50th Anniversary of "2001: A Space Odyssey"

[gary]

Today marks the 50th anniversary since the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"
had its theatrical release in Australia on 2nd May 1968.

I vividly remember being taken to the cinema in George Street, Sydney,
at the time to see it.

Filming began in England in December of 1965.

Predating the use of computer graphics in cinema, 2001 achieved the
pinnacle of special effects using emulsion film by way of large and
complex sets, detailed scaled models and many innovative purpose-built
special effects machines such as slit-scan apparatus.

For example, the cockpit displays inside the spacecraft predated modern
computer graphics and were achieved by animations being projected from
multiple 60mm projectors on the set.

Warner Bros. will debut an unrestored 70mm print at the 2018 Cannes
Film Festival on May 12.

A digitally restored 4K HDR Blu-ray release will be made later this year
and the restoration is being supervised by director Christopher Nolan.

Re-release trailer :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4lCYPBD7E

"2001: A Space Odyssey - Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick" - a 22
minute documentary where filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and
George Lucas speak of the enormous influence 2001 had on them
and on cinema in general since then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCDdEq9ZYjI

"How Kubrick made 2001: A Space Odyssey - Part 1: The Dawn of Man"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgNyCluIRhA

[Saturnine]

Vividly remember walking through Sydney on a Sat. afternoon, on the long way home from the beach at Manly via the ferry to Circular Quay in 1968 and someone suggested we see this movie. Can't remember which cinema it was in George St but the film certainly left a long lasting impression on a mind that was already interested in space.
The special effects , for the time, were mind bowing. The sight of the orbiting space station from the approaching shuttle set to Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz is still one of my all time favourite film scenes.

[gary]

Hi Jeff,

It would have been the Plaza Cinema in George Street which was
equipped to show the 70mm Cinerama extravaganzas of the day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Theatre_(Sydney)#/media/File:Star_bar_george_street.jpg
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=242 4109

I also remember being in front of that same cinema on 1st November 1969
and watching the motorcade of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins after they
returned from the Moon.

After the motorcade passed, we went into the cinema and watched "The Battle of Britain".

Back in the day when movies had intermissions and the uniformed boy or girl
with a cap would come down the aisle with a tray selling choc tops and jaffas.

[astro744]

I enjoyed the screening a few years ago at the Sydney Opera House with all music simulcast and played live on stage. It was a fantastic experience well worth whatever it cost me, the amount which I have already forgotten.