CliveT

Despite all the information/publicity etc on this film-does anybody know how the leading actors got their roles? Did Keir Dullea audition whilst in London making "Bunny Lake" (the same year-1965-that 2001 started shooting) & Gary Lockwood get his part because he was in "Spartacus"?

I remember sitting in the Casino, London in July 1968 watching this film-forty years on & still have great memories!

Andy H

I'm sorry Clive, I can't answer your questions, but like you I can still remember sitting with my friends (all about 15 at the time and very much into SF and space travel) in the Odeon in 1968, absolutely transfixed by this film.
The precision of the effects was astonishing at the time, and even modern computer graphics would struggle to do any better.
We've got this film on DVD, but we keep waiting for the 'right time' to view it.

Reeldigger

Keir Dullea was recently at a New York City screening of "Bunny Lake Is Missing" and recalled while shooting that film he received the news from his agent that Kubrick wanted him to star in his next movie. He described it as the one happy day in an otherwise anxiety-filled experience. Dullea didn't mention anything about an audition. I suspect he landed the role on the basis of his performance in "David and Lisa."

Dullea was quick to confirm Otto Preminger's well-known reputation as a tyrant (no surprise there.) At one point Laurence Oliver beseeched him to "go easy on the children," meaning Dullea and Carol Lynley. Herr Preminger retorted that he was too old to change his ways.

narabdela

It's nice to have it on DVD, but the only 'right time' to view it is in Super Panavision70 on a curved Cinerama screen. That will really re-create the original Casino experience for you.

There's a new print out that was shown at the NMM in March.

CliveT

To Reeldigger & Narabdela

Thanks for the replies! Apart from the Casino experience I've seen this film another 3 times in 70mm and a couple of times in ordinary scope (35mm). Yes, as u say the real experience is seeing it as it should be on the Cinerama screen, alas, here in "progressive" Adelaide, the IMAX theatre was closed down a few years ago so that puts paid to any chance of that!

AdrianTurner

Dear Clive T - IMAX is nothing like Cinerama. About your original question, the new DVD of 2001 has a commentary by Dullea and Lockwood which you should find interesting. As for Adelaide being "progressive," well, I've been there and have a brother living there and I reckon it's a better place to live than anywhere in the UK.