A Talented Shit
Summary
This episode chronicles Stanley Kubrick’s turbulent takeover of the epic film Spartacus in 1959, detailing his clashes with star Kirk Douglas, cinematographer Russell Metty, and blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. Narrated by Ben Mankiewicz, the story highlights Kubrick’s obsessive control, from firing an actress via a cruel deception to demanding a massive battle sequence in Spain despite his severe fear of flying. The narrative also explores the fallout of the production, including Kubrick’s refusal to accept Warner Bros’ final cut deal for Lolita, which cemented his lifelong demand for cre…
Topics discussed
Intro and sponsor
Poker game and the Spartacus offer
Kirk Douglas fires Anthony Mann
Stanley accepts the director role
First day on set and cast dynamics
The Sabina Bethman incident
Perfectionism and the dummy extra
Conflict with cinematographer Russ Meddy
Therapy and the discovery of Lolita
Kubrick's eyes and battle realism
Script notes and the 'I Am Spartacus' scene
The confrontation on horseback
Family life and Christiana's perspective
Rough cut and the blacklisted writer
Dalton Trumbo and the HUAC context
Flying to Spain and Kubrick's phobia
Taking the screenwriting credit
Editing battles and the moviola accident
Cutting Kirk Douglas from the final scene
Premiere, awards, and critical reception
Parting ways and the Lolita deal collapse
Credits and outro
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