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LOOK MAGAZINE (c. 1945-51, USA): Before he dove deep into making cinematic art with motion pictures, Kubrick was renown as a gifted still photographer for the then-popular LOOK Magazine, and was only 17 years old when he was first hired for the publication. As you can see at the SK Still Image Catalogue at the Museum of the City of New York, young Kubrick cut his B&W visual storytelling chops as a busy assignment photographer, which no doubt helped him develop his eye, art, and people skills on his journey to become one of the world's most important film producers and directors of the 20th Century. If you can find SK's mid-century stills online or in book form (e.g. Stanley Kubrick: Drama & Shadows), it's a wonderful way to introduce your eye to SK's future cinematic genius. I believe the more famous shots are featured on select 2001 DVD's. For a thorough account of Kubrick's early days at LOOK, check out this 2005 Vanity Fair Story.
DAY OF THE FIGHT (c.1950-51, B&W Documentary Film, USA, 16min): Short doc pretty much about the title - following a young boxer in NYC before a prize fight. But it also features TWIN main characters (the boxer and his manager brother), a theme that would resurface in many Kubrick fictional films to come. On the business side, DOTF film cost Kubrick $3,900 to produce (expensive even by today's standards), but he made $100 profit when he sold the doc to RKO, opening the door to his next adventure in the show business. Here's "Day of the Fight" on YouTube.
THE FLYING PADRE (c.1950-51, B&W Documentary Film, USA, 9min): Short doc bout a priest/pilot in New Mexico who covers his flock via a small airplane, landing where ever the good lord takes him. Looks like a lot of B&W newsreels of the era, but there are some cool aerial shots. Later in life, Kubrick would get his own pilot's license, but as he grew older and wiser and aware of the inherit dangers of flying via nearly escaping a deadly crash, he reportedly avoided any air travel including commercial airlines. Here's a rare viewing of the "The Flying Padre" on Vimeo.
OMNIBUS, MR. LINCOLN PT. 1 (c.1952, Television Program, USA): Honorable mention as Kubrick is listed as a 2nd Unit/Assistant Director. Unlike almost all the other works referenced, this piece probably does not reflect Kubrick's creative/artistic process, however he did contribute to the production. Here's a link to some very rare video: Kubrick's contribution to the Omnibus/Mr. Lincoln project with some text introductions....AND Here's an interesting story on YouTube about the making of "Mr. Lincoln", hiring Kubrick as a young, talented and extremely driven 2nd Director!
THE SEAFARERS (c. 1953, Color Documentary Film, USA, 30min): A commissioned documentary Kubrick directed for an international maritime union (seafarers.org) that exists to this day. While it appears very newsy/industrial, which was not unusual for the era, the film is very well crafted, Kubrick style. The significant take-away may be that "The Seafarers" was shot and distributed in COLOR, and that was considered a very special at the time as few small productions in the early 1950's could afford to shoot and print with expensive color film, which was also much more difficult to expose and develop than traditional B&W film. Here's a rare viewing of "The Seafarers" on YouTube. Something else of particular interest (found Nov2017) - the ongoing Seafarers Union, which can be found online at www.seafarers.org has a webpage dedicated to Kubrick's "The Seafarers". At time of writing, it's 1 of only 7 videos the SIU promote in the gallery section of their international website. How's that for longevity!?
SPECIAL MENTION:
MR. LINCOLN (c.1952, Television Program, USA): Honorable mention as Kubrick is listed as a 2nd Unit/Assistant Director. Unlike almost all the other works referenced, this piece probably does not reflect Kubrick's creative/artistic process, however he did contribute to the production.