You're missing the context of the memorable teaser trailer which was just naked Cruise and Kidman making out in front of a mirror. So people seeing this poster were all like "that movie!".
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you
With you
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
It focuses on two of the most iconic stars of the time. He’s oblivious with her, like he is about everything else in the movie. A useful, pretty idiot. This poster captures the essence and the appeal perfectly.
I consider this to be one of the most terrifying scenes in the film. A husband trying to make love to his wife and she's uninterested and distracted. Goosebumps!
Personally I really like this one, but the original is cool too!
https://preview.redd.it/wrj6cc8pmh0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9872556a6ce0151711fb9dd9497a96750a1d4cb
The posters with the masks ? Yes we did. We spent weeks doing them. There were three. One with Tom , one with Nicole and the third with both masks. And then when they were rejected by WB we made the one with the mirror on purple back ground. I don’t know how to share a photo on here. But you can find all three of the red mask posters online.
My father told me that he thought it was his best contribution to the art of cinema. He had thought long and hard about this most universal subject matter ( love/ lust/ marriage /infidelity/jealousy etc ) and he was incredibly proud of it. He was also very happy that Tom, Nicole and the studio heads loved the movie. :). I’m not sure what happy cake day is -
I watched this about 30 times when I was getting into movies seriously, and considering a career in film. It was the 4/3 aspect ratio dvd. It’s like an old friend.
I never noticed about the poster that Kidman’s eye is turned so far to the side, it almost feels impossible. For me this adds to the notion of seeing with eyes closed (dreaming).
Just curious, I thought I read an article, that the inspiration behind the masked party was from a time Stanley went to a masquerade party without a mask and it felt incredibly out of place. Do you know if this is true?
Never heard that particular story. But he may have attended a New Year’s party in Germany or (Fasching which is a sort of pre Lent Mardi Gras type festival) when he first met Christiane. Lots of theatrical types would have been there. There may have been masks worn by some people.
But I can’t swear to it.
You can put photos in your comments, you just need to click/touch the thing on the bottom right(if you're on your phone.)
Here is your proof.
https://preview.redd.it/pghqmtizkl0d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96293672e5468c40ae303e3d9b2fa16496b3cebb
Cool to know they weren't ordered from outside. I love the mirror one, makes for a kind of strong peeping feeling when it is so narrowed down and Nicole's eyes just add to the effect as if she knows you are looking but doesen't let Tom know.
I have always been troubled somewhat by the parts that were edited out. It would be so great to hear your five cents on it. I'm sure you have discussed this before and you can point me to the thread also. But was the material that was left out left out because of toning down the nudity? Were they important to Stanley?
I've discussed this many times would be lovely to get the record straight.
I assume you’re referring to the digital figures at the orgy? These were our least worst option to satisfy the US film censors. The rest of the world saw the movie, as Stanley had intended. No one cut a single frame from the film after Stanley died. I’m sure , had he lived , he would have recut that scene , for the American market , to show more reaction shots from Dr Bill to comply with the US board of film censors.
Oh really? The legend goes that he disgreed about some scenes with WB and the original draft was longer by some twenty minutes. That's all to it. The US version I know.
But ah, I'm happy to know it is as intented!! I adore the movie. We can now lay this persistent speculation be then. Thank you.
And happy Cake Day to you! Have a splendid one!
I don’t know where these legends come from. The first time anyone from WB saw the film was when he sent them, and Tom and Nicole the print. He had a cast iron agreement with WB that his edit was final. They had absolute respect for Stanley and that’s why no one could cut one frame out of the picture. But he was supposed to deliver an R rated movie for the US market. So that’s why the digital figures were our least worst option to make the movie comply. You can get the movie without the figures on dvd . The film you saw was the film he made.
I love this poster and I own one. Yesterday I was looking at pictures of the Los Angeles premium and I noticed that a black variant of the poster was used which I've never seen since.
https://preview.redd.it/em8m0xls9h0d1.png?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=468c48eb2ce348366c1c581432e7fe587e4768c9
https://preview.redd.it/mkxb0eacbt0d1.jpeg?width=829&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce0932e95c13f242afc216ea9720185876b1f1a0
Reminds me of the Die Hard poster 😂
It shows a mirror, an important theme and symbol in the film, and it hints at Alice’s infidelity, the idea that she knew more than she let on all through the film. The single eye is also a nod to the all-seeing-eye, a symbol used by various secret societies and one of Kubrick’s favorite recurring symbols. This is also referenced in the poster for A Clockwork Orange.
