Stanley Kubrick’s Relentless Pursuit of the Perfect Take

Stanley Kubrick’s reputation for meticulousness is well documented, and his approach to directing was as demanding as it was effective. While his methods produced some of the most memorable moments in cinema, they often left his cast and crew utterly spent. The most infamous example remains Shelley Duvall’s ordeal during the making of The Shining, where she was required to repeat emotionally draining scenes countless times, leaving her physically and mentally worn out. Kubrick’s focus was always on achieving the result he wanted, regardless of the toll it took on those in front of the camera.

His insistence on repetition reached such extremes that The Guinness World Records noted the scene between Scatman Crothers and Danny Lloyd in The Shining as holding the record for the most takes of a dialogue scene—an astonishing 148. Anyone agreeing to work with Kubrick had to be prepared for a gruelling process, with the possibility of endless retakes and a director who never minced his words.

Unvarnished Honesty on Set

Todd Field, who played the pianist in Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut, soon discovered this for himself. Although he was spared the marathon sessions endured by Duvall, Field still found himself repeating a particular scene nearly twenty times. Reflecting on the experience, he recalled,

The first scene, where Bill reunites with Nick at Ziegler’s party. We did 18 takes, which for Stanley wasn’t a lot, and afterwards, he said, ‘Wow, that was great, really great, but the first 17 you were lousy. I mean, the difference between take 18 and all the rest is remarkable’.

Kubrick’s feedback was as blunt as ever, and Field was taken aback by the director’s candour.

Trying to break the tension, Field responded,

I said, ‘Look, Stanley, I was nervous. I’m here with the biggest star in the world and my favourite filmmaker, and you’re lucky I didn’t piss my pants’.

Surrounded by the likes of Tom Cruise, Sydney Pollack, and Kubrick himself, nerves were hardly surprising. At last, Kubrick seemed to appreciate the pressure Field was under, and the atmosphere on set lightened considerably.

Finding Common Ground

After that exchange, Field found working with Kubrick much easier. The director even began reading lines with him, demonstrating a flair for performance that Field likened to Martin Scorsese.

He laughed, and after that it was easy. He read wild lines with me himself. And, like Marty Scorsese, he was a terrific actor. And that was a beautiful thing, the way he played,

Field said. This new rapport allowed Field to relax and focus on his role.

Field’s character, Nick, is crucial to the story, introducing Bill to the shadowy world that forms the heart of the film. When Nick is asked to play blindfolded at a secretive gathering, he discreetly provides Bill with the password, granting him entry to a bizarre and ritualistic masked event. For Field, it was his first time working on a production of such scale, and he had never encountered a director as exacting or as forthright as Kubrick. Once he managed to connect with him, though, Field was able to deliver a performance that left a lasting impression.