I actually met Alan Conway in a London bar. He propositioned me, introducing himself as Stanley Kubrick. He was absolutely nothing like Malkovich's grotesque camp and tortured portrayal. Very urbane, self-assured, suit and tie kind of gentleman. It was this that gave him an aura of authenticity.
I believe you. I didn't quite get the overtly flamboyant re-imagined character as portrayed in the film, the grotesque camp as you say is a good description. Exactly as you describe is what i imagine Alan Conway to be and why people were so taken in.
It was so long ago that the details have faded. This much, however, I can remember. The first time I met him was I think in 1989. I had been drinking in a bar near Marble Arch and had just left the premises. Alan Conway, who was in the company of a young man who seemed to know him reasonably well, stopped me in the street some yards away. Presumably he had been in the same bar earlier and spotted me. He introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick and suggested I accompany the pair of them to some address in a suburb of London, Dollis Hill or Colindale, somewhere like that. It struck me as odd that a famous film director should live at such an unlikely address, so I politely declined. I already noticed his speech was slurred and at this point he became agitated and demanded his young friend produce 'the letter' which would prove who he said he was. Sure enough, the letter was addressed to a 'Dear Mr Kubrick', though I didn't see who the sender was. I concluded he was a fraud because why would someone famous be so anxious to prove who they were that they carried documentation around with them. I smiled and made to leave. Then I realised he must have been drinking heavily. He got angry, accused me of not believing him, and attempted to punch me in the face, but the young man restrained him, shaking his head and looking at me as if to say this behaviour was not unusual. A couple of years later, in the same bar, he approached me again, this time very self-controlled, urbane, smartly dressed. I wouldn't have remembered him but for the fact that he again introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick, the film director. The soft American accent, the composure, the self-confidence, were all very convincing. However, since I already knew he was a fraud, liked to drink to excess and could be unpredictable, I played along with the pretence. He talked at length about 'his' films (of which I knew next to nothing) and I feigned appropriate interest. Again he invited me back to 'discuss films' but I declined, diplomatically assuring him that it had been a great honour to meet the famous film director and that I couldn't wait to tell all my friends and work colleagues etc etc. Gratified by my acceptance of his lie he disappeared into the crowd, and I thought no more of it until, many years later, I discovered that Alan Conway was a phenomenon. For the reasons I have already given I doubted who he claimed to be. Famous people are more likely to conceal their identity than to thrust it indiscriminately on complete strangers. That being said, on our second encounter he did come across as extremely convincing. Had he invented a more anonymous alias, for example that of a rich businessman with extensive assets, I could have been easily taken in.
@@altudy What a great story, I'm planning on a show about Conway's exploits, so if you feel like sharing your story in a short [audio] interview over the phone, then let me know.
I met Alan Conway / Stanley Kubrick in a bar in Harrow in 1994. Believe or not he came back to mine and we watched a pirate version of A Clockwork Orange. Very polite man although drunk. He signed a copy of Anthony Burgess novel which I still have with the most amazing Kubrick signature. He was nothing like the man portrayed in the movie. Those were the good old days before the Internet, wouldn't happen nowadays. Memories if nothing else.
@@stanleykubrickappreciation I met Alan Conway in the Queens Arms in Wealdstone in 1994. Pub no longer there now block of flats. He introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick. I couldn't believe it as I had been fascinated by A Clockwork Orange since my youth. As I had a grainy copy of the movie he agreed to come back to mine to watch it. Both of us were a bit drunk and he tried it on with me till I got my girlfriend on the phone. My ex-girlfriend now has a signed clockwork orange postcard and I have Anthony Burgess book signed, 'Hugh, I met you it was great' with the most amazing Stanley Kubrick signature. He was nothing like the character portrayed by John Malkovich. I thought that was my future pension as Stanley Kubrick was so reclusive, but to my horror a year or two later the Harrow Observer ran a story about a conman masquerading as Stanley Kubrick operating in the local area. Still got the book but I reckon its worth about sixpence !!!. Its a story I can tell my grandkids if nothing else.
@@hughreilly6014 Did you ever see this, it's a video i put together that covers Alan Conway towards the end... th-cam.com/video/cZeTpO0zWpw/w-d-xo.html
@@stanleykubrickappreciation Absolutely. I'm a long time fan of Stanley Kubrick. Strangely enough my favourite movie of his is Barry lyndon, one of his lesser known movies. Let me know how.
I was there one of the times Joe longthorne met him. I was seeing joes niece Debbie at the time. Funny because I have another connection to Stanley Kubrick. 4 of my friends were extras in Full Metal Jacket (were shown having heads shaven for boot camp scenes) and had I also been in it I could’ve told Joe that Alan Conway definitely wasn’t SK! We were suspicious it wasn’t SK but that was the days before smartphones and extensive internet! Funny 😂
I actually met Alan Conway in a London bar. He propositioned me, introducing himself as Stanley Kubrick. He was absolutely nothing like Malkovich's grotesque camp and tortured portrayal. Very urbane, self-assured, suit and tie kind of gentleman. It was this that gave him an aura of authenticity.
I believe you. I didn't quite get the overtly flamboyant re-imagined character as portrayed in the film, the grotesque camp as you say is a good description. Exactly as you describe is what i imagine Alan Conway to be and why people were so taken in.
Would you be interested in talking about your experience on my podcast 'Kubrick's Universe' ?
