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Stanley Kubrick's daughter debunks moon landing conspiracy theory

'How can anyone believe that one of the greatest defenders of mankind would commit such an act of betrayal?'

Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 06 July 2016 10:39 EDT
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Internet legend would have you believe that filmmaker Stanley Kubrick - as well as directing classic films including 2001: A Space Odyssey and Full Metal Jacket - aided the US government in its faking of the moon landing in 1969.

The idea has been chewed over by conspiracy theorists over the years, most prominently aided by documentary Room 237, which suggests that the British filmmaker hid allusions to his involvement in the Apollo 11 deception within his horror film The Shining.

It has now emerged that Kubrick's daughter Vivian is not a fan of this theory, going so far as to write an open letter vehemently chiding those who believe it to be true.

It wasn't until Kubrick's passing in 1999 that the Apollo 11 theory gained traction - which hasn't stopped media from embracing it. Most recently, comedy film Moonwalkers weaved the idea into its plot.

For those who are dismissing his daughter's efforts to debunk the theory, she does make an excellent point:

"I actually knew him!" she writes. "I lived and worked with him so forgive my harshness when I state categorically: the so-called 'truth' these malicious cranks persist in forwarding... is manifestly A GROTESQUE LIE."

That seems pretty definitive to us.

Vivian Kubrick's response in full (sic):

"Re: Faked Moon Landings

Surely (?!) an artist, such as my father, whose profound degree of artistic integrity is self-evident, whose political/social consciousness is manifestly present in nearly every film he made. Whose highly controversial subject matter literally put his life at risk, and yet he continued to make the film’s he made … don’t you think he’d be the very last person EVER to assist the US Government in such a terrible betrayal of its people?!?

There are many, very real conspiracies that have happened throughout our history, are happening presently, I’m only too aware of the dreadful manipulations perpetrated by governments, secret services, banksters, the military-industrial-complex etc.. But, claims that the moon landings were faked and filmed by my father? I just can’t understand it!!? How can anyone believe that one of the greatest defenders of mankind would commit such an act of betrayal?

My father’s artistic works are his unimpeachable defence!

Finally, my love for my father notwithstanding, I actually knew him! I lived and worked with him, so forgive my harshness when I state categorically: the so called ‘truth’ these malicious cranks persist in forwarding - that my father conspired with the US Government to ‘fake the moon landings’ - is manifestly A GROTESQUE LIE."

Read more: Cary Fukunaga set to try and make the film Stanley Kubrick couldn't

Moonlanding 'disaster' speech

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