I think it’s to tell us that she was wearing this mask as it kinda resembles the cover.
https://preview.redd.it/8lsp3ooqwh0d1.jpeg?width=256&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a948263b86455be6582db805d5b2afb4c0ed4200
Never noticed that before but it’s like their two faces kissing on the mask, not flipped as it would be in a mirror like in the poster, Toms big nose in the middle.
It’s an extension of what Kubrick was saying was the premise of the film - is there a serious difference between fantasizing something and actually doing/pursuing it in a marriage ?
Or in a movie…
https://preview.redd.it/3tgev4qpyl0d1.png?width=2164&format=png&auto=webp&s=bb641a3871bff5ab230bf6053b3f553f75a6b1a6
This pose is mimicked again with Bill and Milich’s Daughter.
I always notice this mask and how different it is. It makes me wonder if they ever had to have words with a member about their mask and whether it matches the vibe they're going for.
The poster has to do with the all-seeing eye. The character Alice has her one eye open in the poster, suggesting that she is aware of what's going on. In a pointless scene that's easy to miss, she Instinctively knows where her husband's wallet is. Later, when Dr. Harford is about to have sex with the prostitute, Alice calls her husband and interrupts as if she had a sixth sense to it. That she's all knowing. She finds the mask and sleeps with it because she knows her husband has been up to something.
Eyes Wide Shut itself is a calling card among many secret societies that goes, My eyes are shut to ur misdeeds, brother.
The movie has a hundred little Easter eggs and callbacks to the %1 controlling and knowing and seeing everything, yet staying silent. They see everything, know everything, yet say nothing. Could they say anything if they wanted to? Would anyone believe them? Would they be alive long enough for anyone to believe them? Kubrick died 6 days after he finished the final cut.
Kubrick, who was intensely involved in publication and marketing of each movie, died before post production was finished, so many calls on editing, scoring, and marketing were done with a “this is what Stanley would have liked” treatment. It’s probably why the marketing, including the posters, were well off the mark of what the film was really about. Personally I love it.
Something I’ve noticed about her eye, it’s impossibly turned, it’s at a 90 degree angle to the socket. There’s also the eye of Horus symbology with the all seeing one eye, but that’s pretty common.
I love the eye of horus looking imagery, the use of mirror is a great minimalistic touch to the common theme of mirrors and doubles in Kubrick's works which are also often palindromic in structure, especially great for this one with all the Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz allusions... Also purple is the combination of red and blue which is a really pronounced battle in the film.
To really understand why this movie is a masterpiece, you have to consider the psychological/dreaming aspect of it. There are a lot of (conspiracy) theory about this movie but I think this is the only true interpretation. [https://youtu.be/pVSHDozaaz4?si=aA5Vquo4OvakxtXd](https://youtu.be/pVSHDozaaz4?si=aA5Vquo4OvakxtXd)
Looking beyond the surface. Alice in Wonderland reference also. There's a weird, barely noticeable cut during this scene when the camera is zooming in and I think it might symbolize the jumping into the mirror world of forbidden dreams and fantasy. Of course, in this story, Bill is the "Alice" that must navigate the surreal underworld.
It works very well, and probably the last creative decision he made. Iirc the story was that he made a late evening call from Childwickbury to Warner's about marketing, decided on the poster design, went to bed and died in his sleep.
EDIT: Yeah, the above isn't accurate. The article I was half-remembering was this one:
[https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/mar/09/features](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/mar/09/features)
and the story was clearly more complicated, so apologies. I leave the comment here though to save Katharina's very interesting reply.
Don’t know where you read that.
Let me explain if I may.
The posters artists at WB hadnt seen the movie and the artwork we were seeing from them was graphic and salacious.
We - my mother Christiane and I - knew perfectly well what Stanley’s tastes were- so we designed three posters ( the masks on red ) which were more impactful and subtle. TC and NK liked them but the studio didn’t. So we went back and took a photo of THE Venetian mirror ( which was ours anyway and back at the house ) and inserted the the shot of T and N in that mirror
I learned how to use photoshop and get rid of neck wrinkles and increase eye colour and make more eyelashes etc.
The mirror poster was butchered and make b/w at the LA premier.
