I Finally Watched The Movie Stanley Kubrick Once Called The Best Film He Thought He’d Ever Seen, And I Think I Know Why He Said That

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As a longtime admirer of Stanley Kubrick – he’s always been my top director – I was genuinely surprised to discover he held Bob Fosse’s *All That Jazz* (from 1979) in such high regard. Apparently, Kubrick considered it one of the greatest films ever made, according to John Baxter’s biography of him. It really threw me for a loop!

Honestly, when I heard someone suggest Kubrick directed *All That Jazz*, I was surprised! I always thought of him as this very serious, sci-fi and drama-focused director, and musicals just didn’t seem like his thing. But then I finally watched it, and wow, it all clicked. It totally makes sense now!

Unlike most musicals, *All That Jazz* is truly unique. It’s one of the most unconventional shows I’ve ever experienced, and it suddenly made me understand why Stanley Kubrick was a fan. Let’s explore what makes it so special.

All That Jazz Is An Incredibly Dark Movie

I don’t think Stanley Kubrick was a musicals person, but I personally love them. I’ve seen lots of Broadway shows, and I’m always happily surprised when a movie I’m watching unexpectedly turns out to be a musical, like the recent *Mean Girls* remake.

I definitely enjoy a good drama, but I especially love when a dramatic story incorporates music like a musical. Some of my favorites are *Miss Saigon*, *Sweeney Todd*, and especially *Pippin*. *Pippin* seems bright and cheerful, but it actually has a surprisingly dark side. It’s also famous for being directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse – and he also created the incredible *All That Jazz*!

But did you know what *All That Jazz* is really about? It’s actually a film about death. Seriously! Despite all the energetic and visually exciting dance numbers, the entire movie focuses on death and what might happen afterward. This theme likely resonated with Stanley Kubrick, who apparently told Stephen King that ghost stories were actually hopeful, because they suggest life continues after death – a point of contention that likely contributed to King’s dissatisfaction with Kubrick’s version of *The Shining*.

Similar to the film *Pippin*, this movie is very dark and pessimistic, a quality that likely appealed to Stanley Kubrick, whose films – even comedies like *Dr. Strangelove* – often explored serious or unsettling themes. Therefore, it’s not surprising that *All That Jazz*, with its own somber tone, had a strong impact on him.

It Also Delves Into The Mind Of An Artist, Which I’m Sure Kubrick Likely Appreciated

Kubrick was likely deeply affected by how personally Bob Fosse approached his film, weaving so much of his own life into the story. Throughout his career, Kubrick himself remained more distant and mysterious. Fosse, on the other hand, bravely and honestly examined his own life and flaws in this very personal film.

I’ve always been fascinated by *All That Jazz* because it’s so personal. Bob Fosse actually started working on it after *he* had a heart attack! It really feels like he was exploring what would have happened if he hadn’t made it through surgery. Roy Scheider does an amazing job playing Joe Gideon, who’s basically a stand-in for Fosse – a driven, complicated director. The story follows Gideon juggling finishing a movie and getting a new stage show up and running, and it’s so clear that’s mirroring what Fosse was going through at the time with *Lenny* and *Chicago*. It’s like watching his life unfold on screen.

It’s really striking how open this filmmaker is. It makes me think of Kubrick, who often seemed to keep a distance. He gave interviews and talked about his work, but he also tended to be private, especially later in life.

I’m just guessing, but I think Kubrick might have been drawn to directors willing to portray flawed, even unlikeable, characters. For example, Gideon is depicted as unfaithful, obsessed with work, and not a very good father, and that realism might have appealed to Kubrick. It’s just an idea I had.

It’s A Musical, But Also The Kind You’d Probably Like Even If You Don’t Like Musicals

I don’t think Kubrick was a fan of musicals, but it’s possible he’d enjoy a Broadway adaptation of one of his films. Imagine seeing something like *Spartacus: The Musical* or *Full Metal Jacket: Live!*

Honestly, even if you’re not usually a musical person, I think you might really like *All That Jazz*. It’s largely because of the story – it centers around Gideon, a director who’s a total perfectionist, much like the filmmaker Kubrick. He’s the type who’ll endlessly review footage, even if it’s already fantastic. Everyone wants to work with him, he’s a director’s dream. But that drive? It’s slowly destroying him, and that’s what makes the story so compelling.

He’s constantly smoking throughout the entire film – you rarely see Roy Scheider without a cigarette. As the story unfolds, his health visibly worsens, and it’s heartbreaking to watch, knowing he’s already very ill.

The musical numbers really enhance the story, which is what musicals should do. Often, though, even in shows I enjoy – like *Wicked* (which I actually preferred as a movie because the songs felt more connected to the plot) – it feels like the story is just leading *up* to the songs, instead of the songs flowing naturally from the story. *All That Jazz* is different; the music is vital to the dark and compelling narrative.

Finally, Roy Scheider’s Against-Type Casting Is A True Sight To Behold

Look, I’ll admit, I was totally surprised to discover Roy Scheider in a musical! I mean, the guy *is* Detective Buddy Russo from *The French Connection*, that intense Agent Levy in *Marathon Man*, and, come on, Chief Brody battling a shark in *Jaws*! Those roles just don’t scream ‘song and dance man’ to me, you know?

Despite this, Roy Scheider *is* a dancer, at least within the movie *All That Jazz*. However, much of the film focuses on his character’s illness—he even has conversations with Death, played by Jessica Lange—so he doesn’t actually do a lot of singing and dancing. His most significant movement happens during the final scene, which is a hallucination Gideon experiences as he’s dying. Even so, the film makes you feel like he *was* a dancer, and that he’s a skilled choreographer. It’s likely Stanley Kubrick recognized this potential as well.

Kubrick had a unique talent for transforming actors and complex material. He could portray even a charismatic star like Tom Cruise as an ordinary, jealous man, and famously directed Peter Sellers in multiple roles within a single film, all convincingly. Even though I don’t particularly enjoy it, he managed to adapt the challenging novel *Lolita* into something watchable. So, it’s no surprise he was impressed by Fosse’s ability to get such a powerful performance from Scheider.

I believe Kubrick really liked this film simply because one of the characters, played by Scheider, actually mentions Kubrick by name. It’s true! The character questions whether Kubrick ever struggled for his art like he does. So, that could be the reason Kubrick was so fond of *All That Jazz* – a little praise goes a long way, as they say.

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2025-10-14 21:10