One of the most consistently fascinating filmmakers of the last four decades, Stanley Kubrick saw his work praised and damned with equal vigor. Just as his singularly brilliant visual style won him great acclaim, his unconventional sense of narrative often elicited critical scorn. Above all, he remained an unique artist in a medium dominated by repetition and imitation. If his ambitious vision had at times exceeded his capacity to satisfy the demands of mainstream filmmaking, this chink in his armor was perhaps a strength in disguise, and only served to highlight the distinctiveness of
Photograph taken by Kubrick of a newsdealer on the day of President Franklin Roosevelt's death bought by Look magazine; Kubrick subsequently hired as a photographer for the magazine and worked there from 1946-1950
1951
First short film as director (also screenwriter, director of photography and producer), the 16-minute documentary "Day of the Fight", about boxer Walter Cartier whom Kubrick had photographed for Look magazine
1953
First medium-length film as director (also director of photography), the documentary "The Seafarers"
1953
First feature film as director (also director of photography, editor and producer), "Fear and Desire"
1955
Founded (with James B Harris) Harris-Kubrick Productions; partnership lasted through "Lolita" (1962)
