EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)

1. How did Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman come to be cast in the film?

According to Sydney Pollack, Kubrick first became interested in working with Tom Cruise in the early 1990s.

Pollack, who directed Cruise in The Firm and had been a longtime friend of Kubrick’s, acted as sort of a go-between, introducing Kubrick to Cruise and Kidman via phone and fax. Cruise and Kidman were very excited at the opportunity to work with Kubrick and immediately agreed to do the film after reading the script.

2. Why was Harvey Keitel replaced by Sydney Pollack as Victor Ziegler during shooting?

Keitel was originally cast as Ziegler and participated in some of the early filming. However, it became apparent that his schedule would not permit him to stay in England for the length of time that Kubrick needed him for the production, so he was forced to bow out of the role. Kubrick then convinced his friend Sydney Pollack to take over the part.

3. What character did Jennifer Jason Leigh play in the film, only to have her character recast because she couldn’t return to England for reshoots?

Leigh was originally cast as Marion, the daughter of Dr. Harford’s (Tom Cruise) patient. The death of his patient sets Dr. Harford on a sexual odyssey, and Leigh comes on to him when he arrives to console her.

Leigh actually filmed all of her scenes, but months later, Kubrick decided to reshoot her scenes with Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, Leigh was not available to return to England, so Kubrick cast Marie Richardson in the role and refilmed the sequence.

4. Where were most of the New York exteriors filmed?

   Outdoor sets mimicking the streets of New York were constructed at Pinewood Studios near London. Some shots were also filmed in the streets of London. In a few shots of Tom Cruise walking through the city, background plates of actual New York streets were rear-projected behind the actor walking on a treadmill.

5. What is the significance of the code word "fidelio"?

   "Fidelio" comes from the Latin root "fidelis," meaning "faithful," which ties in to one of the major themes of the film: Can husbands and wives be truly faithful to each other?

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