era, Stanley Kubrick enjoyed a reputation and a standing unique among the filmmakers of his day. He had a brilliant career with relatively few films. An outsider, he worked beyond the confines of Hollywood, which he disliked, maintaining complete control of his projects and making movies according to his own ideas and time constraints. To him, filmmaking was a form of art and unlike Hollywood, not a business. Working in a vast range of styles from dark comedy to horror to crime†¦show more content†¦After this he filmed other documentaries, including his first color film The Seafarers. Kubrick, with the aid of friends and relatives, raised $13,000 to finance his first feature film, the war story Fear and Desire. The film was silent at first with the dialogue dubbed in later. It never made back its initial investment. Then in 1955, he directed his second feature film, the gangland melodrama Killer’s Kiss. This film was more successful and was sold to United Artists. In 1956, Kubrick directed his first studio picture, The Killing with a screenplay by Jim Thompson. This was his first artistic success and it brought him to the attention of MGM production head Dore Share. In 1957, Kubricks hot Paths of Glory, which was rejected by many studios until Kirk Douglas decided to star in the film. This led to a much-needed financing deal with United Artists. The film won considerable critical acclaim and promoted Kubrick’s reputation as a rising talent. In 1958, Marlon Brando hired him as director for his Western One Eyed Jacks. Kubrick resented Brando’s constant intervening in his work and he left the film forfeiting $100,000. In 1959, Kubrick became director of Spartacus. He took the job even though he had no influence on screenplay, production and distribution. Spartacus is Kubrick’s first commercial success. The most costly film produced at that time, with a budget of $12 million, it proved to be a major hit 4 and won several Oscars and a GoldenShow MoreRelatedBiography of Stanley Kubrick 1978 Words   |  8 PagesStanley Kubrick was born on July 26th, 1928, in New York. He was the son of a successful Manhattan physician and a Rumanian mother. Kubrick admitted to be a lonely child, and a misfit in high school. Growing up, his parents had wanted him to become a doctor he didnt have the grades needed to get into medical school. His love of film began at an early age, when he would go to movie theaters twice a week to view the double features. He would later say of this experience: One of the importantRead MoreStanley Kubrick Essay1863 Words   |  8 PagesStanley Kubrick is one of the most influential and daring filmmakers to ever put his mark on the silver screen. He has created a large body of very influential works spanning several decades and many genres. Throughout his whole collection there are many elements which are repeatedly used to enhance the viewers experience. There are al so many recurring themes in Kubricks works that are commented on both by the context in which they are brought forth and the techniques used to expound upon thoseRead MoreThe Films of Stanley Kubrick Essay2151 Words   |  9 PagesThe Films of Stanley Kubrick The films of director Stanley Kubrick divert from any categorized genre upon analysis. Instead they use themes that also expand into cinematic concepts due to certain construction processes used in the making of his films. This distinguishes Stanley Kubrick as a film Read MoreThe Paths Of Glory By Stanley Kubrick955 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Paths of Glory† is the critically acclaimed 1957 feature film, which was directed by Stanley Kubrick. The movie was produced by James B. Harris, and based on the book â€Å"Paths of Glory,† by Humphrey Cobb. Leading the cast were Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris and Richard Anderson. It was released on Christmas Day. The movie begins with information about World War I beginning on August 3rd, 1914. The Germans invade France and nearly reach Paris. The FrenchRead More Analysis of The Shining, by Stanley Kubrick Essay4006 Words   |  17 Pagesprimary definition of horror as a painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay. It stands to reason then that horror fiction is fiction that elicits those emotions in the reader. An example of a horror film is The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Stanley Kubrick was a well-known director, producer, writer and cinematographer. His films comprised of unique, qualitative scenes that are still memorable but one iconic film in his collection of work is The Shining. Many would disagree and say thatRead MoreA Clockwork Orange, by Stanley Kubrick1139 Words   |  5 PagesIn this essay I will be exploring how the dystopian society in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ 1963 novel, A Clockwork Orange has been used to explore c ontemporary anxieties. A Clockwork Orange takes place in an outlandish and dreary vision of future Britain governed by an oppressive, totalitarian super government. In this society, ordinary people have fallen into a dazed state of complacency, unaware of the sinister growth of a rampant, violent youth culture. AnthonyRead MoreEssay on The Auteur Theory: Stanley Kubrick1209 Words   |  5 Pagesquality thus exerting a personal creative vision and interjecting it into the his or her films. Kubrick made his first film in 1953 and has continued to make films till his death shortly after the film Eyes Wide Shut in 1999. With a film career spanning over four decades, he crafted consistent themes, and honed a highly personalized style which was woven into the films he made. Stanley Kubrick was a very stylistic film maker and paid great attention to detail in every aspect of his movies. OneRead MoreEssay on Stanley Kubrick: Artist, Explorer and Pioneer3777 Words   |  16 PagesStanley Kubrick: Artist, Explorer and Pioneer Introduction The line between art and entertainment has become malleable in the last century. Critics of fine art define its quality by its message, innovation and complexity. Both are founded on intent to communicate. Art seeks to engage the viewer and generally attempts to tap into more complicated and rarer emotions. (Krush Web Site) Stanley Kubrick uses the medium of film to convey an understanding of the world around him. I see his workRead More A Clockwork Orange, by Stanley Kubrick Essay example1522 Words   |  7 PagesA Clockwork Orange is a Stanley Kubrick film from 1971. Kubrick directed the film and wrote the screen play based on the 1962 novel from author Anthony Burgess. A Clockwork Orange was originally rated, â€Å"X† and nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Screenplay, but lost in each category to William Friedkins The French Connection (filmsite.org). The set design is by John Barry, costume design by Milena Canonero, music by Wendy Car los and cinematography by John AlcottRead MoreReview Of Stanley Kubrick s 2001 : A Space Odyssey 1591 Words   |  7 PagesSpace or 2001. Stanley Kubrick’s legendary film â€Å"2001 : A Space Odyssey† (1968) is an epic of space exploration and meditation on the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on the process of human evolution. The film is set in the near future at a time when the moon is colonised and space travel, at least around the planetary system, is quite usual. Kubrick said â€Å"2001 aspired not to the condition of a science fiction novel but to that of music† ( Baxter,1997 :215) Kubrick gave this description

When Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe - 918 Words

In Chinua Achebe s fictional novel, When Things Fall Apart, the reader follows the story of a young man named Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a passionate leader of his tribe, the Igbo. Throughout the book he wishes to please the Igbo people, a one way he does that is by distancing himself from his father. To Okonkwo his father was a disgrace, lazy, poor and cowardice. Okonkwo is first seen wrestling and proving his worth to the tribe. He built his home and earned a reputation of a strong diligent farmer. His reputation is reassured by his good crop and agricultural season, and because of this he earns a large sum of cash. His wealth, influence, and reputation makes him seem like a very suitable man and he marries three women. Later in the book an†¦show more content†¦He is exiled to his mothers homeland, Mbanta, for seven years. He gains knowledge about white missionaries coming to spread Christianity. To Okonkwo this symbolizes a possible end to his tribe. More and more Igbo people co nvert to Christianity and the religion gains recognition. Okonkwo returns back to the Igbo to find out that his son converted to Christianity. Outraged he disowns his son. The Igbo try to diplomatically solve the intrusion of the white Christians but are stopped and the Igbo leaders are jailed until the villagers pay a ransom. The Igbo s hold a war meeting, in which the reader finds Okonkwo supporting aggressive action. A white missionary arrives to try to break up the council but is killed by a furious Okonkwo. He continues to spiral downward as his tribe will not support his violent antics. Ashamed of himself and his tribe, Okonkwo s hubris got the better of him and he then soon later hung himself. Although a fictional piece of work, Chinua Achebe sheds some light on some traditional African culture and society. For me personally it spoke mostly about the roles in African society and how important they are. That many Africans are worried about how the others perceive them. Okonkwo wants to be seen as a respectable, wealthy man. We learned in class that your living, and how sound one is financially can separate them as a respectable superior person. Africans take great pride in themselves and

Dr Faustus Essay Example For Students

Dr Faustus Essay Dr. FaustusDr. Faustus, written by Christopher, is the story of a man that represents the common human dissatisfaction with being human. He sells his soul to the devil for what he believes to be limitless power, with full logical knowledge as to the consequences of such a transaction. He knows the stakes of his gamble with the devil. His extensive education and his cultural environment had certainly alerted him as to the dangers associated with Lucifer. Although aware of the consequences of such a pact, he is blinded by three things that bring about his ultimate demise. His greed to know all, his pride that made him believe he was better than man, and his denial that in the end he would bring his own downfall upon himself. If Faustus had not been these things he would not have brought an end to himself. Dr. Faustus denies the existence of everything, from his eventual torture in hell if he does not repent, to men, society, and indeed the world. The only aspect of his life which he does not deny is his physical reality. When Faustus meets with Mephistopheles (a messenger of the devil) he is frightened and demands a new appearance for his devil servant. I charge thee to return and change thy shape; Thou art to ugly to attend on me. Go, and return an old Franciscan friar; That holy shape becomes a devil best. (Marlowe p.14)By choosing Mephistopheles to change his form, he is almost sugar coating the reality of having a real devil serve him. He also brought his own downfall upon himself by being filled with pride. Unfortunately for Faustus his pride was not morally healthy. Faustus would rather retain his pride than admit that he was at fault. He blames his parents, predestination, and appeals both to Christ and Lucifer. O my Christ! O spare me my Lucifer! You stars that reigned at my nativity. Now draw up Faustus like a foggy mist. Cursed be the parents that endangered me. (Marlowe p.55)His final damnation not only results from the immoral acts that he has committed throughout his life, nor his contract with the devil, but rather his pride, the emotion that condemns him into eternal hell. Last, but not least is the prevailing quality that Dr. Faustus follows throughout the book, greed. Because of his greed he had everything. However much it was, he wanted more. He was smart, wealthy, and even had an excellent well-respected job, but was not satisfied with all of his accomplishments. His overwhelming greed to best and own the best led him to make his pact with the devil. He was tempted with the ability to have whatever he desired. I’ll have them fly to India for gold, Ransack the ocean for orient pearl, And search all corners of the new-found world. For pleasure fruits and princely delicate (Marlowe p.6)Faustus had reached his height by selling himself to the devil. In receiving thepowers of magic that he desired he would be able to get the last of all the things that he was yet to achieve. Though Faustus believed his action ultimately led to his destruction. Thus his greed, pride, and denial all led this fool down the road of eternal damnation. Towards the end of his life, Faustus, began to realize the error of his ways. This results in a series of attempts to repent. When I behold the heavens, then I repent. And curse thee, wicked Mephistopheles, Because thou hast deprived me of those joys. (Marlowe p.25)Though he possessed faith, he did not perform good works, which according to the Catholic church, are essential for salvation. Dr. Faustus’s life ends with his sole request for gods forgiveness , as he waits in agony for the devils to bring him to his final damned fate.