Stanley Kubrick’s first feature film is a surreal affair. Mostly because of its very low budget, it has an abstract and stripped down feel. Two of the unnamed enemies were played by two of the main characters. This saved Kubrick from having to hire two more actors and also gave it a “they are us” feel. And as no nation or geolocation is ever mentioned, they might actually be us. Financed by Stanley’s uncle, the film was shot silent and dubbed by the actors in post.
Our four heroes are the pilot, Lieutenant Corby, Sergeant “Mac” who resents his fly-boy superior what with all that fancy book learning, and still wet behind his ears Private Sidney, who is not prepared for what lies ahead. Oh, and private Fletcher is there too. This also features the first film role for Virginia Leith, whom old friends will remember as Jan in the Pan.
The twenty four year old Kubrick produced, directed, filmed, edited, and even did sound design here, and his inexperienced hand is apparent. Some edits are very clumsy, likely caused by a lack of coverage. The dialog is clunky and philosophy heavy. And some character interactions implied more story that did not come. The film lost money, uncle refused to provide any more loans, and Stanley hated the finished product so much he tried to have every existing copy and negative destroyed. Apparently he failed.
Fear and Desire is a short, somewhat interesting film but is inescapably amateurish. Kubrick was said to have “absolutely loathed it” and called it a “bumbling amateur film exercise". It is not without some interesting elements, but were it not for the name attached to it, it would be entirely forgettable. AMRU 2.5.
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