Show Notes
After D-Day, Ford goes on a historic bender then heads home... not to Hollywood but to Monument Valley, a secluded land with incredible scenery. There, he creates his own kingdom, a place he can work and create art without being under the thumb of studio executives. His stock company follows him from film to film, and Ford rewards his loyal subjects, but he’s not a kind ruler. He mercilessly picks on actors and pits them against each other, sometimes in the cruelest ways possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from The Plot Thickens
Stanley adapts the most shocking book of its time, a purported love story between a middle-aged man and a 12 year-old girl named Lolita. To escape censors, Stanley shoots the movie in England. But it still ends up stirring plenty of controversy, which propels it to become a major hit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kirk Douglas offers Stanley a massive paycheck to take over directing a historical epic called Spartacus. Against his better judgment, Stanley agrees, and gets roped into one of the most difficult productions of his career. Despite the film's success, Stanley regrets his involvement and learns a painful lesson about Hollywood hierarchies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stanley heads to Hollywood to direct The Killing, a crime caper with a famous cast and a confusing storyline. The film tanks at the box office but attracts the attention of movie star Kirk Douglas, who agrees to star in Stanley's next project. Stanley decides to adapt the antiwar novel Paths of Glory, which he films in Germany and unexpectedly meets the love of his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stanley takes his first crack at filmmaking, starting with shorts and moving up to low-budget independent features. His family bankrolls his productions and his friends act as cast and crew, but his efforts fail to turn a profit. As his first marriage begins to crumble, Stanley plays chess for quarters, until a new friend gives him a shot at the big time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stanley Kubrick grows up rooting for the Yankees, playing drums, and watching World War II newsreels at the local movie theater. At age 13, his father gifts him his first camera, which leads to a prestigious job at a famous magazine... and the opportunity to watch a film being made on the streets of New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices