The films of Stanley Kubrick have left an indelible mark on the history of American cinema. This text explores the auteur’s legacy, specifically positioning his body of work within the context of cultural theory. A single chapter is devoted to each of Kubrick’s seven films: Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. Particular attention is paid to the role of love and death in Kubrick’s films, emphasizing his innovative exploration of love and sex, and the portrayal of mortality via masculine violence.

Patrick Webster is a musician, writer and university lecturer. A graduate and postgraduate of the University of Leeds, his previous writing includes work as diverse as: Bob Dylan and masculinity, ecology and dyslexia. He lives in Leeds, in the North of England.

Patrick Webster
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 334
Bibliographic Info: filmography, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5916-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-6191-2
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments vii

Preface 1

Introduction 3

1. Lolita: A Shadow of a Shadow 9

2. Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: An Immodest Proposal 30

3. 2001: A Space Odyssey: To Infinity and Beyond 44

4. A Clockwork Orange: Strange Fruit 67

5. The Shining: The Misuses of Enchantment 88

6. Full Metal Jacket: The Law of the Father 117

7. Eyes Wide Shut: Twelve and a Half 137

Afterword: A.I.: A Real Boy 172

Conclusion 176

Appendix 1: The Early Films 189

Appendix 2: Lolita 194

Appendix 3: Dr. Strangelove 197

Appendix 4: 2001: A Space Odyssey 199

Appendix 5: Napoleon 203

Appendix 6: A Clockwork Orange 206

Appendix 7: Barry Lyndon 208

Appendix 8: The Shining 213

Appendix 9: Full Metal Jacket 223

Appendix 10: Eyes Wide Shut 228

Appendix 11: Auteur Theory 239

Appendix 12: Unmade Projects 243

Appendix 13: Remakes and Reworkings 247

Appendix 14: Published Screenplays 249

Appendix 15: Academy Awards 251

Appendix 16: A Kubrick Miscellany 253

Notes 267

Bibliography 307

Index 317