Eyes Wide Shut - The Strange Staircase Mystery

[@jlworrad]

Cupid and Psyche is one of the more famous parts of Ovid's epic poem The Metamorphoses. Ovid is mentioned by the Hungarian guy trying to seduce Nicole Kidman's character. I don't know if that's intentional but with Kubrick it could be.

[@kubricktheory237]

Hey 😃 thank you ! Great catch , and almost certainly it was intentional in a Kubrick film . Thanks for bringing my attention to it 👍

[@watermelonlalala]

The point there would be, the marriage is over when Psyche sees Cupid's face. He doesn't want to show his true face to her, but she is determined to get a look. This is what Alice does when she tries to pick a fight with Bill. He is hiding something from her.

[@jlworrad]

@@watermelonlalala Ooh that’s good!

[@mrcstravels]

I very much enjoyed your video. The symbolism and messages Kubrick put in Eyes wide shut is so deep and has so many layers. Watching your video one other thing I remembered that combined with some of the Staircase scenes was the use of Red and Blue lights. When going to go to see Nightingale the steps were the sign you mentioned was. Was bathed in red while Nightengale was bathed in blue. Possibly meaning his journey could lead him to peril. While possibly NIghtengale himself was harmless. Thoughout the movie this repeats safe is blue red is danger.

[@kubricktheory237]

@mrcstravels thank you very much for your kind words 👍 😃 and I agree that there are many layers in Kubrick's films

[@unrealnews]

Remember: This is Kubrick. He cares intensely about framing and composition. Consider the consistency of the orientation of the staircase to the picture plane. The actors must first recede into the depth of the frame, then ascend, diminished in size, from the bottom left😢m of the frame to the top right. Consider the Cupid and Psyche statue. Who is cupid? Who is Psyche? What kind of union do they represent, if we take the archetypes to be metaphorically representative of those in the film, specifically those who are at home there? What does it mean for Dr. Bill to ascend the staircase at the behest of those who are at home there? What kind of action does he perform, and what kind of response is given to those actions. ---• Where once no one was present at the base of the statue, four men feast. Four men feast at the base of a statue depicting a union between cupid and psyche in the lower right of the picture plane, where once there was no one. What does this imply?

[@kubricktheory237]

@unrealnews of course the table and 4 people also disappear in shots as I stated. It's certainly a strange party . And thank you for the thoughtful comment. 👍

[@Haley-s8x]

I was looking up Helena kidnapped theories yesterday and on Reddit someone suggested the bald men are the ones who will kidnap Helena and the statue is a representation of a girl being kidnapped.

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

The staircase in the Ziegler home is the one at Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire, England. Other films have been shot there like Four Weddings and a Funeral, The World Is Not Enough, Never Say Never Again, to name a few. The statue is by Giulio Bergonzoli and it's called "The Love of Angels."

[@kubricktheory237]

@GlynDwr-d4h wow thank you very much for giving me the info 😃 I had tried to find the name of the statue when I was making this video but was unable to find it. You're the first who has given me the name of the artist 🏆 so thank you ! 👍

[@uneedtherapy42]

Something maybe for a future video is the thought I have that milloch at the costume shop knew all along his daughter was in that room with those 2 guys. I think his reaction comes off as more knowing than shock. I know this is s small moment in the overall film but I find this whole sequence with Milloch so compelling. Like how did Bill not know his patient had moved to Chicago a year ago? Seems strange right? Milloch is such a great character in this movie and just flows from the Nick Knightengale scene so well. It’s really my favorite parts of the film.

[@kubricktheory237]

@uneedtherapy42 I agree 👍 that scene is definitely strange 🤔

[@watermelonlalala]

Bill has two chances to rescue the girl. Once when he sees her father protesting what is going on, and once when he sees her father going along with it. He does nothing. Not a hero. The girl is in a similar position to Danny Torrance. When she whispers in Bill's ear, you could edit in Danny saying, "I'm not supposed to" right there.

[@uneedtherapy42]

@@watermelonlalala love this take. Something I continually think about is how none of Bill’s quest for “ revenge” is ever satisfying. It’s really one debacle after another. Like you said he is never the hero exacting revenge on Alice. This movie has endless layers to ponder…

[@sanderlahuis5698]

But it was Milloch that mentioned “Did you hear that noise?” and chose to investigate. He went into the room and found them. He would have likely known his daughter would be busy, but not right there and then. If he did know, he could’ve chosen to ignore the sound, shoo them all off before letting Bill into the shop, or ignore them when investigating the room. His reaction after finding them makes sense, surprise at first, then playing it off with anger in front of Bill. He knows his daughter is a whore, he’s part of her business ventures, but to know they were fucking right there and then seems unlikely. There are other ways to introduce the daughter to Bill, this was most likely not the way Milloch intended

[@jamiesalmonsculpture8599]

Not even sure he was her father. Maybe a pimp.....Child trafficking 😢

[@Scolecite]

Thank you for this video, and it is pronounced hi·er·ar·chy

[@evitasdad]

That first staircase with the statue, I am very sure that is at Luton Hoo, a stately home in England.

