COLOUR ME KUBRICK

UK, 2005, 86 minutes, Colour.
John Malkovich, Jim Davidson, Robert Powell, Henry Goodman, Terence Rigby, Peter Bowles, Leslie Phillips, Richard E. Grant, Honor Blackman.
Directed by Brian Cook.

Colour Me Kubrick is an entertaining trifle. It is based on what the film calls a true…ish story, the tale of a London conman, Alan Conway, who retired went about London passing himself off as director Stanley Kubrick. Watching his exploits, it is quite amazing what he got away with.


The film opens amusingly with two young men looking like Alex and a droog from A Clockwork Orange, but they are really debt collectors trying to find Conway. They meet an uppercrust couple, Leslie Phillips and Honor Blackman, and have to retreat. What follows is a range of escapades as Conway moves around London, very gay, very camp, unsure of his identity, sometimes thinking he is actually Kubrick and seems more real when he passes himself off as Stanley. He picks up young men, promises them the world for his new film, gets money out of them. He also gets money from a pharmacist, and promises the world to a man who is setting up his bars around the world. His final big target is a provincial singer whom he encourages to think about a career in the United States and in Las Vegas.

Eventually members of the press catch up on him, he spends some time in an institution where his doctor believes every word, but eventually he dies in1998 and his legend begins.

He is eccentrically played by John Malkovich, relishing the manner and style of Conway. There are many British character actors in brief supporting roles including Leslie Phillips, Honor Blackman, Robert Powell, Peter Bowles and Richard E Grant.

1. A true story? True…ish?

2. The story of a conman, the nature of conmen, manner, style? Interactions with people? Cadging? Promises? Ruining people’s hopes with expectations? Care-free? Ingenuous? The capers, the information for the press, his being in an institution, court, dying?

3. The title, Stanley Kubrick and his career, reputation, in England, the recluse?

4. John Malkovich and his impersonation of Alan Conway? His knowledge of Kubrick yet his ignorance of his films, being caught out about Judgement in Nuremberg? His talk and various accents? Pompous style? Gay and very camp? his clothes? Interactions, an opportunist?

5. The question of identity, his later discussions about who was real, Conway or Kubrick, his real self? The use of names? Stanley? His identity as Kubrick and feeling real? the challenges to himself to others?

6. The opening, the very British couple, the men at their door, the importance of their address, Conway using it, waiting for cars to turn up and hiding? The introduction to the theme and the tones of Kubrick, especially the young men looking like droogs from A Clockwork Orange? And the musical score?

7. The opening and the parody of A Clockwork Orange? The fact that the young men were collecting money?

8. The use of Kubrick scores, 2001, Clockwork Orange, plus the range of songs, especially for Lee, Viva Las Vegas?

9. Conway and his range of encounters, the bar and the designer, flattering him, sexual intent, promising him to be designer on his new film, at his home, the later phone calls and concern? The managers of the band, the enthusiasm, talking in the car, going to see the band, Conway borrowing £20 for vodka, the accusation during the performance, his disappearance? The taxi driver? offering him a part in the film, fleecing him of £40, the taxi driver going to the police, their threat about the roadworthiness of his car? The owner of the clubs, his enthusiasm and his lawyer, borrowing the money, all the talk about the New York office and documents, the later experience of the losses? The pharmacist, the talking in the shop, wanting to manage a rock band, he and his wife invited to the home, the discussions, his borrowing money from them and the false check?

10. Conway, his devices, the plausibility, the promises? His life of hedonism and enjoying it?

11. Those tricked by Conway, the interviews, but not wanting to appear in court, the danger to their reputations?

12. Robert Powell as the journalist, the investigations, his talking to camera, his interviews with Conway?

13. Lee, the chatter about his reputation, the gossip, the party, Lee singing, the manager, Conway and his spiel, everyone believing him, the spin about
Las Vegas, expenses, living in comfort? Lee and his performance? The discussions with the manager, all expenses paid? The manager, the discovery of the magazines? The truth? Lee and the confrontation, Conway going into the water?

14. Conway in the institution, the discussions with the doctor, her paper, his wanting a royalty, her complete belief in him?

15. His friend from France, selling up and moving to London, disillusionment, discussion about his identity? Conway, desperate, confessing the truth?

16. The end, the portrait of Conway for the final credits, the final information about him, his life and his death?