Hello everyone and thank you for once again doing me the courtesy of reading my weekly trip down Memory Lane. This week I am recalling a famous film director who once lived in Barnet Lane, Elstree, and often filmed in Borehamwood.

His name is Stanley Kubrick and to some he is a legend and books are written about him and his films. Now I am going to upset his fans but I felt, with one or two exceptions, his films are overrated. Of course any opinion is personal, but allow me to just offer my thoughts.

Stanley was born in New York in 1928 and became a film director in the 1950s. I enjoyed his early films like Paths Of Glory in 1957 and Spartacus in 1960 which were standard Hollywood movies albeit with a bit more thought.

He then moved to Elstree and his first film in Borehamwood was a controversial movie called Lolita shot at Elstree Studios in 1962. I also enjoyed his film Dr Strangelove in 1964 which was a showcase for the talent of Peter Sellers. His co star was Hollywood actor Sterling Hayden who told me the filming was a nightmare due to Stanley requiring so many takes of a scene. Perhaps this is when the Studio bosses began to allow him perhaps too much freedom. It is very easy for an executive to 'greenlight' a picture if the star or director appears to have a hit track record. Executives are short lived in the film business and for some saying they 'greenlighted' a Kubrick movie during their tenure is something to boast about.

There is no doubt 2001 A Space Odyssey made at MGM in Borehamwood in the late 1960s was a great movie visually and Kubrick's efforts showed on screen. The story is another thing and he tied up the facility at a time when the studio was in trouble. He wanted MGM to finance a film about Napoleon but they declined.

Stanley shot A Clockwork Orange around Borehamwood, Radlett and other local places. Personally I find the film a bit boring, but at the time it caused a stink and for years Kubrick would not allow it to be shown again.

I know many fans think The Shining, mainly shot at Elstree Studios is a classic. I must say I admire the sets Stanley had built on the backlot and on the sound stages as very impressive. As for the film itself I frankly find it rather boring . I found the character played by the lead actress Shelley Duvall, looking like Popeye's girlfriend, so annoying I was cheering for her to be killed.

Jack Nicholson played his character as mad from the start which to me let down the plot. Scatman Crothers, on returning to try and save the girl in endless shots looked like he was suffering from constipation and must have been relieved to be killed.

When we reopened Elstree in 1996 Stanley visited the studio possibly considering shooting Eyes Wide Shut but I was against it knowing his record for no respect for timetables and we needed to get Elstree back on the map. Thankfully he chose Pinewood. It would have been great to reopen Elstree Studios with a film starring Tom Cruise and directed by Kubrick but publicity is one thing and a need to be sensible is another. I had to wear my sensible hat at that time with my advice.

Personally I think Stanley's last films were not great and he sadly died just after completing Eyes Wide Shut and was buried on his estate. His fans will continue to idolise him and that is great. We all must have our idols.

Anyway until next week you take care and join me in another ramble down Memory Lane.