Stanley Kubrick's "Napoleon"

More about the book

This captivating exploration delves into Kubrick's unmade film about Napoleon Bonaparte, a project that intrigued fans for 40 years. Intended for production after "2001: A Space Odyssey," Kubrick's vision was a character-driven epic featuring grand battle scenes with thousands of extras. His commitment to authenticity led to two years of exhaustive research, aided by numerous assistants and an Oxford expert on Napoleon. He compiled an extraordinary collection of preproduction materials, including around 15,000 location scouting photographs and 17,000 slides of Napoleonic imagery, reflecting his meticulous quest for historical accuracy. Unfortunately, the film never materialized, as studios deemed the project too risky during a period when historical epics were out of favor. This publication pays tribute to Kubrick’s efforts, offering a comprehensive single-volume edition that consolidates the original 2009 limited edition's ten books into one. It includes correspondence, costume studies, and script drafts, alongside Kubrick’s final screenplay. The text also features the complete original treatment, essays on the screenplay's historical context, and a transcript of interviews with Oxford professor Felix Markham. This unique work invites readers to engage with Kubrick's creative process and the enigmatic figure of Napoleon Bonaparte. *Includes access to a searchable online database of nearly 17,000 Napoleonic images.*