Stanley Kubrick

Born: 26th July 1928
Where: The Bronx, New York
Died: 7th March 1999

One of the most important and influential filmmakers of the second half of the 20th Century, Stanley is synonymous with intelligent, thought-provoking films made with a unique individual craftsmanship that can never be copied or equalled.

When he was just 16 and in school, Stanley shot a photograph of a news vendor the day after President Franklin D. Roosevelt died and submitted it to Look magazine. Look printed the photo and soon hired him as a freelance photographer.

After creating a photo essay on boxing for Look, Stanley used his savings to make a 16-minute documentary film, Day of the Fight, in 1950.

Later, and after making two further documentaries, Flying Padre and The Seafarers, Stanley persuaded family members to invest money in a short feature film about a fictitious war called Fear and Desire.

He managed to get the film shown in a few art-house theatres in New York, and quickly began making a name for himself.

He followed up with two low-budget crime thrillers, Killer's Kiss and The Killing, then made his first major studio film, the powerful antiwar movie Paths of Glory, starring Kirk Douglas, in 1957.

He went on to receive Best Director Academy Award nominations for Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon, as well as receiving Best Picture nominations for them.

Each of those films also earned Stanley Best Screenplay nominations, as did Full Metal Jacket. Stanley's only Oscar came for the special effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In 1997, Stanley began shooting Eyes Wide Shut, returning to filmmaking after a ten-year absence. He died in his sleep soon after turning in his final cut of the film.

Released in July 1999, Eyes Wide Shut was the first Kubrick film to open at number one at the box office and became one of his biggest hits, earning acclaim for stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Spanning nearly 50 years and 13 feature-length films, his career has become the stuff of legend. From his days as a pioneer for independent filmmaking to his final status as one of the world's most revered yet enigmatic directors, Stanley stayed true to his calling, telling provocative stories with amazing, arresting images that will haunt us forever.