It was so long ago that the details have faded. This much, however, I can remember.
The first time I met him was I think in 1989. I had been drinking in a bar near Marble Arch and had just left the premises. Alan Conway, who was in the company of a young man who seemed to know him reasonably well, stopped me in the street some yards away. Presumably he had been in the same bar earlier and spotted me. He introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick and suggested I accompany the pair of them to some address in a suburb of London, Dollis Hill or Colindale, somewhere like that. It struck me as odd that a famous film director should live at such an unlikely address, so I politely declined. I already noticed his speech was slurred and at this point he became agitated and demanded his young friend produce 'the letter' which would prove who he said he was. Sure enough, the letter was addressed to a 'Dear Mr Kubrick', though I didn't see who the sender was. I concluded he was a fraud because why would someone famous be so anxious to prove who they were that they carried documentation around with them. I smiled and made to leave. Then I realised he must have been drinking heavily. He got angry, accused me of not believing him, and attempted to punch me in the face, but the young man restrained him, shaking his head and looking at me as if to say this behaviour was not unusual.
A couple of years later, in the same bar, he approached me again, this time very self-controlled, urbane, smartly dressed. I wouldn't have remembered him but for the fact that he again introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick, the film director. The soft American accent, the composure, the self-confidence, were all very convincing. However, since I already knew he was a fraud, liked to drink to excess and could be unpredictable, I played along with the pretence. He talked at length about 'his' films (of which I knew next to nothing) and I feigned appropriate interest. Again he invited me back to 'discuss films' but I declined, diplomatically assuring him that it had been a great honour to meet the famous film director and that I couldn't wait to tell all my friends and work colleagues etc etc. Gratified by my acceptance of his lie he disappeared into the crowd, and I thought no more of it until, many years later, I discovered that Alan Conway was a phenomenon.
For the reasons I have already given I doubted who he claimed to be. Famous people are more likely to conceal their identity than to thrust it indiscriminately on complete strangers. That being said, on our second encounter he did come across as extremely convincing. Had he invented a more anonymous alias, for example that of a rich businessman with extensive assets, I could have been easily taken in.
@@altudy What a great story, I'm planning on a show about Conway's exploits, so if you feel like sharing your story in a short [audio] interview over the phone, then let me know.
@@altudy dude...looks like your memory hasn't faded one bit!!! DO the interview..
Unless of course...your the imposter
Ken Russell in this was a delightful surprise. Not a word I'd use often, but delightful really sums it up.
It would be nice if we'd actually be able to hear what they're saying
I met Alan Conway / Stanley Kubrick in a bar in Harrow in 1994. Believe or not he came back to mine and we watched a pirate version of A Clockwork Orange. Very polite man although drunk. He signed a copy of Anthony Burgess novel which I still have with the most amazing Kubrick signature. He was nothing like the man portrayed in the movie. Those were the good old days before the Internet, wouldn't happen nowadays. Memories if nothing else.
Hey Hugh, that's amazing. I'd like to hear all about it?!?!
@@stanleykubrickappreciation
I met Alan Conway in the Queens Arms in Wealdstone in 1994. Pub no longer there now block of flats.
He introduced himself as Stanley Kubrick. I couldn't believe it as I had been fascinated by A Clockwork Orange since my youth.
As I had a grainy copy of the movie he agreed to come back to mine to watch it. Both of us were a bit drunk and he tried it on with me till I got my girlfriend on the phone. My ex-girlfriend now has a signed clockwork orange postcard and I have Anthony Burgess book signed, 'Hugh, I met you it was great' with the most amazing Stanley Kubrick signature. He was nothing like the character portrayed by John Malkovich.
I thought that was my future pension as Stanley Kubrick was so reclusive, but to my horror a year or two later the Harrow Observer ran a story about a conman masquerading as Stanley Kubrick operating in the local area.
Still got the book but I reckon its worth about sixpence !!!.
Its a story I can tell my grandkids if nothing else.
@@hughreilly6014 Did you ever see this, it's a video i put together that covers Alan Conway towards the end... th-cam.com/video/cZeTpO0zWpw/w-d-xo.html
@@hughreilly6014 Would you be interested in talking about your experience on my podcast 'Kubrick's Universe' ?
@@stanleykubrickappreciation
Absolutely. I'm a long time fan of Stanley Kubrick. Strangely enough my favourite movie of his is Barry lyndon, one of his lesser known movies.
Let me know how.
Great audio.
Anyone know where you can stream or find this film in the UK??
I was there one of the times Joe longthorne met him. I was seeing joes niece Debbie at the time. Funny because I have another connection to Stanley Kubrick. 4 of my friends were extras in Full Metal Jacket (were shown having heads shaven for boot camp scenes) and had I also been in it I could’ve told Joe that Alan Conway definitely wasn’t SK!
We were suspicious it wasn’t SK but that was the days before smartphones and extensive internet!
Funny 😂
Joe longthorne was U.K. singer and impersonator (bit like AC!) lol
AC was trying to con him. Don’t know if that’s in the movie? It’s in the documentary about AC.
I saw that they showed that Jim Davidson met him but he was far more interested in Joe cos Joe was also gay.
i was related to him, nothing to do with the malkovich image
Would you be interested in talking about him on my podcast 'Kubrick's Universe' ?
Hi again Andy, would you be intereseted in doing a short [audio] interview over the phone for an upcoming show?