50 Years Ago One Movie Changed All Movies Forever
50 Years Ago One Movie Changed All Movies Forever
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The groundbreaking epic first premiered at Washington, D.C.’s Uptown Theater on April 2, 1968, and released in 70mm days later. Like many of Kubrick’s films, it initially receiving mixed reviews upon its release before becoming universally revered and is considered today as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.
It was recently announced that a new mastered 70mm print will be screened on May 12th in the Cannes Classic section of this year’s film festival with an introduction from Christopher Nolan. The screening is also due to be attended by members of Kubrick’s family including his daughter Katharina Kubrick and the filmmaker’s long time producing partner.
According to Cannes, for the first time since the original film’s release, this 70mm print was struck from new printing elements made from the original camera negative meaning it’s a true photochemical film recreation. There are no digital tricks, remastered effects, or revisionist edits. Nolan worked closely with Warner Bros. throughout the mastering process.
Nolan said, “One of my earliest memories of cinema is seeing Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, in 70mm, at the Leicester Square Theatre in London with my father. The opportunity to be involved in recreating that experience for a new generation, and of introducing our new unrestored 70mm print of Kubrick’s masterpiece in all its analogue glory at the Festival de Cannes is an honour and a privilege.”
But you don’t have to go to Cannes to see “2001: A Space Odyssey” in all its 70mm glory. Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterwork will also return to select theaters beginning May 18 to celebrate the benchmark film’s 50th anniversary — and the print is being struck from the original camera negative – with no digital tricks, remastered effects, or revisionist edits – meaning that audiences will see the film the same way moviegoers did in 1968 and as close to Kubrick’s original vision as possible.
The pod bay doors will open next month, but if you can’t catch it on 70mm, there will also be a fully restored version on DVD and Blu-Ray available soon.