What is the inspiration for the title “Eyes Wide Shut”?
There are several theories about who came up with the title, and what it means, but no definitive answer. The following is collection of possibilities: In early June of 1999 Frederick Raphael was asked to write an article for New Yorker Magazine entitled ‘A Kubrick Odyssey’, about his experiences working with Stanley Kubrick on what was to become Eyes Wide Shut. Raphael became concerned with a lack of title for the project when they were deep into rewrites and faxed Kubrick a possible contender: ‘The Female Subject.’ Kubrick reportedly did not acknowledge receipt of this suggestion but some days later proposed ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ as the title he had decided upon. There has been much speculation on amk as to what the title means and where it originated. The most popular contention is probably that he took it from a 1968 congratulatory fax from film director Franco Zeffirelli for ‘2001.’ Zeffirelli said: ‘You made me dream with my eyes wide open.’ (1) Another reference points to Kubrick’s f
