Product Description

When Stanley Kubrick first sold a photograph, at the age of 17, he had already begun telling stories through pictures. Without any formal education in film-making, he taught himself to make films through photography and by spending many hours in his local cinema. At 21 he financed and created his own short film, "Day of the Fight", thus beginning a controversial cinema career that has incorporated films such as "Dr Strangelove", "A Clockwork Orange" and "2001: A Space Odyssey". This detailed biography of Kubrick includes interviews with people who knew him during his formative years, as well as accounts by professional colleagues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #339982 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1962, an MGM trailer teased its audience by asking "How Did They Ever Make a Movie Out of Lolita?" Readers of this book, which recounts the life of Lolita's director, might reasonably ask, "How Did They Ever Write a Biography of Stanley Kubrick?" Kubrick is the most reclusive of celebrities, a man who seems mysterious even to those who have known and worked with him. Vincent Lobrutto's engrossing and beautifully researched biography succeeds in tracing this meticulous and brilliant visionary from his childhood and early career as a photographer for Look magazine to his creation of masterpieces such as Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and Full Metal Jacket. Lobrutto concludes his book by discussing projects that have not yet been realized: Eyes Wide Shut, a film about sexual obsession, the Holocaust drama Aryan Papers, and the most eagerly awaited of Kubrick's prospective movies, the science fiction film A.I.

Customer Reviews

Stanley Kubrick remains an enigma
I enjoyed this book. It reads more like a novel than a stoic biography and it reminds us that there will never be another Stanley Kubrick......ever. But it leaves me guessing about the true nature of Stanley Kubrick. Perhaps this is because Lobrutto has to rely on what is documented, rather than entering the inner sanctum of the private thoughts of a private artist. Can't fault Lobrutto, however, as Kubrick is an enigma, perhaps intentionally so, and this is neither an unofficial nor official biography. Kubrick didn't suppress Lobrutto's efforts, but it is quite apparent that he did not assist the author in any way as well. So here we have Kubrick's film reviews, accounts of box office/critical reception, detailed technical notes and various second-hand experiences and observations from people involved in various Kubrick productions, along with some early memories from people who knew Stanley when they were all just a bunch of kids in the Bronx. Might seem trivial to some, but for Kubrick buffs, Lobrutto's book is a must-read. Well done! I am looking forward to the posthumous release of "Eyes Wide Shut" this summer. It will be a treat to see this film on the big screen and it is unfortunate that many of Kubrick's other projects were never realized. After reading Lobrutto's chapter on "the epic to end all epics", for example, I can imagine reading "Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon" on the marquee of the local cinema, anticipating the opening of the box office so that I could be one of the first moviegoers in Pittsburgh to see this film. Oh well. Perhaps in another lifetime?

The Best Bio So Far
The most informed biography so far but not the best book. Written by someone who knows his subject. IGNORE THE BAXTER Book, it's just gossip. Get this one for the bio, the Ciment for the depth and the Kubrick Archives for the behind the scenes. Well thats what I think!!

Utter cr*p
Vincent LoBrutto actually managed the impossible. He made the subject of Stanley Kubrick Boring. If you are a fan of Stanley Kubrick (like me) and are interested in purchasing a biography I'd suggest the one written by John(?) Baxter. It's ten times better.