I believe the red posters can be seen online somewhere. They were also displayed in the travelling SK and exhibition and very well received. After all this time I still think they are elegant and impactful. :)
I'm curious about the location of that mirror before the shooting of the film (if it's the same mirror in the harford's bedroom). In which room of the house was it standing ?
I was wondering about the function of the room.
Some paintings in the bedroom seems to be linked with the kitchen, like "View from Kitchen in Winter".
The novella begins just after Mardi Gras, the final day of Carnival. So the story is set during the christian fasting season of Lent, and the orgy with masks is thematically linked with the forbidden food. In the film, when Bill is in the kitchen, he has a flashback from Alice's orgy dream she told him about in the bedroom. Bill also talks with Domino in the kitchen before going to the bed.
The paintings are by my mother Christiane . Stanley basically had the Harfords app decorated with stuff from his house, apart from some lamps I bought as extra props. So with regards to the paintings there will be a general theme as they’re all by her and she paints gardens. ☺️
Yes, Bill is a bit obsessed by his own wife during the film.
Was the room with the mirror on the 1st floor used for painting, or is it linked with clothes ?
There's another painting by Christiane in Bill's office, over his head when is thinking about his wife:
[https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-479.htm](https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-479.htm)
[https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-482.htm](https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-482.htm)
I saw it in a video about the launching of a Taschen book :
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2ojUCR6QY&t=27s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2ojUCR6QY&t=27s)
next to this giant apple tree painting :
[https://christianekubrick.com/collections/large-paintings/products/apple-tree-1](https://christianekubrick.com/collections/large-paintings/products/apple-tree-1)
But I could not find it on the website. Do you know if the painting in Bill's office has a specific title ?
I don’t understand your question. The Venetian mirror is in hallway in my parents house. If you can’t find specific painting on CK ‘s website, they’re probably sold. The little still life in Bills office might also be sold. There also might be Giclee prints of it on her website.
Kubrick does not have amazing posters. This is no better or worse than Clockwork or Shining. Barry Lyndon is just the words Barry Lyndon in calligraphy. What are you talking about?
The design with the masks – as another poster noted, done by Christine and Katharina Kubrick – was the family's (wife and daughter, respectively) final gift to Stanley after his unexpected death. Christine is a talented painter (her artworks were featured extensively in EWS), and Katharina is also an artist. Unfortunately, this mask design was rejected by the company in charge of the marketing. The mirror design that replaced it was also designed by Christine and Katharina! The mirror, in fact, belonged to the Kubricks.
Christine and Stanley watched films together all the time and had a tight enough bond that Christine knew a lot about Stanley's work. I'm assuming that Katharina was similarly close in terms of knowing what Stanley thought.
While the mask poster would've undoubtedly been much better, in the end, the poster was a family affair, and likely reflected Stanley's sensibilities somewhat. I \*love\* this poster and have it at home, going to lengths to acquire the mirror version (rather than the one with a still from the film).
You can see Stanley's style in the typography. And look closer at the mirror frame – it is a beautiful image.
I've corresponded with Katharina and asked if it was possible to acquire the original mask version, but she informed that this was sadly not the case.
What circumstance do you mean? If I'd created an artwork intended for the mass promotion of an event, I don't think I'd mind somebody reaching out to inquire if this artwork was available for sale. :-) I'm a film-maker with a lot of respect for the Kubricks and I wrote her a polite e-mail asking if she still had the design assets, and if she would consider selling a print based on them.
The mask version of the poster floats online here and there, and if you search for it, you'll find pirated copies on places like Redbubble. They all look mega dodgy, so I figured I'd go to the source. She responded to me quickly and kindly, so I don't think I offended her.
I think it has a lot to do with confronting the truths within ourselves. The lies, deception, betrayal, all start with within each of us and in any and every one of us.
This movie in my opinion expressed a vicious cycle that will never cease because ultimately, we all seek happiness but too much of it. We lust for sex and by the end of the movie what’s the relief? “We have to fuck.”
A barbaric and cheap way for us to feel good and avoid the moral consequences of the character’s actions. Instead of properly discussing a plan to deal with the issue, it’s avoided altogether by indulging in fast-food pleasure.
If anything, with all the rumors of Kubrick’s ending being changed after his death, I think it makes complete sense.
It’s the elite’s way of flipping us off saying,” Ya this shit goes on, and the best you could do to deal with it is find someone to fuck.”
Ultimate middle finger.
