The 2001 File: Harry Lange and the Design of the Landmark Science Fiction Film

by Christopher Frayling

From spaceships to costumes, sketches to finished objects, the acclaimed designs for Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece To celebrate the 50th birthday of the Apollo 11 moon landing and of the worldwide release of the science-fiction classic 2001: A Space Odyssey , Reel Art Press is reprinting its bestselling book The 2001 File .

A look behind-the-scenes at the making of this most legendary of films, the book gives an in-depth examination of the complete archive of art director Harry Lange's designs, concepts, roughs and photographs. Lange's strikingly realistic designs created an extraordinary vision of the future. By releasing this archive and explaining its significance, the book takes the reader/viewer on a journey deep into the visual thinking behind 2001.

The book is about the process, as well as the finished product. It examines how Harry Lange's experience with NASA fed into the innovations of the film. It includes rejected designs, concepts and roughs, as well as the finished works. It also reveals how the design team was obsessed with things that actually might work, and reproduces several innovations that were science fiction in the 1960s but have since become science fact, including an international space station, personal computers and flat-screen tablet technology. The remarkable designs for  2001  created a credible vision of the future.

Genres: Film, Science Fiction

334 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2014

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so on to my second film related book and ironically if I was concerned about the lost or degradation of details of film form the 70s here I am reading about one from the 60s. But what a film - and I must say what a book.

This book reading is a book of two halves - perfectly packaged in one amazing book. The first relates to the making of the film this time from the perspective of Harry Lange. What he was challenged with, how he went about meeting these challenges and what it was like creating such an iconic film that has truly stood the test of time (although I am sure at the time they had no idea of all of this).

This section was fascinating since I have read several books about this film and what happened during its production. This is a refreshingly different perspective and all goes to help build up a realistic image of what really happened.

The second part of the book is nothing sketches and notes about all the various aspects of the design of the film and this is where my attention was truly captivated. As here you can see the imagery which has stood so very solidly over all these years slowly come in to being.

I am sure I have said this many times but to have your work last well beyond your years allows you to achieve a sort of immortality - I just wonder if those involved in this film ever thought this would be their legacy.

[Ben De Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main draw here is the collection of design work. That's all excellent but so is the introductory essay. It's very extensive in the background of 2001's production design development. I've read a lot on the film but even so most of this info was new to me

[Deke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If 2001 is your favorite movie (it is mine) then you want this gorgeous book filled with sketches and design ideas behind the various spacecraft, stations, suits and other physical objects used in the film. Excellent essay accompanies, outlining the background, context and experiences involved in this painstakingly precise design.