Stanley Kubrick's film 2001 A Space Odyssey was one of those movies which transcended its medium and entered the collective consciousness of a generation and those which followed. A watershed in Science Fiction on film, it created a new futuristic context for everyday objects like furniture [ source: Wikipedia ], books and toys. These are a just a few including our own favourite toy line, Project SWORD.
George Nelson Action Office desk from Herman Miller's 1964 "Action Office" series - when Floyd exits the Space Station V elevator he is greeted by an attendant seated behind a slightly modified version [ picture: sfclockworkorange.wordpress.com ]
Arne Jacobsen cutlery from Denmark used by the Discovery astronauts in the movie [ picture: webbs.co.nz ]
Djinn Chairs designed by Olivier Mourgue in 1965 and placed in neat groups in the Space Station [ picture: filmandfurmiture.co.uk ]
Eero Saarinen's 1956 pedestal table used in the film as in the still above with Leornard Rossiter et al [ picture: filmandfurniture.co.uk ]
Project SWORD Annual covers [ above ] and 2001 film poster [ below, picture: dailytech.com ]. Many actual stills from the film appeared in the SWORD Annual too.
Bob McCall paintings used on Project SWORD Nuclear Ferry box art below and 2001 film poster
[ bottom, pic: prettypuddles ].
Japanese 2001 large carded plastic toys from the 1960's made in a blue plastic similar to the SWORD Zero-X, complete with Rob McCall card art and names similar to SWORD: from left to right Nuclear or Atomic Ferry, Orion Clipper and Nuclear or Atomic Shuttle I think.
Last but not least are these press clippings detailing the link between the release of 2001 A Space Odyssey and Project SWORD toys.
Are there any more connections between SWORD and 2001 readers?
I have to wonder if Century 21 doing a 2001 cross-promotion annoyed Gerry Anderson, given his feeling that Kubrick had poached his staff from Thunderbirds for the effects team?
ReplyDeleteNot a SWORD connection but a personal memory: back in the Eighties, I went in for a job interview and was amazed to find the reception area of the company suite was full of the Djinn chairs I had always associated with 2001 but had never seen in person. I just had to try them out! I got the job...but it wasn't in that office, so I never got to visit those chairs again.
Interesting Richard. I suppose 2001 was too big a chance to miss promoting something at C21 and given that SWORD had no TV show maybe it was pure business. I wonder, could Gerry have pulled off 2001 or were they completely different kinds of visionaries, Anderson and Kubrick?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Djinn chair in the flesh so being interviewed among them must have been cool. Who was asking you questions? Commander Straker? ha ha. I have seen the pedestal table and plastic chairs and have had meals on them. My nephew still has a set in his dining room. I'm not sure - is futuristic styling part of modern design anymore?
This cross-promotion between Project SWORD and 2001 should be looked into much deeper, as there must be more documents in various archives. If the promotion lasted for two full months, there's bound to be some photographs and contracts etc. still to be discovered. And knowing Mr. Kubrick's all-encompassing involvement in all matters concerning the promotion and distribution of his films, there should be something in his (or MGM's) archives as well. All that SWORD history there in the vaults, waiting to be brought to light!
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