I look slightly crazed as I prepare to cross the street to the University of Arts London
In planning this trip, I had discovered that the Stanley Kubrick archives, containing the film director's private papers, scripts, props from films, etc, was housed in the University of Arts London and it was free to the public (as long as you made a reservation). Even though I am the only one in my family that gives a hoot about Kubrick, I made a one-hour reservation and worked the visit into our already-crazy full day. This appointment was really the only thing that had a specific time, so even though we started our London day much later than I had planned, I still made it to the university in time. It's in a section of town called Elephant and Castle.
I left the family at Harrod's and took the tube down to Elephant and Castle. Checked in at the desk of the college (they had me in their system), got a visitor badge, and then got lost in the building trying to follow the guy's directions to the archives. Asked someone else, finally arrived.
Down the stairs, behind those glass doors, are the archives.
The red chairs reminded me of chairs from the space station in 2001.
Sarah, who I had corresponded with via email, greeted me and showed me my shelf of items that I had asked to look at. I wasn't allowed to take photos, but here are the things I saw (copy and pasted from the online archive directory):
To Do lists: SK/1/2/3/7
The file contains handwritten lists by Kubrick, referring to various activities throughout the day including his notes relating to subjects such as the story for Wartime Lies [which later called called Aryan Papers] or lines where he was simply trying a pen. It also includes typed Christmas Gift lists for 1997.
A Life in Pictures book: SK/1/2/15/1
Materials related to the production of Christiane Kubrick's photobook about the life of her husband Stanley Kubrick. Materials include photographs reproduced for the publication
War Room pie fight photos: SK/11/10/1/5
The pie fight scene was to occur near the end of the film but was cut. A letter relating to the editing of the scene is dated 1 Nov 1963 [see, SK/11/5/4/2]. Images include ones of Weegee and Sellers, taken by Bob Penn. I had to wear latex gloves to look at these.
Kubrick's 2001 notes: SK/12/1/2/6
Handwritten notes by Stanley Kubrick regarding the plot and characters for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The notes are organised in the order of the film as it was seen at when they were being written. The first three sections have tabs on the right hand side with the section title written in red felt tip. The first section is entitled Prologue [this relates to the planned prologue of interviews of scientists and and philosophers discussing major themes covered in the planned film]. One set of the notes in this section have the date 10/30/65 [30th October 1965]. The next section is entitled Floyd. Some of the handwritten notes are dated Nov 1, Nov 4 and Nov 19 [it is probable that these are the dates when the notes were made].
There then follows a typewritten piece entitled Minsky Computer Notes. Following that there are 19 sections of notes, each one numbered and with a chapter title, the titles are: 1) Tour of Ship, 2) Dinner with Poole, 3) TV Interview, 4) Typical Day, 5) The Rumour, 6) Computer Lies, 7) Chess Victories, 8) Illusions, 9) Hyperchondria, 10) Insecurity, 11) Decision to Replace, 12) The Accident, 13) Dehibernation, 14) Killing the Computer, 15) The Explanation, 16) The Stargate, 17) Journey, 18) Hotel Room, 19) Finale. The final page has no title but handwritten lists for stages of the film onboard the Discovery spaceship including prospective timings for part of the sequence. This final page has a note in red ink stating Checked June 17 1967.
Shining clapperboard: SK/15/3/16
Wood clapboard (also called a clapper or slate), painted black with white accents. Information written on masking tape labels taped onto clapboard. Labels: 'The Shining', 'S. Kubrick' under Director, 'J. Alcott' under Cameraman, and '28th Feb 1979' at bottom.
Shining scrapbook: SK/15/3/4/3
Large brown scrapbook with gilt detailing on cover in which are pasted clippings of newspaper articles. The subjects of the clippings are varied from reports from the Second World War, court cases in England and reports about hotels. Many of them report on violent acts or their subsequent prosecutions. The bulk of the articles are undated but most appear to date from c1920-1945. The scrapbook measures 40 x 43 x 7 cm.
[The scrapbook plays a much more important role in the original novel and early drafts of the script than in the final film]
Jack's manuscript: SK/15/3/4/2
Jacks Manuscript: eight sets of typewritten stacks of paper on each sheet of which which is written "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" and its equivalents in other languages. Four in English and one each in French, German, Italian and Spanish.
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