Philip Castle And Full Metal Jacket

The work of British illustrator Philip Castle became universally known through his design for the poster of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. When Kubrick again approached him to work on FULL METAL JACKET he knew exactly what he wanted, as can be seen by the first image here drawn in Kubrick's own hand. He wanted an image that would be as recognisable in black & white even when reduced to the size of a single column in a newspaper.

The Polaroid is the reference that Castle worked from. Originally he drew the helmet as if it was sitting flat on a surface. It was Kubrick himself who suggested that pitching the helmet at an angle, as if been worn, would be more dynamic & striking.

Castle has said that Kubrick had planned on contacting him for EYES WIDE SHUT just before he died.