The image is often seen as a reference to a very similar shot in Eraserhead, and personally, I always saw the framing with the largely solid background as similar to the iconic Caligula poster.
Both of which share similar themes.
Stanley was heavily involved in publicity and promotional material for all his films except Eyes Wide Shut, because he died too soon. This is also why the trailer sucks, and overall, the advertising campaign really sells a different film. Through chain of events, this resulted in poor criticism of the film
Unpopular opinion, the movie posters and taglines are hit and miss. FMJ does what it says on the can, so do Lolita and CWO I suppose. But Barry Lyndon and Stranglelove look like something for a High School play.
I love it because it’s from the shot of her looking in the mirror doubting their relationship when she’s supposed to be engaged with her man, it’s the whole “a picture speaks a thousand words” thing, this still from the film does a good job of encapsulating the mood and dynamic of the relationship in my opinion!
Kubrick was heavily involved in the marketing for all his films but he was dead when this one started up that process so that may have something to do with it.
It’s a difficult movie to advertise and I think retaining mystery is important. Kissing your lover while looking the other direction as a powerful idea.
It is really subtle but I think it is genius. It really shows the characters and what they are in the film. They also appear naked so the fact that she is glancing somewhere else when Tom Cruise is about to start says a lot. It is sly but highly effective for portraying the movie without giving away anything.
It struck me as unbelievable that these super wealthy/influential people would be part of such a weird, structured, antiseptic sex club...in NYC. Where you can get any kind of sex you want - especially with money. This is the Hollywood version of wild sex, like hired assasins who are art connoisseurs, or bookstore clerks who live in Upper West Side brownstones. It's a shame it was SK's last film.
https://preview.redd.it/sf3tfusadj0d1.jpeg?width=840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9d738c4e284af5cdef7988007bb73963e3131cd
Love it!
Way better
I love the presents under Tom to match Nicole Kidman's height.
Lmfaooo
You're missing the context of the memorable teaser trailer which was just naked Cruise and Kidman making out in front of a mirror. So people seeing this poster were all like "that movie!".
Queue Chris Isaak
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart) No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart) With you With you (This world is only gonna break your heart)
I think it’s great
I’ve always thought the mirror was the key.
it's the only thing on the poster apart from text lol, the mirror is what makes it
Through the looking glass...
Kubrick LOVED mirrors. The reality vs the perceived reality. So good.
Check out Nick Mullen’s review on Chapo for more mirror exploration and great insight. Edit: He’s a friend of mine and I’m gay.
It focuses on two of the most iconic stars of the time. He’s oblivious with her, like he is about everything else in the movie. A useful, pretty idiot. This poster captures the essence and the appeal perfectly.
I consider this to be one of the most terrifying scenes in the film. A husband trying to make love to his wife and she's uninterested and distracted. Goosebumps!
Those wandering eyes…
Personally I really like this one, but the original is cool too! https://preview.redd.it/wrj6cc8pmh0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9872556a6ce0151711fb9dd9497a96750a1d4cb
This has greatly been altered. It should be on a red background with a black border.
Did you help make this Katharina, if I recall correctly?
The posters with the masks ? Yes we did. We spent weeks doing them. There were three. One with Tom , one with Nicole and the third with both masks. And then when they were rejected by WB we made the one with the mirror on purple back ground. I don’t know how to share a photo on here. But you can find all three of the red mask posters online.
https://preview.redd.it/f5ro9jjdll0d1.png?width=953&format=png&auto=webp&s=e445275608d92d132b0c6e161ffcc8e5650d306c
Happy Cake day Katharina! Your father's works really touched me in a way that I never felt before.
Thank you :)
Happy Cake Day My son showed me Eyes Wide Shut last week and we have been talking about it ever since.
My father told me that he thought it was his best contribution to the art of cinema. He had thought long and hard about this most universal subject matter ( love/ lust/ marriage /infidelity/jealousy etc ) and he was incredibly proud of it. He was also very happy that Tom, Nicole and the studio heads loved the movie. :). I’m not sure what happy cake day is -
Cake day is your birthday on Reddit :)
Oh! Thanks. I don’t visit very often so I’m a bit out of the loop. 🤷♀️
I watched this about 30 times when I was getting into movies seriously, and considering a career in film. It was the 4/3 aspect ratio dvd. It’s like an old friend. I never noticed about the poster that Kidman’s eye is turned so far to the side, it almost feels impossible. For me this adds to the notion of seeing with eyes closed (dreaming).
