October 11, 2010
Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes
Josh’s ICP post led me to Jon Ronson’s documentary work, specifically Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes, which can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube.
From Ronson’s 2004 article for The Guardian, “Citizen Kubrick”, upon which the film is based:
We walk past boxes and more boxes and filing cabinets and past a grand staircase. Childwick was once home to a family of horse-breeders called the Joels. Back then there were, presumably, busts or floral displays on either side at the bottom of this staircase. Here, instead, is a photocopier on one side and another photocopier on the other.
“Is this … ?” I ask.
“Yes,” says Tony. “This is how Stanley left it.”
…
Tony takes me into a large room painted blue and filled with books. “This used to be the cinema,” he says.
“Is it the library now?” I ask.
“Look closer at the books,” says Tony.
I do. “Bloody hell,” I say. “Every book in this room is about Napoleon!”
“Look in the drawers,” says Tony.
…
“It’s all about Napoleon, too!” I say. “Everything in here is about Napoleon!”
I feel a little like Shelley Duvall in The Shining, chancing upon her husband’s novel and finding it is comprised entirely of the line “All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy” typed over and over again.
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Will someone please find out what Kubrick thought of popsicle sticks?
Thank you.