Stanley Kubrick’s Relentless Pursuit of Perfection on Set
Stanley Kubrick’s reputation for perfectionism is legendary, as Todd Field discovered firsthand while filming Eyes Wide Shut. Only the 18th take of a pivotal scene finally met Kubrick’s high standards.
Stanley Kubrick’s name is practically synonymous with meticulous filmmaking. His drive for absolute precision often meant actors had to brace themselves for grueling days on set, repeating scenes until he was satisfied. This approach, while responsible for some of cinema’s most iconic moments, also pushed performers to their breaking points. Shelley Duvall’s harrowing experience during the making of The Shining stands out as a prime example. Kubrick demanded she redo emotionally draining scenes countless times, leaving her physically and mentally spent. The toll was so significant that The Guinness World Records recognized a scene between Scatman Crothers and Danny Lloyd for the most takes with dialogue—an astonishing 148.
Anyone cast in a Kubrick film knew what they were signing up for: endless retakes and a director who never sugarcoated his feedback. Todd Field, who played the pianist in Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut, learned this lesson quickly. Although his experience didn’t reach the extremes of The Shining, it was still intense. Field recalled filming a scene where his character, Nick, reunites with Bill at Ziegler’s party. After 18 takes, Kubrick finally approved, but not without his trademark bluntness.
“The first scene, where Bill reunites with Nick at Ziegler’s party. We did 18 takes, which for Stanley wasn’t a lot, and afterwards, he said, ‘Wow, that was great, really great, but the first 17 you were lousy. I mean, the difference between take 18 and all the rest is remarkable’.”
Breaking the Ice with Brutal Honesty
Field was taken aback by Kubrick’s candor, but he didn’t let it shake him. Instead, he responded with humor, telling the director,
“Look, Stanley, I was nervous. I’m here with the biggest star in the world and my favorite filmmaker, and you’re lucky I didn’t piss my pants.”
Surrounded by the likes of Tom Cruise, Sydney Pollack, and Kubrick himself, nerves were inevitable. Kubrick, finally seeing the lighter side, laughed. From that point on, the atmosphere shifted. Field noted that Kubrick even read lines with him, showing a surprising talent for acting.
“He laughed, and after that it was easy. He read wild lines with me himself. And, like Marty Scorsese, he was a terrific actor. And that was a beautiful thing, the way he played,”
Field shared.
The Role That Changed Everything
Field’s character, Nick Nightingale, plays a crucial part in Eyes Wide Shut. He introduces Bill, played by Cruise, to a shadowy world that becomes central to the film’s plot. When Nick is told to play blindfolded at a secretive gathering, he gives Bill the password, opening the door to a bizarre, ritualistic masked event. For Field, this was his first time working on a project of such scale, and he’d never encountered a director as demanding or as forthright as Kubrick. But once he broke through Kubrick’s tough exterior, Field found himself more comfortable, able to deliver a memorable performance as the enigmatic pianist.