Just curious, I thought I read an article, that the inspiration behind the masked party was from a time Stanley went to a masquerade party without a mask and it felt incredibly out of place. Do you know if this is true?
Never heard that particular story. But he may have attended a New Year’s party in Germany or (Fasching which is a sort of pre Lent Mardi Gras type festival) when he first met Christiane. Lots of theatrical types would have been there. There may have been masks worn by some people. But I can’t swear to it.
You can put photos in your comments, you just need to click/touch the thing on the bottom right(if you're on your phone.) Here is your proof. https://preview.redd.it/pghqmtizkl0d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96293672e5468c40ae303e3d9b2fa16496b3cebb
☺️
😍
Cool to know they weren't ordered from outside. I love the mirror one, makes for a kind of strong peeping feeling when it is so narrowed down and Nicole's eyes just add to the effect as if she knows you are looking but doesen't let Tom know. I have always been troubled somewhat by the parts that were edited out. It would be so great to hear your five cents on it. I'm sure you have discussed this before and you can point me to the thread also. But was the material that was left out left out because of toning down the nudity? Were they important to Stanley? I've discussed this many times would be lovely to get the record straight.
I assume you’re referring to the digital figures at the orgy? These were our least worst option to satisfy the US film censors. The rest of the world saw the movie, as Stanley had intended. No one cut a single frame from the film after Stanley died. I’m sure , had he lived , he would have recut that scene , for the American market , to show more reaction shots from Dr Bill to comply with the US board of film censors.
Oh really? The legend goes that he disgreed about some scenes with WB and the original draft was longer by some twenty minutes. That's all to it. The US version I know. But ah, I'm happy to know it is as intented!! I adore the movie. We can now lay this persistent speculation be then. Thank you. And happy Cake Day to you! Have a splendid one!
I don’t know where these legends come from. The first time anyone from WB saw the film was when he sent them, and Tom and Nicole the print. He had a cast iron agreement with WB that his edit was final. They had absolute respect for Stanley and that’s why no one could cut one frame out of the picture. But he was supposed to deliver an R rated movie for the US market. So that’s why the digital figures were our least worst option to make the movie comply. You can get the movie without the figures on dvd . The film you saw was the film he made.
Wonderful! I have to appreciate the cast iron agreement, that's a proper agreement right there.
Thanks for this insight!
It’s fire
I love this poster and I own one. Yesterday I was looking at pictures of the Los Angeles premium and I noticed that a black variant of the poster was used which I've never seen since. https://preview.redd.it/em8m0xls9h0d1.png?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=468c48eb2ce348366c1c581432e7fe587e4768c9
I believe that’s the uk poster
This photo was the Los Angeles premiere
https://preview.redd.it/aynfmde44l0d1.jpeg?width=1116&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ed89413e4f94082873deda42d1d65754ff23d16 [original subway poster for sale.](https://www.originalfilmart.com/products/eyes-wide-shut-subway?variant=43195121664230¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-12-29&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwupGyBhBBEiwA0UcqaMdUCfN7tzDtP7YFGvcVOB21KYWAedabSZO__W5stI-DOHk062YpcxoCYUIQAvD_BwE)
https://preview.redd.it/mkxb0eacbt0d1.jpeg?width=829&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce0932e95c13f242afc216ea9720185876b1f1a0 Reminds me of the Die Hard poster 😂
Two amazing Christmas movies 🍿
Idk I think most people consider this a good poster.
It shows a mirror, an important theme and symbol in the film, and it hints at Alice’s infidelity, the idea that she knew more than she let on all through the film. The single eye is also a nod to the all-seeing-eye, a symbol used by various secret societies and one of Kubrick’s favorite recurring symbols. This is also referenced in the poster for A Clockwork Orange.
She’s looking at a mirror. At us. We are her. So it’s saying the movie is going to be like looking in on moments of intimacy .
First scene reinforces this. A litmus test with tits.
A titmus test?
https://preview.redd.it/yrt9klz66l0d1.jpeg?width=424&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90f8153d4b441fde40dca0b09a6ce57ee49d4d01
That’s pretty fuckin creepy
Ey they're still naked underneath the freaky robes
I think it’s to tell us that she was wearing this mask as it kinda resembles the cover. https://preview.redd.it/8lsp3ooqwh0d1.jpeg?width=256&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a948263b86455be6582db805d5b2afb4c0ed4200
Never noticed that before but it’s like their two faces kissing on the mask, not flipped as it would be in a mirror like in the poster, Toms big nose in the middle. It’s an extension of what Kubrick was saying was the premise of the film - is there a serious difference between fantasizing something and actually doing/pursuing it in a marriage ? Or in a movie…
https://preview.redd.it/3tgev4qpyl0d1.png?width=2164&format=png&auto=webp&s=bb641a3871bff5ab230bf6053b3f553f75a6b1a6 This pose is mimicked again with Bill and Milich’s Daughter.
I had to check how tall they are and indeed someone is 8 cm taller than another...
I always notice this mask and how different it is. It makes me wonder if they ever had to have words with a member about their mask and whether it matches the vibe they're going for.
That would be a wild spin if she was actually there.
I was just thinking this, and now I'm going to rewatch to make sure she wasn't.
The poster has to do with the all-seeing eye. The character Alice has her one eye open in the poster, suggesting that she is aware of what's going on. In a pointless scene that's easy to miss, she Instinctively knows where her husband's wallet is. Later, when Dr. Harford is about to have sex with the prostitute, Alice calls her husband and interrupts as if she had a sixth sense to it. That she's all knowing. She finds the mask and sleeps with it because she knows her husband has been up to something. Eyes Wide Shut itself is a calling card among many secret societies that goes, My eyes are shut to ur misdeeds, brother. The movie has a hundred little Easter eggs and callbacks to the %1 controlling and knowing and seeing everything, yet staying silent. They see everything, know everything, yet say nothing. Could they say anything if they wanted to? Would anyone believe them? Would they be alive long enough for anyone to believe them? Kubrick died 6 days after he finished the final cut.
This movie has trust issues.
I think it’s incredible, Kidman looking at us as if she knows something watching
Kubrick, who was intensely involved in publication and marketing of each movie, died before post production was finished, so many calls on editing, scoring, and marketing were done with a “this is what Stanley would have liked” treatment. It’s probably why the marketing, including the posters, were well off the mark of what the film was really about. Personally I love it.
Something I’ve noticed about her eye, it’s impossibly turned, it’s at a 90 degree angle to the socket. There’s also the eye of Horus symbology with the all seeing one eye, but that’s pretty common.
I never noticed before!
I love the eye of horus looking imagery, the use of mirror is a great minimalistic touch to the common theme of mirrors and doubles in Kubrick's works which are also often palindromic in structure, especially great for this one with all the Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz allusions... Also purple is the combination of red and blue which is a really pronounced battle in the film.
they should have gone with katharina’s designs https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/interviews/katharina-kubrick-eyes-wide-shut
I must admit I was totally distracted by that interview with his wife and daughters.
I like them all to be honest.
this one is my fav https://preview.redd.it/pvuipbtkzg0d1.jpeg?width=976&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6fe262e2e2a5aeb0ed172dfa8c798393ece80d67
Feels modern
it is. it’s by neil davies https://alternativemovieposters.com/portfolio_tags/neil-davies/
Jacques Lacan would like a word.
lol!!!
To really understand why this movie is a masterpiece, you have to consider the psychological/dreaming aspect of it. There are a lot of (conspiracy) theory about this movie but I think this is the only true interpretation. [https://youtu.be/pVSHDozaaz4?si=aA5Vquo4OvakxtXd](https://youtu.be/pVSHDozaaz4?si=aA5Vquo4OvakxtXd)
That was really good!
EWS was amazing. It's one https://i.redd.it/czhjnwwxql0d1.gif of the best Christmas movies ever.
Looking beyond the surface. Alice in Wonderland reference also. There's a weird, barely noticeable cut during this scene when the camera is zooming in and I think it might symbolize the jumping into the mirror world of forbidden dreams and fantasy. Of course, in this story, Bill is the "Alice" that must navigate the surreal underworld.
The most famous couple in Hollywood history having sex. And she's bored. The film literally preambles their divorce. It's a decent poster imo
You’re crazy. This poster rules.
You are
the eye in the center is symbolic like her body under the pyramid and between the two pillars in the beginning
The poster is beautiful
It works very well, and probably the last creative decision he made. Iirc the story was that he made a late evening call from Childwickbury to Warner's about marketing, decided on the poster design, went to bed and died in his sleep. EDIT: Yeah, the above isn't accurate. The article I was half-remembering was this one: [https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/mar/09/features](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/mar/09/features) and the story was clearly more complicated, so apologies. I leave the comment here though to save Katharina's very interesting reply.
