Stanley Kubrick is one of the most venerated filmmakers in cinematic history. The iconic auteur responsible for such all-time classics as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and more had a meticulous directorial style that has often been imitated but never duplicated.
While most of his movies were predominantly male-driven with female characters often taking a supportive backseat, there have still been several formidable female characters in Kubrick movies, the strength, power, and influence of which are derived from numerous sources.
Gloria Price – Killer’s Kiss (1955)
Irene Kane’s Gloria Price is the female lead in Kubrick’s sophomore feature, Killer’s Kiss. Unfortunately, she functions mostly as a damsel in distress who relies on her boxer boyfriend Dave to keep her safe, she endures kidnapping, sexual harassment, and being held at gunpoint.
Still, Gloria shows strength by rebuking her powerful boss Vincent, who wants her as his girlfriend. In addition to defying her boss, Gloria’s fortitude allows her to survive being abducted by Vincent’s goons and held hostage after linking up with Dave.
Sherry Peatty – The Killing (1956)
One of Kubrick’s first truly strong female characters was Mary Windsor’s Sherry Peatty in the neo-noir heist film The Killing. When her husband arranges to steal a large sum of cash from a race track, she conjures the courage to rob him with her lover.
Unfortunately, Sherry’s bold move backfires and ends up costing her life when her husband survives a shootout and returns home and kills her on the spot. Still, having the guts to cheat on her husband, plan to rob him blind, and start anew with her lover makes Sherry a strong female defector.
Mandy/Mystery Woman – Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
However real, imagined, or dreamed, Mandy aka “The Mystery Woman” in Eyes Wide Shut proved her strength by potentially sacrificing her life to repay Tom Cruise’s Dr. Bill Harford, after he is caught infiltrating the exclusive Sommerton orgy and ordered to remove his mask and clothes.
At the last minute, the overdosed model Mandy that Bill saved at the beginning of the film shows up and demands the group take her instead of Bill. When Bill sees Mandy’s obituary the next day, it is implied that Mandy gave her life to set Bill free.
Lady Lyndon – Barry Lyndon (1975)
Marisa Berenson’s Lady Lyndon possess strength and stature that come from her immense wealth and influence among the British aristocracy. The opulent countess becomes the wife of Ryan O’Neal’s Barry Lyndon in the titular film, ultimately summoning enough strength to kick him out of her life upon discovering his dishonesty.
Furthermore, when Barry and Lady Lyndon’s son dies in a horse accident, he turns to booze while she finds the strength to find religion as a form of solace. In the end, Lady Lyndon chooses to live with her first son while paying Barry a pittance to stay away forever.
Grady Twins – The Shining (1980)
Although they appear as ancillary phantoms who terrorize Danny Lloyd in The Shining, there’s no denying the nightmarish staying power of the deceased Grady twins in The Shining. Kubrick famously added the terrifying twins to the movie, who do not exist in Stephen King’s source novel.
In one of the most startling scenes of any horror film, Danny turns his big wheel around a 90-degree corner to find the twin girls standing directly in the hallway, staring and summoning with the refrain “come play with us, Danny!”
Alice Harford – Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
At first blush, Nicole Kidman’s Alice Harford appears to be an unemployed art curator relegated to antiquated domestic duties. Yet, her disciplined willpower to stay faithful to her husband Bill, played by Tom Cruise, and keep her family intact makes her extremely strong.
Alice confesses to desiring a naval officer while on vacation, telling Bill she was willing to leave him and their daughter to be with the man for one night. Bill responds by going on a jealous, sex-crazed nocturnal odyssey, which he is forced to explain to Alice when he returns. In addition to remaining loyal to Bill at the start, Alice also summons the strength to stay with him and work out their problems in the end.
VC Sniper – Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Due to her love of country, strategic location, and expert marksmanship, the teenage VC Sniper in Full Metal Jacket shows tremendous intestinal fortitude. In addition to outwitting her American enemies and sadistically sniping them down, one by one, her willingness to give her own life for her country’s freedom is as strong as it gets.
After being captured by Joker and company, the sniper increases her strength by willingly requesting to be shot to death. In one of Full Metal Jacket‘s most disturbing scenes, she makes the ultimate sacrifice for her country knowing she’s done all she could to fend off the enemy.
Lolita – Lolita (1962)
Based on the acclaimed yet controversial Vladimir Nabokov novel, the teenage nymphette Lolita (played by Sue Lyons) is one of Kubrick’s only central lead characters. Despite the racy material, Lolita grows stronger as she matures over the course of the story.
The film follows the licentious likes of professor James Mason’s Humbert Humbert, who develops a sexual obsession with the teenage Lolita. When her mother dies, she is left in his care, where he eventually violates the young girl. Somehow, Lolita escapes Humbert’s lecherous clutch, overcomes the traumatic abuse, and later finds a happy marriage. Lolita’s greatest strength comes when she refuses Humbert’s plea to leave her husband in the end.
Varinia – Spartacus (1960)
Jean Simmons’ Varina begins her arc in Spartacus as a runaway slave but soon shows her strength and courage by escaping bondage, becoming Spartacus’ unofficial wife, and remaining steadfast in her denial of powerful Roman senator Crassus, played by Laurence Olivier.
By escaping the Roman army and refusing to accept Crassus as her lover, Varinia demonstrates extreme bravery and loyalty to her own heart. The denial causes Crassus to attack Spartacus, with whom Varinia shares a son. When Spartacus falls in battle, Varinia further demonstrates her strength by showing their young son to Spartacus, which gives the gladiator solace in knowing his son will honor his legacy.
Wendy Torrance – The Shining (1980)
While she futilely screams, wails, and darts around The Overlook Hotel in sheer terror for much of the time, Shelley Duvall’s Wendy Torrance ultimately summons enough strength and courage to evade her murderous husband Jack (played by Jack Nicholson) and save her son Danny at the end of The Shining.
Wendy’s strength increases as the story progresses, exemplified when she stands up to Jack’s menacing mysogyny, beats him with a baseball bat, and stuffs him into the kitchen pantry. Later, Wendy bravely slides out of a window and along with Danny, leads Jack into the snowy hedge-maze that proves to be his deadly downfall. By triumphing over pure evil, Wendy is Kubrick’s strongest female character.
