2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY AT THE LONDON DESIGN MUSEUM

Some photos I took featuring just some of the 2001: A Space Odyssey exhibits at the recent London Design Museum’s Stanley Kubrick Exhibition.

Infinity and Beyond: This is the original ‘Star Child’ prop sculpted by Liz Moore, which was thought to be lost until 2003 .Liz Moore joined the team of 2001: in 1966 and along with the ‘Star Child’, Liz worked in the art department assisting Stuart Freeborn in the creation of the first human masks, and helping to create the Lunar landscapes. For the Star Child which was built in autumn 1967, she created a clay mould sculpture with features intentionally similar to Keir Dullea. From this a fiberglass model was built.

According to a ‘Cinefex’ interview with Brian Johnson, Stanley Kubrick wanted the Star Child to have a more ‘evolved’ look with a slightly bigger head. Another ‘Cinefex’ interview with Douglas Trumbull described how Stanley Kubrick shot the model through around fifteen layers of special gauze made from rare, lady stockings from pre-war Europe which softened the tremendous over exposed backlight. The ten second shot was filmed over eight hours to achieve a large depth of field.

Liz Moore, amongst other works went on to design the C-3PO suit for the film, Star Wars. Sadly, Liz died in a car accident in 1976 at the age of 32.

The Dawn of Man: Some photos of the original ‘Moonwatcher’ costumes and masks on display which were designed by Stuart Freeborn, and worn by mime artist Dan Richter and Andy Wallace.

Dan Richter was working as a mime artist in London at the time, and choreographed the ‘Dawn of Man’ scene in the film. He spent hours at the Natural History Museum and London Zoo studying the movements of chimps and gorillas. When casting the man-apes, Kubrick decided that Richter should take the role of ‘Moonwatcher’.

Make-up artist Derek Freeborn developed the ape- heads, which contained intricate toggles and devices to move the teeth, cheeks and tongue muscles.

Jupiter Mission: The original ‘Discovery’ Space helmet worn by Keir Dullea as astronaut Dave Bowman. This and many more of the designs for 2001: were created by German film production designer Harry Lange. Lange had previously worked at NASA working on spacecraft designs with Werner von Braun. At NASA, Lange had met Arthur C Clarke, who introduced him to Stanley Kubrick. Lange, using his astronautical design experience went on to produce authentic prop and set designs for 2001:. He later worked on the James Bond film, Moonraker and the first three Star Wars films, although he was un-credited on the first.

The original ‘Discovery’ spacesuit chestpack.

The original ‘Discovery’ backpack. I believe a Clavius Base astronaut back pack used for the Tycho excavation scene in 2001: was re- used  in the Gerry Anderson TV series UFO, during the episode ‘Close Up’.

 Original spacesuit: At Clavius Base the crew wore silver/white versions of the suit, while on ‘Discovery’ there was four suits of different colours; a red and a yellow, a green one in the emergency air-lock, and a blue one seen, but not used by anyone in the film. (A replica was later used in the Babylon 5 episodes, ‘Babylon Squared’ and ’War Without End: part 2)

There was also a violet one, not shown in the film, but stored in a locker aboard the ‘Discovery’. This meant that each human member of the ‘Discovery’ crew would have their own spacesuit.

There were several reproduction spacecraft models on display.  This studio model below of the Moon Rocket Bus is credited to Jeff Wargo.

‘Discovery One’ Spacecraft, manufactured by Scott Alexander.

A 44” studio scale model of the Pan-Am ‘Orion III’ space plane, made by Stephen Dymszo, with contributions by Karl Tate.

The HAL 9000 interface with authentic screens. Sadly two screens appeared not to be working, could that be down to a fault in the AE35 unit?

A reproduction of part of Space Station 5, complete with Djinn chair and sofa, (1965: designed by Olivier Mourgue) and Saarinen Tulip low table. (1957: designed by Eero Saarinen)

There were plenty of other items on display, including photographs. One photo I saw might be of some interest to Thunderbirds fans like me. It shows a model of the Moon’s surface done by matte artist Joy Cuff who, along with special effects man Brian Johnson had left the Century 21 Studios, in Slough during the filming of Thunderbirds to join the 2001: production team. Joy Cuff was responsible for modelling the lunar landscapes such as the ones visible from the Moon Rocket Bus windows.

I should mention that the exhibition obviously covered not only 2001: but also Spartacus , Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, Dr Strangelove and much more.

This Adams Brothers Probe 6 futuristic car on display in the foyer appeared in ‘A Clockwork Orange’ under the name ’Durango 95’,

and anyone who’s watched ‘The Shining ‘should recognise these original props.

“If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed”

Stanley Kubrick