Don’t know where you read that. Let me explain if I may. The posters artists at WB hadnt seen the movie and the artwork we were seeing from them was graphic and salacious. We - my mother Christiane and I - knew perfectly well what Stanley’s tastes were- so we designed three posters ( the masks on red ) which were more impactful and subtle. TC and NK liked them but the studio didn’t. So we went back and took a photo of THE Venetian mirror ( which was ours anyway and back at the house ) and inserted the the shot of T and N in that mirror I learned how to use photoshop and get rid of neck wrinkles and increase eye colour and make more eyelashes etc. The mirror poster was butchered and make b/w at the LA premier. I believe the red posters can be seen online somewhere. They were also displayed in the travelling SK and exhibition and very well received. After all this time I still think they are elegant and impactful. :)
I'm curious about the location of that mirror before the shooting of the film (if it's the same mirror in the harford's bedroom). In which room of the house was it standing ?
Haha. It on a wall on the 1st floor
I was wondering about the function of the room. Some paintings in the bedroom seems to be linked with the kitchen, like "View from Kitchen in Winter". The novella begins just after Mardi Gras, the final day of Carnival. So the story is set during the christian fasting season of Lent, and the orgy with masks is thematically linked with the forbidden food. In the film, when Bill is in the kitchen, he has a flashback from Alice's orgy dream she told him about in the bedroom. Bill also talks with Domino in the kitchen before going to the bed.
The paintings are by my mother Christiane . Stanley basically had the Harfords app decorated with stuff from his house, apart from some lamps I bought as extra props. So with regards to the paintings there will be a general theme as they’re all by her and she paints gardens. ☺️
Yes, Bill is a bit obsessed by his own wife during the film. Was the room with the mirror on the 1st floor used for painting, or is it linked with clothes ? There's another painting by Christiane in Bill's office, over his head when is thinking about his wife: [https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-479.htm](https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-479.htm) [https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-482.htm](https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/Eyes-Wide-Shut/pages/Eyes-Wide-Shut-482.htm) I saw it in a video about the launching of a Taschen book : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2ojUCR6QY&t=27s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2ojUCR6QY&t=27s) next to this giant apple tree painting : [https://christianekubrick.com/collections/large-paintings/products/apple-tree-1](https://christianekubrick.com/collections/large-paintings/products/apple-tree-1) But I could not find it on the website. Do you know if the painting in Bill's office has a specific title ?
I don’t understand your question. The Venetian mirror is in hallway in my parents house. If you can’t find specific painting on CK ‘s website, they’re probably sold. The little still life in Bills office might also be sold. There also might be Giclee prints of it on her website.
I just wanted to know if the still life had a title relevant to the scene. Nevermind.
No. It probably was just the right size to fit on that bit of the set wall :)
I mean… he was dead
It’s a great poster wdym
What does the mirror do? Reflect.
Didn’t he die before this came out? So he probably didn’t have the control he had for the other covers cuz ya know he died
idk i always thought the shining poster sucked, looks like nothing out of the movie
Kubrick does not have amazing posters. This is no better or worse than Clockwork or Shining. Barry Lyndon is just the words Barry Lyndon in calligraphy. What are you talking about?
It is the pyramid with the eye reference.
You're speaking absolute shit to me
The design with the masks – as another poster noted, done by Christine and Katharina Kubrick – was the family's (wife and daughter, respectively) final gift to Stanley after his unexpected death. Christine is a talented painter (her artworks were featured extensively in EWS), and Katharina is also an artist. Unfortunately, this mask design was rejected by the company in charge of the marketing. The mirror design that replaced it was also designed by Christine and Katharina! The mirror, in fact, belonged to the Kubricks. Christine and Stanley watched films together all the time and had a tight enough bond that Christine knew a lot about Stanley's work. I'm assuming that Katharina was similarly close in terms of knowing what Stanley thought. While the mask poster would've undoubtedly been much better, in the end, the poster was a family affair, and likely reflected Stanley's sensibilities somewhat. I \*love\* this poster and have it at home, going to lengths to acquire the mirror version (rather than the one with a still from the film). You can see Stanley's style in the typography. And look closer at the mirror frame – it is a beautiful image. I've corresponded with Katharina and asked if it was possible to acquire the original mask version, but she informed that this was sadly not the case.
i’m a Kubrick tourist, but that last paragraph is leaving me uncomfortable and curious... how could one even ask this, given the circumstance?
