In a reflection on his experience working in Eyes Wide Shut, Alan Cumming revealed he initially believed his performance might be too exaggerated for Stanley Kubrick’s artistic vision. However, he ultimately gained a profound acting insight from the legendary director. Kubrick, acknowledged as one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history, is noted for his mastery across various genres, including iconic works like 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, and Full Metal Jacket.
Remarkably, Eyes Wide Shut was Kubrick’s final film, completed mere days before his passing. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella Dream Story, this 1999 film chronicles the journey of a Manhattan doctor, played by Tom Cruise, who is thrown into a whirlwind of temptation and intrigue following a candid conversation with his wife (Nicole Kidman) about a past affair. The narrative involves his harrowing exploration of a secret society’s masked orgy, leading to profound realizations about desire and fidelity. The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring notable actors like Sydney Pollack, Marie Richardson, Rade Šerbedžija, Todd Field, Vinessa Shaw, and Alan Cumming.
Alan Cumming Reflects on His Performance in Eyes Wide Shut
Kubrick Challenged Him to Embrace Exaggeration
Cumming, renowned for his stage and screen roles, including a Tony Award-winning performance in Cabaret, shared his thoughts on a recent episode of Vanity Fair‘s series. In this segment, he revisited his single scene portrayal as a hotel desk clerk in Eyes Wide Shut. According to him, Kubrick encouraged a heightened, theatrical style of acting while ensuring it remained anchored in authenticity. Cumming recounted the precision of Kubrick’s directing approach, characterized by his endless takes and meticulous adjustments that shaped his performance.
This is one of the most outrageous performances I’ve ever given. That’s me saying that. I was the one saying to Stanley Kubrick, “Oh, that’s too much Stanley, I should dial it down.”He’s like, “No. Go on, Alan. Go for it, go for it.”So I was schooled in camp by Stanley Kubrick. Not something that you might imagine. I took something from the theater that Stanley then reinforced for me, and it’s been a big mantra for me in my life, as an actor, and when I was very young, in theater, said “You can be as big as you like, as long as you mean it.”And that is exactly what I’m doing. I’m doing a huge performance here. I mean, it’s so ridiculous. But Stanley encouraged me to keep going with it, and keep going more. But if it comes from a place of truth, then you can be as big as you like. Then I didn’t think those two things were, I thought, you know, that was what you did in the theater and film was a different thing. You have to bring everything down. And now I clearly do not adhere to that.
This is, well, I don’t even know, a four minute, three, four minute scene, if that. And it’s two people talking across a counter. So you would normally have a wide shot, you might have been a mid shot, and you’d have two closeups. Even on a big film, this would be one day max. And this took a week to shoot. We did, however, shoot this for about two days, and Stanley decided to scrap it and start again, and shoot it in a different way. It was millions and millions and millions of takes. Often on films, or stuff, you know, you’ll finish it, and they go, “Cut.”And you’d hear the director going, “Perfect. One more.”You think, well if it was perfect, why the f*** are we doing one more? With Stanley, every single time I did another take, I went to the monitor with him, he looked through it, and he showed me a little detail to change, a little intonation, even a little facial movement. I knew exactly why I was going to do it again, and what we’re aiming for. And so that made me excited about doing it again. I loved making this film. It made me, truly made me excited about being an actor in film again.‘Cause, you know, there are no small parts, just small actors.
Analysis of Alan Cumming’s Performance in Eyes Wide Shut
The Impact of Cumming’s Performance
Good morning and happy birthday to Alan Cumming, seen here in his brief but scene-stealing performance in Stanley Kubrick’s EYES WIDE SHUT (1999).Now playing on @criterionchannl! â\u009d¤ï¸\u008f pic.twitter.com/GRMDXFazDn — Criterion Collection (@Criterion) January 27, 2025
Cumming’s campy portrayal in Eyes Wide Shut is particularly effective due to its contrasting nature with Tom Cruise’s more subdued performance. While the film largely maintains a surreal and chilling tone, Cumming’s vibrant inflection, suggestive gestures, and flirtatious demeanor infuse the narrative with a refreshing playfulness. His performance stands out as if he is the only character aware of the underlying absurdity in the plot, making it an unforgettable highlight of Kubrick’s iconic work.
For further insights, visit this Vanity Fair link.
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