[@kubricktheory237]

@evitasdad hmmm,,this is the first time I am hearing about Luton Hoo , I will definitely look into that 👍 thank you

[@evitasdad]

@@kubricktheory237 Just easily googled picture of it, its the same, and as remembered , even with the statue, they just gave it that little up background to the stairs.

[@gjsvidz]

Are the two old men sitting at the table in front of the statue of Cupid and Psyche the same two old men who appear in the toy store in the final scene? If so doe this mean anything?

[@kubricktheory237]

@gjsvidz good question 🤔 I will have to look a bit closer at them

[@gossetttradingmentoring7871]

Thanks for the great video - One of my favorite movies!

[@ToggsMonger]

Don’t know if anyone else has already pointed this out, but you are incorrect - there is no mysterious table that just appears that wasn’t there before in front of the statue - using the two stills you provided, clearly it’s all the large base of the statue.

[@kubricktheory237]

@ToggsMonger yes it seems you are right . my mistake and thank you 👍, but the seats and people definitely do disappear in different scenes . But things disappearing in Kubrick films is not unusual.

[@badgerag]

Good work Shim, never considered the staircase as a device, well, apart from ascending to heaven or hell.

[@Core1138]

Great work!

[@kubricktheory237]

@Core1138 thank you very much 😃

[@Haley-s8x]

I noticed in the "Fidelio Experiment" video by Wake the Dead that the black arch on the far right is timed to reappear as black arches in the Somerton scene an hour later.

[@kubricktheory237]

@Haley-s8x I have not seen this , it's a channel?

[@egx161]

Excellent analysis. 👍

[@kubricktheory237]

Thank you very much 👍I appreciate it 😃

[@mollykeane2571]

My theory is that the stairways represent ascent. But also descent. Thank you.

[@kubricktheory237]

@@mollykeane2571 it's true both are shown in the movie

[@watermelonlalala]

And the elevators? Heh heh.

[@friedricengravy6646]

Im pretty sure the statue is a version of The Taking Of Daphne. When Apollo is pursuing Daphne, as she tires, she pleas for help from her father who then turns her into a tree. Im paraphrasing. Its Greek mythology. In zoom, it appears to have the tree/foliage/vines growing out between their legs & up.

[@kubricktheory237]

I have not heard that one yet 🤔 of course , we don't get the most detailed view of the statue . But I believe Cupid and Psyche is a pretty good fit . But I like to hear different ideas ! So thank you for the comment . 👍

[@AnyoneCanSee]

It is called "Love of Angels" and was carved in 1864 by the Italian sculptor Giulio Bergonzoli. It has been there for 100 years. The statue was put there in 1903 during a renovation of the hotel. So there is no special meaning to it. Kubrick just filmed a staircase and a statue that have been there for over 100 years.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@AnyoneCanSee Thank you! I never even saw the girl - only the angel wings. Angel statues usually stand for graveyards and death in movies. Love of Angels sounds like something from the book of Enoch, the angels coming down and taking wives from the beautiful earth women. It does look like a Greek myth scene, though. After she pointed out the girl, I thought maybe the "angel" was Hades, and that would lead to the Persephone myth.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

@@watermelonlalala - Yes, I'm certain it is Greek mythology. I was mainly pointing out that the staircase and statue have been in that position in the hotel since a renovation in 1903. The Luton Hoo Hotel is only 7 miles from Childwickbury Manor, Kubrick's home near London. So he just used a local hotel and spa as a location.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@AnyoneCanSee Now I want to go to Luton Hoo. Thanks, again.

[@paulkaszczak3445]

Domino is the beginning of the end, We all fall down, the first tipped tile sparking a chain reaction, the last decision made without conscience or blind eyes turnt the chips have fallen and must be played where they lay, you have made your bed now lie, the choice is yours the path you take to reach low or high, to take the difficult or easy road to reach your destination the stairs the threshold the step all journeys begin with. the things you do and say affect those around you. Will you shine light or cloak in darkness the world you are in. Do you help or cause pain your actions or lack of decide the role you play. Mr. Paul

[@kubricktheory237]

@paulkaszczak3445 it is true all journeys start with one step 🚶‍♂️ thank you for such a thoughtful comment Paul 👍

[@paulkaszczak3445]

@@kubricktheory237 I don’t know punctuation the stairs are the threshold like the arch of a rainbow the final step at either top or bottom is the end of the rainbow will you find a pot of gold a prize pleasure or pain. The staircases are two way streets whether they head up high or go below. One can exit inward or outward. Continue to ascend or descend and you are locked in but if you do not like what you see and it scares you exit the world of curiosity never to return. I think it is duality

[@Notallowed101]

Surprised you didn't mention that Alice is propositioned to go upstairs at the beginning, given the talk of stairs Bill asks the two girls "exactly" where they are going, and one replies "where the rainbow ends", which subsequently is where he gets both the costume for the secret party but also comes into contact with the most morally repugnant act in the movie. He is then whisked away by a man from the women up the stairs to the bathroom, which happens a few times in the movie - women seem to seduce and pull Bill in but ultimately the butler takes him to upstairs to bathroom and to meet Red Cloak, Nightingale leads Bill in, as do even Taxi drivers. Women seem to provide Bill some kind of protection whether it be the warm waitresses at the establishments he visits, or the streetwalker that invites Bill off of the cold streets. Either way it's after Bill is asked by the two women to go where the rainbow ends that we see Alice being asked to go upstairs and her choice of words are "Maybe... not just... now." which are interesting given the theory that Alice is somehow involved.

