The 40th Anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey
Written by Dennis Gonzales.
Video/Photography by Robert Spellman, and The Malcolm Mcdowell site, 2008.

The Jules Verne Festival celebrates the 40th Anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Oct. 12, 2008, Part Ten (Continued)

Vivian Kubrick's autograph.








2001: A Space Odyssey was playing in every corner of the venue (left image), on multiple screens in every section of the lounge. It was an unreal atmosphere as cocktail-sipping patrons stood silently digging the film.



When the area grew too crowded, some guests moved to the League of Extraordinary Gentleman's rec-room. I were able to witness when Kubrick walked in with Jeauffre to put her signature on the wall. That gave me a chance to introduce myself and thank her for being there for the fans and the cause. Soon after, she left with McDowell and Dillon, and I left with Ventimiglia and his friends. We went to The ImaginAsian Center to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey on the big screen. It had been nearly four years since I'd watched 2001 in a theater. The print at ImaginAsian was nearly perfect. During intermission, I met up with Fields, who had a seat up front, and we talked about our experience with the 2001 stars and with other movie fans.

After the movie, there was a misunderstanding at the door of the Edison as we tried to get Fields sculpture but the club owner invited us inside after management cleared us. Gilliam was breaking down his collectibles when we ran into another problem. The Edison staffers had attached a two-by-four to the base of the Monolith for stability and safety. The manager suggested that his employees could carry the sculpture up to Fields' SUV after knocking off the board.

While we waited, Jeauffe saw Fields and told him that Kubrick was looking for him. She wanted to meet the voice of HAL because she thought it was a fabulous impression of Douglas Rain. Dullea walked towards us and congratulated Fields on a great performance, then suggested that he meet Kubrick. We followed him and Jeauffe back to the rec-room where we saw their crowd of friends. We listened as Kubrick talked about her father's career. One revealing moment was when she mentioned wanting to discuss, during her time on stage earlier in the evening, the impression that her father never gave actors freedom to explore their skills. She took the opposite view. I related that fact to Gary Lockwood months later and he said that was very true, but also mentioned that some people were not too comfortable working with him.

By this time Jeauffe was apparently waiting for the guests to vacate the rec-room so Fields and I bid our farewells, exchanged contact information with other fans, and headed back to the hotel. The next day, Wally Fields dropped me off at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank and drove back to the Bay Area with his monolith.

The Edison event was another pivotal part of my life and my effort to keep Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's vision alive. The 40th Anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey was another footnote to add to my story.

I'm sure there are many stories like mine, and I welcome them on my social network website, ning.com. But personally, 2008 was a turning point on many levels for me. Losing Sir Arthur Clarke on the 40th anniversary of 2001 was a very sad time for me. But his memory and vision are still celebrated by a new generation. In a time when blockbuster action movies with cgi special effects are so predominant, 2001 still stands out as one of the most influential films, affecting people from many different cultures and ages who seek an understanding of the unknown and our place in the cosmos.









Credit: Thank you for this article, Active Observer, Lionel Friedberg, Diane Friedberg, Matt Ventimiglia, Mark Charron, Jean-Christophe Jeauffre, Frederic Dieudonne, Robert Spellman, Lucy Spellman, Dennis Gillian, Wally Fields and Scott Alexander.

Other links about "2001 in 2008: a cinematic odyssey":
'2001' in 2008: A Cinematic Odyssey - popwatch
2001 in 2008: A Cinematic Odyssey - Alternative Film Guide
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 40th Anniversary Screening Photos - Alternative Film Guide
Academy to Voyage into the Making of "2001" - Webwire

The Edison:
2001: A Space Odyssey @ The Edison Downtown - LA Weekly
THE 2008 HIGHLIGHTS - Jules Verne Festival.

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