CENTURY 21 MEETS 2001

As it’s coming up to the fiftieth anniversary of the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey in Britain – it had its premiere in London 10^th May, 1968 and went on general release around the country 15^th May 1968 – I thought I’d revisit a couple of previous 2001 posts, and in particular its  connection Century 21.

I’ve watched Stanley Kubrick’s seminal epic 2001: A Space Odyssey many times over the years and can quite happily admit it made quite an impression on me.  It’s stark imagery and intentional slow pacing coupled with its philosophical and allegorical story telling still impresses me after all these years.   I do understand that there are those who just don’t get it, or find it dull compared to the hectic CGI laden movies of today. But, those who appreciate it and its place in cinema history generally agree that this influential motion picture is the best science fiction film made to date.

THE DAWN OF THE TIE-IN:

 I can still remember seeing the film for the first time when it was originally released in 1968 at my local cinema, and while it’s fair to say I certainly didn’t get all the subtle philosophical points interwoven throughout the story at the time, I still enjoyed the deliberate slow paced spectacle of it all unfold, and like most people was absolutely knocked out by the ground-breaking special effects, model and set designs. 

Luckily for me, it did help that the cinema manager was my uncle, and he explained, in general terms what some of the more abstract elements of the film were supposed to mean. I did take some of it on board, but it was the models and sets that I’d really enjoyed.

Being a fan of Gerry Anderson’s TV series I loved those dirtied down and highly detailed models, which I was so familiar with through watching the likes of Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. (Sci-fi films up to that point generally speaking featured smooth looking rocket ships or flying saucers)

The only model I had at the time was the Airfix Orion Spacecraft, not generally considered by the purists as the most accurate these days, but it was easy to get hold of in shops back in the days and still has a nostalgic hold over me.

As a youngster I always felt a connection between 2001 and Century 21.  I could hardly be aware at the time that director Stanley Kubrick, having apparently seen some of Gerry’s shows had called the Century 21 studios with the intention of hiring and using the unique skills of the special effects team headed by the brilliant and much missed Derek Meddings on 2001.  Century 21 were obviously reluctant to lose their people, especially Derek, although special effects assistant, Brian Johnson felt it was an offer he just couldn’t refuse, and left the studio during the filming of Thunderbirds, much to the annoyance of Gerry, who told him, ‘he’d never work in the film industry again!’

Brian, of course would return to work with Gerry again, first providing practical effects on the 1972 series The Protectors and then moving on to Space: 1999, which as we know drew a great deal of visual inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey, even the title is similar, which MGM considered suing over.

Stills from 2001: A Space Odyssey did appear a few times in TV21, which used quite a few publicity shots from the film starting with a short half page article in issue 178, dated June 15, 2068. It briefly describes the story up to the point when astronaut, David Bowman enters the star gate. An accompanying publicity photo shows fellow astronaut Frank Poole in the Pod Bay.

TV21’s occasional Saturn Probe feature also used photos from the film, although they are used to illustrate the article’s descriptions of the exploration of Saturn. (ironically, the originally screenplay had the planet Saturn as the destination for the ‘Discovery’, rather than Jupiter, however the special effects team had doubts about creating a convincing look for Saturn’s rings)

In issue no. 222 (dated April 19, 2069), a piece titled, ‘Exploring the Atmosphere’, used three photos. One is of astronaut Dave Bowman floating next to the ‘Discovery’s AE35 unit’s antenna’, another shows the Aries 1B lunar shuttle, and finally a photo of the rocket moon bus travelling above the Moon’s surface.

Issue no. 224 (dated May 3, 2069) has a half page colour spread apparently showing the crew of the orbiting Saturn space probe, ‘Shindig 1’. The photos actually showed stewardesses aboard the Aries 1B lunar shuttle and one the ‘Discovery’ astronauts.

In issue no. 226 (dated May 17, 2069) another colour half page proclaiming Saturn’s first city named Shidigville. The photo actually showed astronauts at the Tycho excavation site approaching the Tycho Magnetic Anomaly (TMA 1)

Issue no. 241 (dated August 30, 2069) carried a factual space article – Space Info, sub-titled, ‘Capturing an Asteroid’, and used a still showing the Orion Spacecraft approaching Space Station 5.

The Century 21 toy line Project SWORD also rode on the coat tails of 2001, as we’ve talked about many times previously on the blog.

Marketing events were conceived to publicise the Project Sword range of toys to coincide with cinema showings of 2001, including a display at Hatchett’s Playground Club in Piccadilly, London, as well as displays in cinemas. (Project Space was one of several proposed titles for the film 2001, so I wonder if that actually inspired the name Project Sword.).

When I went to see the film during its first release I can’t honestly recall seeing any displays in the foyer of my local cinema, but I do remember recognising scenes from the film in my Project Sword annual which is littered with publicity stills.

I still think it’s odd that TV21 didn’t capitalise more on their associated companies advertising connection with the film and their range of toys. A photo spread in the comic would have gone down well with SWORD fans. Maybe it was a licensing thing, or possibly something that Director Stanley Kubrick wasn’t happy with?

THE SEVENTIES AND BEYOND:

By 1970 Century 21 Publishing had gone, but a new comic edited by former TV21 art editor, Dennis Hooper called Countdown, and published by Polystyle would continue to feature Gerry Anderson’s TV series, including the live action, UFO, which ironically did feature what looks like a surviving prop from 2001. A back pack originally worn by an astronaut in the Tycho Excavation scene is re-used by SHADO astronauts during a space- walk in the episode, Close up.

Photo: ITV Studios

It also contained the eponymously titled Countdown, an original science fiction strip drawn by John M Burns, and not based on a TV series. The premise dealt with the return to Earth for the spaceship Countdown, (The design based on the 2001 Discovery) and finding a totalitarian government running things. The unique point about the strip is it used space ship and suit designs from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

As I’ve previously mentioned Gerry Anderson’s Space 1999 borrowed quite a bit from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but I’ll leave that for a later post.