Kubrick's Napoleon
SPECIAL EVENTS
UK, 2010.
90 mins.
The Cambridge Film Festival invites you to explore Stanley Kubrick's greatest ever achievement never to reach the big screen. Through photos from pre-production, primarily sketches, and talks from people who knew Kubrick best, we sift the facts from fiction of the much-discussed aborted epic, Napoleon.
Even whilst working on 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick's thoughts turned towards mounting the greatest historical film ever made. Describing Napoleon Bonaparte's life as "an epic poem of action", Kubrick's admiration for his idol knew few bounds.
Meticulous research for a large-scale biopic began in the mid-1960s when Kubrick despatched an assistant around the world to literally follow in Napoleon's footsteps. Casting considerations included David Hemmings and Audrey Hepburn, with Alec Guinness and Laurence Olivier as supporting characters.
Alas then that Kubrick's effort met its own Waterloo when the studios decreed that his dream was financially too risky, due to a clash with another Napoleon film, Waterloo, which was released in 1970. The dream lingered into the early 1980s when he still talked of wanting to make the film. Sadly Stanley Kubrick died in 1999 with his great work unrealised. Today Kubrick fans can console themselves that his vision may yet be realised in conjunction with talents of the calibre of Ridley Scott and Ang Lee.
For this live event Bill Lawrence will introduce the film producer and brother-in-law to Stanley Kubrick, Jan Harlan, and we hope to welcome filmmaker Andrew Birkin.
Even whilst working on 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick's thoughts turned towards mounting the greatest historical film ever made. Describing Napoleon Bonaparte's life as "an epic poem of action", Kubrick's admiration for his idol knew few bounds.
Meticulous research for a large-scale biopic began in the mid-1960s when Kubrick despatched an assistant around the world to literally follow in Napoleon's footsteps. Casting considerations included David Hemmings and Audrey Hepburn, with Alec Guinness and Laurence Olivier as supporting characters.
Alas then that Kubrick's effort met its own Waterloo when the studios decreed that his dream was financially too risky, due to a clash with another Napoleon film, Waterloo, which was released in 1970. The dream lingered into the early 1980s when he still talked of wanting to make the film. Sadly Stanley Kubrick died in 1999 with his great work unrealised. Today Kubrick fans can console themselves that his vision may yet be realised in conjunction with talents of the calibre of Ridley Scott and Ang Lee.
For this live event Bill Lawrence will introduce the film producer and brother-in-law to Stanley Kubrick, Jan Harlan, and we hope to welcome filmmaker Andrew Birkin.
Screenings (select one to book tickets)
Monday 20 September, 9:00PM
Reviews
Kubrick's Napoleon by Mike, St Ives
21 Sep 2010
Kubrick's "Napoleon" event v interesting; level of SK's obsession...
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