[@kubricktheory237]

@Notallowed101 wow ,great comment 👍 I think you're onto something with Dr Bill and his interaction with women in this movie . I should do a video about that - as well as one about Alice at the party 🥳 thank you

[@anastasiashkarpinets1415]

Statue can also represent “sons of God and daughter of men” from Book of Enoch

[@kubricktheory237]

@anastasiashkarpinets1415 thank you for the info 👍

[@everything...interesting]

That's more what I was thinking. Isn't it fallen angels impregnating human women?

[@teenyweeny6987]

It’s a statue of Cupid and Psyche

[@markwrede8878]

Are there not stairs up and down at the costume shop?

[@kubricktheory237]

@@markwrede8878 I will look more closely at the Costume Shop 👀 there's definitely more to see there

[@harri7416]

Yeah, the shop is under the rainbow/stairs

[@unclebud1]

L'esprit de l'escalier! One of the most fascinating of all your posts. I love the contrast between Ziegler's and Domino's staircase here. Domino's hallway couldn't be more downbeat but as you say Ziegler's relative opulence might not be that much of an improvement!

[@kubricktheory237]

I've gotta brush up on my French ! 😃but thank you so much for the thoughtful comment 👍

[@kubricktheory237]

@WaifuLoverboy good point

[@watermelonlalala]

I believe from the moment Domino shows up, Kubrick is signaling that she is somewhat smelly and things about her are dirty and smelly. The rolled up rug on the stairs looks like a phallic symbol, the end hanging down towards the floor. The tissues on the floor tell the story. This rug represents Domino's customers.

[@CarlFredrik-uo1cu]

Good video. Is this voice real or A.I. ?

[@kubricktheory237]

@CarlFredrik-uo1cu hello 👋 my voice is very much real 😃 it's just me making the videos by myself in my little place in New York city . Glad you liked the video, and thank you 👍

[@CarlFredrik-uo1cu]

@@kubricktheory237 Okay, cool. Not meant as a diss by any means, it just sounded really professional, almost "too professional/serious" and un-nervous (if that makes any sense) This was a great video, and the other videos from your channel has really impressed me as well, looking forward for more. Keep on making great content 💪👍

[@marabu420x3]

Was wondering the same, totally get what you mean

[@NoëlMauraux]

❤❤❤

[@kubricktheory237]

@@NoëlMauraux thank you 😊

[@elizabethstump4077]

You go up stairs to the sacrificial altar.

[@kubricktheory237]

@elizabethstump4077 that's definitely one way of thinking about it 🤔

[@CrustyUgg]

The first time I saw this movie was around Halloween about 6 years ago and if I had the body of those beautiful women.. I would LOVE to dress (or undress 😜) up as one of those women for Halloween. Their bodies are so stunning! Goals for sure ❤

[@kubricktheory237]

@CrustyUgg 😮 oh I see , it's definitely an iconic scene

[@watermelonlalala]

The ritual echoes the scene in The Shining where Jack finds the woman in Room 237. The statuesque naked woman, the kiss, Danny freaking out as he witnesses the wilder parts of the orgy.

[@everything...interesting]

The Yellow Brick Road???

[@kubricktheory237]

@everything...interesting yes thats an interesting comment 🤔 because I do think there's a Wizard of Oz connection in this film but I have to research it a bit more

[@everything...interesting]

@kubricktheory237 it's the beginning of his journey down the road. There's the immediate way in which it leads behind "the Wizard"'s (Ziegler's [Red Cloak's?]) curtain, from the glitz of the Christmas party, to a partially derobed Ziegler and an overdosed hooker in the bathroom. Which foreshadows the longer journey (an acension? A descension? Both?) Bill will experience the rest of the film.

[@d33dr0]

Could the statue be Leda and the Swan? When Zeus seduced a woman by turning into a swan?

[@kubricktheory237]

@@d33dr0 it is definitely mythological 👍 but I've heard that it was Cupid and Psyche that are portrayed in the statue

[@warrenarden1681]

stairs are a masonic symbol

[@kubricktheory237]

@@warrenarden1681 because of the hierarchy? Perhaps

[@harri7416]

Notice there is an 8 pointed lampshade at the top of the Sonata staircase which mirrors the 8 pointed star at Ziegler's party. The star could respresent Ishtar. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Ishtar

[@kubricktheory237]

@@harri7416 you have a good eye 👍 it's possible there's a connection

[@alexanderfields4172]

it is in your face. check out the fallen Angel being lustful with the Human. They want back into Heaven. When they had offspring they were the Nephilim - Anu- Nephilim.