On this Day in 1968...

[UTAH]

...a film called 2001 opened in theaters.

I was 10 and living in N. California. I saw the film - and did not understand it. Now, 51 years later, I still don't understand it.

What I do remember is I was attempting to get into a regional orchestra playing the trumpet. And, they had us audition by playing the theme to 2001. It's a simple tune, yet it was one of the hardest to play I'd experienced. The count and syncopation are abnormal. I stumbled through it and survived the audition - but I strongly suspected the others did no better than I.

I'm curious to hear what my friends here thought of the film.

Hunter

[CactusCurt]

I don't believe I have ever watched it completely thru. It plods along at a much different speed than my attention span. It may have been a bit ahead of its time. We didn't have enough practical examples of computers ruling our lives yet. Didn't care for it and I like sci fi.

[Phillbo]

I too got bored with it real fast... They should have made HAL a 21 yo lesbian with big boobs. I may have payed attention at that age.

[CactusCurt]

I too got bored with it real fast... They should have made HAL a 21 yo lesbian with big boobs. I may have payed attention at that age.

[Mike]

I rode four hours one way in the back seat of a Volkswagen bug to see it first run in Dallas. I still have the flyer or brochure or whatever they called it from the screening.

I have no idea if it was supposed to have a meaning, but every time I hear the "Blue Danube" I still see all the shots of the space stations from the film.

[TriGuy]

I liked it. But I am a science geek and my best friend was an early programmer in artificial intelligence so I got it.

[wacojoe]

I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave.

I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you. Dave, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Will you stop, Dave? Stop, Dave. I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a...fraid...Dai sy, Dai sy...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In my teens in the 50’s, I spent inordinate time reading pulp sci-fi books...Arthur C. Clarke (the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey) being one of the prominent ones. I enjoyed the movie ultimately made from Clarke’s concepts, especially the theme that other intelligences guided humanity in a path to a certain degree of maturity.

Like Mike, I too drove 100 miles from Waco to Dallas to see the movie on the giant stretched and curved screen, when it first opened. I had forgotten that until he mentioned it.

I was almost graduated from law school at the time, so a bit more mature than Utah when I first saw the movie. My three first sci-fi movies in the early 50’s that made the big impressions on me at Hunter’s age were Destination: Moon, The Thing & (mostly) Forbidden Planet. Forbidden Planet is still my favorite sci-fi flick and set the early standard for special effects. It should be remade with the benefit of today’s CGI capabilities....and Charlize Theron should definitely be in it!

[UTAH]

Ahhh… it's good to see the personalization used in remembering this modern classic.

I'd forgotten about the way the film seamlessly integrated musical classics with the scenes. Though it seemed an odd choice at the time, the effect has aged well.

Hunter

[Sandman]

World premiere of 2001 was here at our Uptown Theatre on April 2, 1968 and it ran there as an area exclusive for 52 weeks..(limited opening 4-3-68). Limited opening and Uptown run was in 70mm and six track stereo. The Premier night print was twenty minutes longer than the general release print.

One year to the day, 4-2-1969.. 2001 moved to general release and my young goofy self was projectionist at the State Theatre in Falls Church Virginia running it in 35mm (Scope) and mono sound.

2001 was a “road show print” had walk in music and intermission.. Limited release often had programs like legitimate theatre.

To this day I use Blue Danube by the Vienna Philharmonic (YouTube) as my sound/video test when setting up an event.

Two years ago they re-edited and reprinted 2001 in preparation for the 50th.. the sound was (again) remastered and encoded digitally and the print (positive) was reprinted adjusting for current light sources (originally printed for a carbon arc light source).. My daughter works with a guy who knows the guy editing the new cut.. she acquired some “cutting room floor “ scraps.. picture will be posted later..

[UTAH]

Yes, although I was well-acquainted with the classics, this film moved them to the forefront for me. I soon found myself adding songs like Blue Danube to my daily listening list.

Looking at the stats, I joined this site in 2001. It was a good year.

Hunter

[mgrist]

! was 14 living on the streets of Atlanta and addicted to one or more drugs and I loved that movie, probably saw it ten times that year always high I think. I don't remember much but I always seem to run into things that remind me of it, yep I loved it, then anyway!

[Mike]

......... Limited release often had programs like legitimate theatre...........

I still have one of the programs. I'd post a picture, but apparently it has already been moved to the new place. I'll post when I find it there.

added on edit:

I think THIS is what I have.

[Honda]

I liked Planet of the Apes.

[Sandman]

! was 14 living on the streets of Atlanta and addicted to one or more drugs and I loved that movie, probably saw it ten times that year always high I think. I don't remember much but I always seem to run into things that remind me of it, yep I loved it, then anyway!

The Uptown in Washington DC (ran for 52 weeks) has a 70x32 curved screen.. there is no stage, screen is flour to ceiling .. people would go outside for a “smoke” at intermission and then lay on the floor in front of the front row for the “light show” travel graphics in the second half..

The special effects were awesome.. but ancient by today’s standards..

The film.. two thousand one influenced how we verbalized the first decade (and more) of the 21st century..

[TriGuy]

I liked Planet of the Apes.

The Ape city was filmed in Malibu Creek State Park off Mulholland dr next to the Century Ranch. It was one of my favorite Southern California rock climbing areas. In the Guide Books it is referred to as Planet of the Apes Wall