1. Spartacus (1960) - I'm Spartacus - The Benevolent
The Film: Much like the films hero at the beginning, Kubrick was imprisoned once more by the boundaries and cliché ridden narrative that the studio system demanded of the time, yet Spartacus really shows Stanley's ability to show off a grand old tale. There are no crash zooms, long hard stares or low key actors we were to see in later Kubrick work on display here - this film, mainly captured in mid-shot angles, felt like your typical David Lean, John Ford style affair. You have all heard of the name by now, most probably because of the blood and t*ts TV version of the character we have been tarnished with over the last few years. But before it all, as Stanley climbed the Hollywood ladder, making friends (long time producer Jan Harlan) and enemies (main star Kirk Douglas) along the way, Spartacus became synonymous with a grand sweeping epic, blood and sandals-based tale that - today - remains one of the last great entries in the grand Hollywood adventure genre. A type of movie that would die a death some years later with the arrival of the new wave in Coppola, Hopper, Lucas and Scorsese to name a few. Kubrick had a choice after this film; continue in the same vain and become a relic of a forgotten era or work alongside the aforementioned new wave kids in their revolution of late 60's freedom. Strangely (and rather bravely), Kubrick chose neither and worked along his own, very individual path. But it all brought the best out in Kubrick, ushering him towards working to his own devices with all the creative freedom he could want with his later films. If nothing else, we have Spartacus to thank for that.
The Scene: Although Spielberg may like to point towards the end of Paths of Glory as proof for Kubrick's kind hearted nature, this for me is one of the most powerful scenes in cinema. It often appears on lists that relate to 'making grown men cry' and rightly hits it up with heavy weight choices as The Shawshank Redemption and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. This unforgettable scene shows the slaves rebellion defeated and awaiting punishment. They are all told that they will be spared so long as their leader Spartacus comes forward. Just as the ever heroic Spartacus is about to stand and declare himself, a fellow slave stands in his place and bellows the words 'I'm Spartacus'. Another man crops up and shouts the same thing, then another and another . The shots cut quicker and quicker as the group of slaves are eventually all on their feet in unity in a chorus of now incoherent name calling, showing that they are all one and that they will never give up the man that began their uprising. Cut to a silent Spartacus who is stone-faced and shedding a single tear, this is iconic cinema that will well even the hardest man up. Often parodied (excellently by Nike in a '90s advert called 'I'm Tiger Woods') but never once matched in terms of its power, this scene defines Kubrick once again and for me on a personal level is the most important on this list, even if it isn't the most iconic. This shows the personal, caring side to Kubrick; a man forever dedicated to his craft and obsessive in his nature, yet often chastised and lambasted for being too cold and just genuinely crazy. The press in England created stories about Kubrick that his wife Christiane often gets hurt by, saying that they are nothing more than lies that spawned as a result of a closed off and private man. When I watch a Kubrick film, I am lost in another world, compelled by his craft but more than anything else, I seek the human aspect of his work and I love to see the man's nature come out whether it be through an axe wielding maniac smashing a door or this, a moment that reconfirms my love for the human condition. Kubrick's films are full of emotion and always have been, you have just have to look in the right places. Stanley Kubrick is loved and missed by millions and this article only scratches the surface of the genius at work. I implore you all, if you haven't already, to go out and enjoy each and every one of his films, enjoy them, embrace them and critique them. Because one thing is for sure; there will never be another filmmaker like Kubrick.
Hope you enjoyed this article on the late, great Stanley Kubrick. What scenes do you? Don't agree with the list? Let us know in the comments section below.