THE SERVING KITCHEN: Kubrick and Severed Heads

Warning: Spoilers ahead! This post contains furthermore copyrighted material for the purpose of research, commentary and eduction as per fair use provisions.

What is it with Stanley Kubrick and severed heads? While George Lucas is contempt with severed hands (mostly, anyway), Stanley on the other hand seems to aim for the full monty.

Dr. Strangelove:

For Strangelove Kubrick contemplated using a "weird, hydra-headed, furry creature" snarling at the camera during the main title card. This is from the original script:

MAIN TITLE CARD - A WEIRD, HYDRA-HEADED, FURRY CREATURE SNARLS AT CAMERA

ROLL-UP TITLE

"NARDAC BLEFESCU PRESENTS"

Dr. Strangelove:
or
How I Learned to Stop Worrying
and
Love the
BOMB

a
MACRO - GALAXY - METEOR PICTURE

2001 – A Space Odyssey:

Then, in 2001 we get several examples. First of all Kubrick contemplated to use a lion's head prop, which would have been mounted atop a tree by Moonwatcher to instill terror upon a rival tribe:

In an early version of the script a lion's head was to be shown mounted atop a tree branch by Moonwatcher and his tribe, to instill terror upon a rival tribe. Kubrick was probably examining an early attempt to render such scene filmable; but whatever the lion's head was to be used for - clearly its phony condition was never improved enough for the director, as it doesn't appear in the movie and Richter doesn't even remember to have seen it - Kubrick turned to real wild beasts for the shooting of the most menacing scenes.

Then as we see in ASO124-02, the very first example we get in the film (not counting the numerous skulls in the "THE DAWN OF MAN" sequence) is, while allegorical, quite striking nonetheless:

With the stroke of a pen.

But there are more:

Three bodies suites, three severed heads helmets – looks a bit like a hydra, doesn't it? (And did you notice that the number Three plays a role in that film?)

A severed yellow head helmet in the de-pressurized pod bay…

… while the yellow body suite is at another place. (How exactly would Dr. Frank Poole get his helmet from the de-pressurized pod bay, if he actually needed?)

And of course later on, we see the memorable Dave Bowman getting severed from his head helmet.

Bowman thankfully manages to get a green helmet – don't worry though, he'll have his red helmet back once he checks in at the Monolith Hotel.

The Shining:

A still from Making The Shining:
Supposedly Kubrick was shooting test-footage to see how the prosthetic head would read on 35mm film. For whatever reason, but the head never made it into the released film.

And of course there is the Saint Winifred reference:

JACK
Mr. Halloran, I'm Jack, and this is my wife, Winifred.

HALLORAN
Glad to meet you, Jack.

HALLORAN shakes hands with WENDY.

HALLORAN
Glad to meet you, Winifred.

WENDY
Nice to meet you.

A few moments later then Hallorann severs the name Winifred:

HALLORAN
Mrs. Torrance, your husband introduced you as Winifred. Now are you a Winnie or a Freddie?

WENDY
I'm a Wendy.

HALLORAN
Oh Wendy. That's nice. That's the prettiest.

(Not to mention the complete mind-boggling question the viewer now has, if he hasn't missed the mumbled "Winifred"s in the Ballroom: Why the heck does Jack call Wendy "Winifred"???? But Dick Hallorann doesn't ask such insightful questions…)

Full Metal Jacket:

Kubrick allegedly shot (however didn’t use) footage of “Animal Mother” (played by Adam Baldwin) using his machete to cut of the head from the dead female Vietcong sniper for the ending of Full Metal Jacket.

Shot for Full Metal Jacket, but not used in released film.

Eyes Wide Shut:

While not a horse head, this is an equally memorable warning.

Other films of his?

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if the theme of severed heads was either used or contemplated for use in his other films as well. However, I haven't seen them all – yet…

THE SERVING KITCHEN

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Kubrick and Severed Heads

Dr. Strangelove:

2001 – A Space Odyssey:

Then as we see in ASO124-02, the very first example we get in the film (not counting the numerous skulls in the "THE DAWN OF MAN" sequence) is, while allegorical, quite striking nonetheless:

With the stroke of a pen.

Three bodies suites, three severed heads helmets – looks a bit like a hydra, doesn't it? (And did you notice that the number Three plays a role in that film?)

A severed yellow head helmet in the de-pressurized pod bay…

… while the yellow body suite is at another place. (How exactly would Dr. Frank Poole get his helmet from the de-pressurized pod bay, if he actually needed?)

And of course later on, we see the memorable Dave Bowman getting severed from his head helmet.

Bowman thankfully manages to get a green helmet – don't worry though, he'll have his red helmet back once he checks in at the Monolith Hotel.

The Shining:

A still from Making The Shining:
Supposedly Kubrick was shooting test-footage to see how the prosthetic head would read on 35mm film. For whatever reason, but the head never made it into the released film.

Full Metal Jacket:

Shot for Full Metal Jacket, but not used in released film.

Eyes Wide Shut:

While not a horse head, this is an equally memorable warning.

Other films of his?

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Kubrick and Severed Heads

Dr. Strangelove:

2001 – A Space Odyssey:

Then as we see in ASO124-02, the very first example we get in the film (not counting the numerous skulls in the "THE DAWN OF MAN" sequence) is, while allegorical, quite striking nonetheless:

With the stroke of a pen.

Three bodies suites, three severed heads helmets – looks a bit like a hydra, doesn't it? (And did you notice that the number Three plays a role in that film?)

A severed yellow head helmet in the de-pressurized pod bay…

… while the yellow body suite is at another place. (How exactly would Dr. Frank Poole get his helmet from the de-pressurized pod bay, if he actually needed?)

And of course later on, we see the memorable Dave Bowman getting severed from his head helmet.

Bowman thankfully manages to get a green helmet – don't worry though, he'll have his red helmet back once he checks in at the Monolith Hotel.

The Shining:

A still from Making The Shining: Supposedly Kubrick was shooting test-footage to see how the prosthetic head would read on 35mm film. For whatever reason, but the head never made it into the released film.

Full Metal Jacket:

Shot for Full Metal Jacket, but not used in released film.

Eyes Wide Shut:

While not a horse head, this is an equally memorable warning.

Other films of his?

No comments:

Post a Comment

A still from Making The Shining:
Supposedly Kubrick was shooting test-footage to see how the prosthetic head would read on 35mm film. For whatever reason, but the head never made it into the released film.