Stanley Kubrick was a prominent movie director, producer, screenwriter, and videographer from the United States. He is well-known for directing films such as ‘Full Metal Jacket, ‘The Killing,’ ‘Dr. Strangelove’, ‘Paths of Glory, ‘Spartacus,’ and his most beloved film ‘A Space Odyssey. He practiced his skill at Look Magazine, photographing people and demonstrating his remarkable talent for content creation. In the early 1950s, Kubrick made his first film, Fear and Desire (1953), a fiction feature war film. Today he is widely regarded among the most significant film directors in cinema history.
Role of Chance in Spartacus’ Film
Spartacus was a Thracian fighter born and raised as a slave in Thrace, a historical region in Southeast Europe. He is sold to a Gladiator by the name Batiatus as a slave, and as a result, he would no longer see his beloved wife, Sura (Fenwick, 196). Spartacus and other slaves are ruthlessly trained to fight as gladiators for show and later sold for a higher price (Fenwick, 197). Batiatus promises Spartacus to bring him his wife Sura if he fights well in the battle competitions. Fenwick (200) points out that Spartacus defies death by fighting bravely against his opponents to keep his promise to her wife that he wouldn’t die in battle, but instead, he was to kill all those who came against him. He fought against the shadow of death alongside his fellow slave Crixus and emerged victorious despite Crixus being injured almost to death. Spartacus prepares to meet his wife after the completion with great anticipation and a plan to turn on Batiatus and escape with Sura, his wife from slavery (Fenwick, 201).
Alternatively, Sura is brought to him brutally injured and dies in his arms. Kubrick, the film director, has employed the idea of fatalism here since the Batiatus had planned for the attack of Sura as she was being brought to Capua blackmailing Spartacus (Fenwick, 204). Her death affects Spartacus’ expectations, and the film doesn’t flow as expected if his wife showed up alive. Fenwick (203) argues that characters in this film are obsessed with immoral behaviours such as sexual pleasures and brutal killings. Stanley Kubrick has explored the dark side of humanity in this and his other films.
The Tension between Design and Disorder in The Killing (1956)
The Killing Film of 1956 is a heist movie in which a robbery takes place during horse racing. Johnny Clay, an expert gangster, intends to steal two million dollars in the money-counting room during the race (Donelan, 51). Before this day, Johnny has given his team all the details to follow for a successful robbery (Donelan, 51). George told his wife Sherry about the robbery that was to happen to make her stay with him since they were experiencing differences, and she had threatened him that she was to leave him. Sherry informs her new lover Val Cannon of the impending heist (Donelan, 54). The robbery takes place successfully, even though a security guard kills the sniper.
A few moments later, the heist team meets at an apartment where Johnny is to come and share the money amongst them (Donelan, 55). As they wait for Johnny to arrive, Val and an associate show up to arrest them. Fires are exchanged at the point, and George stands as the only survivor but brutally injured (Donelan, 56). He leaves the scene to his home, and he kills his wife by shooting her. Johnny gets a big bag where he puts the money and rushes to the airport with his girlfriend. At the airport, the bag falls from a baggage cart as they wait to board a plane. Unfortunately, the bag broke open, and the aircraft propellers scattered the money on the wind. The officers are alerted of the two lovers Fay and Johnny, and they get arrested (Donelan, 57). In the ending, my suggestion to Kubrick would be that Johnny successfully escapes with the money but is arrested in another country while having fun and a good time.
The Theme of Power in Paths of Glory
Abuse of power is witnessed in Stanley Kubrick’s film ‘Paths of Glory’ by military leaders making unwise decisions and risking the lives of their soldiers. General George Broulard requests that his subordinate, General Mireau, have adequate defences against attack formations called the ‘Anthill’ (Mickics, 38). First, General Mireau denies the call mentioning that it would be hard for their troops to succeed, but he follows the plan after being promised a promotion. He shows the greed of power by leading the soldiers to battle against the German’s hoping to be promoted if they win (Mickics, 38). Before the attack, Lieutenant Roget, who is considered a drunkard, orders one of his men to go ahead during a nighttime scouting mission. After taking so long to return, Roget decides to hurl a grenade which kills his soldier (Mickics, 39). Lieutenant Roget denies the offence and fabricates his report to Colonel Dax.
General Mireau leaves the attack to Colonel Dax, who leads the soldiers over the top of the Anthill, where they are all attacked by heavy fire from the German soldiers, and none reaches the German trenches. Angered, Mireau orders his artillery to start shooting on them to force them onto the battleground (Mickics, 38). The commander in charge of the artillery violates the order to fire, claiming that he would only fire if there were a written confirmation—General Mireau Court Martials the soldiers for violating his order and being cowards (Mickics, 40). Later, Mireau facilitates the transfer of the artillery commander to cover up his offence for the abuse of power by making unnecessary decisions for the greed of being promoted.
Works Cited
Donelan, Carol. “Kubrick’s Gangster Artistry.”A Critical Companion to Stanley Kubrick, 2020: 51. Web.
Fenwick, James. “Kirk Douglas and Stanley Kubrick.”A Critical Companion to Stanley Kubrick, 2020: 195. Web.
Mikics, David. “2. Keep Doing It Until It Is Right: Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lolita.” Stanley Kubrick. Yale University Press, 2020. 38-73. Web.