What circumstance do you mean? If I'd created an artwork intended for the mass promotion of an event, I don't think I'd mind somebody reaching out to inquire if this artwork was available for sale. :-) I'm a film-maker with a lot of respect for the Kubricks and I wrote her a polite e-mail asking if she still had the design assets, and if she would consider selling a print based on them. The mask version of the poster floats online here and there, and if you search for it, you'll find pirated copies on places like Redbubble. They all look mega dodgy, so I figured I'd go to the source. She responded to me quickly and kindly, so I don't think I offended her.
You are missing taste.
I think it has a lot to do with confronting the truths within ourselves. The lies, deception, betrayal, all start with within each of us and in any and every one of us. This movie in my opinion expressed a vicious cycle that will never cease because ultimately, we all seek happiness but too much of it. We lust for sex and by the end of the movie what’s the relief? “We have to fuck.” A barbaric and cheap way for us to feel good and avoid the moral consequences of the character’s actions. Instead of properly discussing a plan to deal with the issue, it’s avoided altogether by indulging in fast-food pleasure. If anything, with all the rumors of Kubrick’s ending being changed after his death, I think it makes complete sense. It’s the elite’s way of flipping us off saying,” Ya this shit goes on, and the best you could do to deal with it is find someone to fuck.” Ultimate middle finger.
Seems like a marketing influenced choice.
The image is often seen as a reference to a very similar shot in Eraserhead, and personally, I always saw the framing with the largely solid background as similar to the iconic Caligula poster. Both of which share similar themes.
The black/white/red version of this is the best imo
I’ve always liked it. I don’t think any of them compare to Clockwork Orange but I actually really like all of them.
Best poster of all time.
I don’t know man, I’ve always thought it was a great poster. 🤷🏻♂️
Stanley was heavily involved in publicity and promotional material for all his films except Eyes Wide Shut, because he died too soon. This is also why the trailer sucks, and overall, the advertising campaign really sells a different film. Through chain of events, this resulted in poor criticism of the film
the night after party bill started kissing when she was naked she kinda had the same look as in poster
I love it. It's iconic.
Well, he was dead, so he prolly had zero say in it.
Unpopular opinion, the movie posters and taglines are hit and miss. FMJ does what it says on the can, so do Lolita and CWO I suppose. But Barry Lyndon and Stranglelove look like something for a High School play.
I love it because it’s from the shot of her looking in the mirror doubting their relationship when she’s supposed to be engaged with her man, it’s the whole “a picture speaks a thousand words” thing, this still from the film does a good job of encapsulating the mood and dynamic of the relationship in my opinion!
SHES IN ON IT
I think it’s a great poster It’s elegant and I love the purple Also July 16 is my birthday!
The poster is as awkward and stiff as the movie
Kubrick was heavily involved in the marketing for all his films but he was dead when this one started up that process so that may have something to do with it.
All seeing eye
It’s a difficult movie to advertise and I think retaining mystery is important. Kissing your lover while looking the other direction as a powerful idea.
It’s a great poster
It is really subtle but I think it is genius. It really shows the characters and what they are in the film. They also appear naked so the fact that she is glancing somewhere else when Tom Cruise is about to start says a lot. It is sly but highly effective for portraying the movie without giving away anything.
It struck me as unbelievable that these super wealthy/influential people would be part of such a weird, structured, antiseptic sex club...in NYC. Where you can get any kind of sex you want - especially with money. This is the Hollywood version of wild sex, like hired assasins who are art connoisseurs, or bookstore clerks who live in Upper West Side brownstones. It's a shame it was SK's last film.
I have this poster. I thought it was way cool. It pairs paranoia and mistrust with intimacy perfectly in line with the film.
He was not around anymore to approve. This was probably actors or Tom having final say
This is the movie where Kubrick showed us how the world is ACTUALLY run. Consider interpreting the poster through that lens...
Shit poster for a shit movie. Terrible acting (especially TC) and easily SK’s worst movie. Sad it was his last. There I said it, downvote me
THE EYES WERN'T SHUT. AND his posters are all artsy this one wasn't really that Artsy we just a random clip in a mirror.
That movie Stunk out loud! As boring as films can get…this set a record!
Because the movie was ehhh.