Flying Padre (1951) ** (out of 4) Stanley Kubrick's first film is a documentary about a priest in New Mexico who needs a plane to keep up with all his people. This is a really boring and flat film even with its 9 minute running time. The priest really isn't that interesting and the narration is flat and stiff. God knows better things were to follow from Kubrick.Day of the Fight (1951) *** (out of 4) Kubrick's second short shows us a day in the life of a middle-weight boxer as he prepares for a fight. Even with the boring narration, this film here moves a lot better and the fight scene is rather interesting because it's shown complete as it happened. You can spot Kubrick in a few scenes with his camera.Seafarers, The (1953) ** (out of 4) Overly long and dreadfully boring promotional film for the Seafarers Union, which basically tries to teach people why they should join. This is historically interesting only because it's Stanely Kubrick's first film in color. The rest is pure boredom and it's no wonder Kubrick doesn't want this film seeing the light of day.

There are some very small moments where one might find something of interest in Flying Padre, a small view of a father in a small village farming community who acts as part-time keeper of the peace, and part-time flying enthusiast. But it is not, per-say, for being as a Stanley Kubrick film. It was his second documentary, funded very cheap for an even cheaper profit, but unfortunately seems to be caught in a bind. It would be one thing to get some kind of interview or closer look at this man, but in the profile the only really exciting bits are when he's up in the air (which does contain a few clever shots from right in the plane, ironic for the air-phobic Kubrick). There are staged scenes that are rather, well, silly, like when the Padre sorts out a matter between a little girl and boy. Is it cute, maybe, but it's not really interesting. Another problem, which may be for some more than others considering its very obscure stature, the quality of the picture is bad, and the amateurish style of the staging doesn't help matters. It would be one thing if, like in his last short doc the Seafarers, if there were some more marks to see of him as a filmmaker, or just in general interesting compositions. There isn't much of that here, only in the most minuet moments that pass by very quickly. In short, this is one that was done for hire, on the fly, and is not worth seeing unless you're, like me, a Kubrick die-hard.

Its 8 minutes long and is about the flying priest who helps wherever he is needed, he just jumps into his plane and flies there. The main focus is about the kind and understanding padre that teaches the kids to not bully each other and a episode with a mother having a sick child on a ranch many miles away from a hospital. Padre is to the rescue.This is only for curiosity value, being made by Kubrick it has none of his mark on it. Its just for getting a foot in the industry I guess, or money. Situations are clearly staged and not so very well done, the voice-over is one sided and the shooting is diverse, but serves no special purpose. Kubrick the perfectionist turned up later I guess.

A Story about a priest who flies with plane wherever he is needed could have been fresh and exciting in the fifties, but looking this today it certainly feels very dated and a bit clumsy, still interesting view in to the past nonetheless. The Reverend is portrayed as very sympathetic and kind man as he flies long distances for aid people and asks nothing for his help.It's really hard to find any Kubrick's later trademarks here, in fact it's nearly impossible even recognize it's directed by him if you don't know it already nor catch his name in the opening credits. I really wouldn't recommend this except for its curiosity values.