Kubrick's innovation in transforming a serious drama into a black comedy

The impact of the fateful November 22, 1963

Events that occurred several weeks before the scheduled release date also had a major impact on this film. It was the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Coincidentally, this day was also the day when the first screening was held for those involved, but due to the sudden news, the screening was canceled (from p. 205 of the same book).

Naturally, the influence extended to the film itself. There's a scene in the film in which Major Kong (Slim Pickens), piloting a B-52, says, "We're going to have a nice weekend in Vegas," but originally this line was meant to be "Dallas" instead of "Vegas." However, since Dallas was the exact place where Kennedy was assassinated, it was dubbed because it was reminiscent of the incident.

"The Doctor's Abnormal Love" (c)1963, renewed 1991 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Not only that, but the film company announced that the film's release date would be pushed back to January 1964, as they were afraid to release a political black comedy at such a serious time.

What's even more interesting is that in the aforementioned (cut) pie-throwing scene, General Turgidson, played by George C. (quoted from .205). Of course, he was killed not by a bullet, but by a pie.

One theory is that the Kennedy assassination incident may have been one of the reasons why pie throwing was cut entirely. In any case, if this scene and this line had been used as is in the main story, many of the audience at the time would have associated the president with Kennedy in their heads, and the theme would have been a little different from the original theme of the nuclear threat. Maybe my consciousness has shifted.

"The Doctor's Abnormal Love" (c)1963, renewed 1991 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Kubrick is known to have started his career as a photojournalist at the age of 17, after a photo of Franklin Riesveld's death was sold to Look magazine. Almost 20 years The Day After, he could never have imagined that he would be once again exposed to the consequences of another president's death.

Thus, Kubrick created such a monster work in his mid-30s. He passed away in 1999 without ever seeing the arrival of the 21st century, and the great actor Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Slim Pickens, the original author Peter George, and the screenwriter Terry Southern have long since passed away. Passed away. In heaven, how do they view the modern international situation, which is becoming increasingly complicated and confusing?

References/Citations

“ Film director Stanley Kubrick ” (Vincent Lobrot/Yasuki Hamano, translated by Eriko Sakurai/Shobunsha/2004)

Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU

Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.

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"The Doctor's Abnormal Love"

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(c)1963, renewed 1991 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.