2001: A Space Odyssey
When Stanley Kubrick decided to directthe greatest masterpiece in the history of sci - fi cinema , he found that no skill fiction novel was worthy of the breathtaking vision he want to wreak to the screenland , so he raise Arthur C. Clarke — mayhap the honorable sci - fi author of all time — to write one for him to conform .
The result of this collaboration was2001 : A Space Odyssey , which managed to live up to Kubrick ’s intent to create a benchmark for all scientific discipline fiction movies that followed . But it was n’t sure sluttish . Here are 10 absorbing details from the hit of2001 : A Space Odyssey .
A Deleted Black-And-White Opening Saw Real Scientists Discussing Alien Life
Originally,2001 : A Space Odysseyhad a 10 - minute black - and - white opening in which real - aliveness scientist , including Freeman Dyson , discussedpossibilities about extraterrestrial living .
However , Stanley Kubrick decided to cut this opening and honkytonk right into the story when he riddle an early baseball swing of the film for MGM executive .
241 People Walked Out During The Film’s Premiere
At the premier screen of2001 : A Space Odyssey , a grand total of 241 audience members walked out of the house in discombobulation . These attendees let in Rock Hudson , who enquire , “ Will someone tell me what the hell this is about ? ”
According to Arthur C. Clarke , this was the intent . If2001could be completely sympathize andanswered all the question it enquire , he would ’ve feel like he and Kubrick failed .
Tons Of Sand Were Painted For The Moon Sequences
For the scene set on the Moon , Stanley Kubrick had tons of George Sand imported . The sand was all washed and paint to resemble the colour of the Moon ’s open . The stunning landscapes in the scenes coiffure in Africa were still photo blown up on a set as opposed to video footage .
Plus , the intact extractor of the Discovery was retrace on a single set that was plan to rotate when the role player were walk around it , like Frank ’s jog scene .
The Script Went Through A Ton Of Alternate Titles
Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke considered naming thescript and its companion novelAcross the Sea of Stars , Earth Escape , Farewell to Earth , Jupiter Window , Planetfall , Tunnel to the Stars , andUniversebefore settling on2001 : A Space Odysseyas a quotation to Homer’sOdyssey .
Psychedelic Drug Users Made The Movie A Box Office Hit
Although it eventually became a box office hit,2001was not a financial achiever at first . MGM executives considered pulling it out of house early on to burn their deprivation , but a few dramaturgy owner managed to convince them to keep showing it .
The field of operations owners had detect that the movie had become popular among young adults , whowanted to take psychedelic drugswhile watchingthe trippy “ Star Gate ” sequence , which made the flick a blockbuster .
According To Douglas Trumbull, 0.5% Of The Footage Shot Ended Up In The Movie
fit in to Douglas Trumbull , who worked as a exceptional photographic core supervisor on2001 , Stanley Kubrick and his camera operator Geoffrey Unsworth shot 200 times more footage than stop up in the final cut of the film .
scene that ended up on the cut room floor include a few more space manner of walking , HAL turn off radio contact with Poole ( explaining why the A.I. recount Bowman that the radio set is “ still dead ” ) , and further exploration of day - to - sidereal day activities on the Discovery .
Arthur C. Clarke Objected To HAL Reading Lips
One of the revisions that Stanley Kubrick made to the screenplay that his co - author Arthur C. Clarke was n’t felicitous with was give HAL the power to register the astronauts ’ lips when they were in the pod .
However , Clarke afterward changed his idea when he notice that computers at the meter had been developed that could take lips .
Pink Floyd Turned Down The Chance To Write The Score For 2001
Early in the growth of2001,legendary prog rock isthmus Pink Floydwas offered the chance to write the film ’s account , but they turn it down and Kubrick terminate up score the movie with Hellenic theme . Roger Waters has since say that turning down Kubrick ’s offer was one of thebiggest regretsof his career .
Apparently , Floyd ’s birdsong “ Echoes ” was written to sync up with the final act of2001 . Kubrick later ask the band to scoreA Clockwork Orange , but they similarly turned down that offer .
Stanley Kubrick Provided The Breathing Heard In The Space Suits
During the sensational outer space walk scenes in2001 , the astronauts ’ breathing in their place suits is all that can be heard . According to Katharina Kubrick , this breathing was provided by Stanley Kubrick himself .
NASA Experts Designed The Sets
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke depart to extreme lengths to ensure that2001would be as naturalistic as possible . evidently , the equipment that the characters impart to the Moon would actually bring on the surface of the actual moonshine .
expert from NASA and IBM were brought in todesign the setsto ensure that they would be authentic , while Clarke on a regular basis called fellow sci - fi author Isaac Asimov to talk about biochemical processes .
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