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Shortly after the release ofDr.
(He also incorrectly assumed she was a man, addressing his letter to a Mr.
I had been an associate professor for a couple of years.
I was 34 years old.
So I began to look into cinema.
I said, If Im gonna talk about film, I need to do something other thanseemovies.
I need to do that, but also get in there and find out how to make a film.
Not because I was going to be a filmmaker, but because I wanted to understand the process.
So thats what I was doing in 196364.
I took a course in film production, I did some documentary films of artists.
I wouldnt want to see them now.
I would go to see films.
I went to Rochester, where they had a film collection.James Cardwas in charge of it then.
He was great, and they had all kinds of films that they pretended they didnt have.
I saw films in the morning, I saw films in the afternoon, I saw films at night.
My dreams began to be different they began to have cuts and things, flashbacks.
I dont think prudery is a good idea ever.
So I forced myself to go even to pornographic films.
I couldnt stand them, but I did it.
I always took companions with me, so I wouldnt be a female in there all by myself.
It was fascinating, and Im glad I did that, but I would never do it again.
But that was the background from which I wrote that letter.
I see it around us all the time right now its seamless.
You cant take them apart.
They feed on each other, and I believe I see that in the far right.
I assume that you didnt often write letters to filmmakers.
Was this a one-off thing that you did?I loved movies growing up.
I had a Shirley Temple doll, which was replaced with a Princess Elizabeth.
I was always interested in films, but this was a special one.
And I was blown away when I received a letter back.
But with your theory aboutStrangelove, he seems to have been immediately drawn to it.
After you received that letter, how did your meeting with him come about?We had two meetings.
I went to New York City to visit all the museums and keep up with everything that was happening.
I went down there, and I really was apprehensive about meeting this great director.
Whenever I go to New York and I feel a little uneasy, I go to the Met.
Then I went to the public telephone and dialed the number.
A voice said, Talk!
Next thing I know, Kubrick was on the phone.
No delay, no call back later, or anything.
Everybody was surprised there was a female professor.
And of course, I was, no matter what else I had going on.
By the way, he was very reassuring.
He was quiet, and he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.
What do you think aliens look like?
I have never forgotten that question, because I had never thought about what aliens look like.
Too bad Stanley Kubricks not here to hear it.
Is the answer agiant floating baby?No!
Boy, was that pure Kubrick.
But that was a startling question, to which I had no answer whatsoever.
I felt so dumb, but he didnt treat my response that way at all.
We kept on talking about what would become2001.
For me, that was one of the high points of my research history.
I appreciated his respect for my letter and for my ideas.
And Ive always been a little bit in awe of people who are professors and have gone to college.
No professor could make a film like that.
And I let him know that.
Was he able to take that compliment?I think so.
He was a little surprised, but I think he liked hearing it.
He was deferential about it, but I hope he appreciated it, because its true.
He said you couldnt conduct science without personal knowledge, and you sure cant make a movie without it.
I know Kubrick read somewhat voraciously.
A lot of what?Oh, I used a southernism.
We call it book-larnin, down where I come from.
When I started school, we were in North Carolina, where family was.
Thats where I grew up and went to college.
Its not unheard of there are other people with that name.
But its not frequent, and many people who havent met me think Im a man.
How did you feel about2001when you saw it?I loved the movie.
I liked the opening sound of it the music.
I liked everything about it.
I saw it three times.
Im sure it was difficult to remain objective after speaking with him.Thats true.
I had heard enough about it that I was all set to like it.
You may not even know what that is.
I probably did in passing.
I had enough good sense not to ask, Oh, did you ever readFlash Gordoncomics?
I know I didnt ask that question.
Maybe that was a missed opportunity.
Whats your relationship to his work been in the years since?
I would go to a funny one, but the romantic ones arent even about real romance.
Theyre not about real peoples romances, or seldom are.
And there was my letter!
I was really surprised, and of course I was pleased.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
