BTW I love 2001. I saw it on TV when I was a kid and was riveted and haunted. When I saw it on the large screen a couple of years ago, I was blown away.
Toochis ________________________________ From: David Kusumoto <davidmkusum...@hotmail.com> To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Sat, March 5, 2011 7:01:33 PM Subject: [MOPO] 2001 - "WE HAVE A F______ HIT! I KID YOU NOT. GOD-D___, IT'S A HIT!" * Almost one year ago, Freeman Fisher posted a "you had to be there" essay on MoPo about MGM's apoplectic and suicidal reaction to "2001" after it bombed in previews. I thought his essay was so brilliant in content and appeal that I saved it. * To me, that we're still arguing about "2001's" merits more than 40 years later is relevant because it means the film is too controversial and/or compelling to be forgotten. On March 21, 2010, I remarked "again" that excepting sci-fi and comic book chick-nerds, not a single woman I know loves "2001." And to me, the gender gap issue is relevant to the film's appeal. * Earlier that same day, some incredulous MoPo members griped about a "2001" style B re-issue half-sheet selling at auction for $2,000. "Why?," some members asked. "Was the winning bidder out of his mind with more dollars than sense?" * In response, Freeman posted a back-story to MoPo about MGM's expectations for "2001," closing with a single line referencing the aforementioned poster. The highlight of Freeman's story is a quote from a previously downcast MGM publicist named Ted Hatfield, who, during a later screening before a paying audience, turned suddenly euphoric, screaming into a phone to MGM brass, "WE HAVE A FUCKING HIT! I KID YOU NOT. WE HAVE A FUCKING HIT! GODDAMN IT'S A HIT...." * You can read it below, copy-and-pasted in full. – d. ======================================= From: Freeman Fisher To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: [MOPO] 2001: a space odyssey Anecdotal True Stories Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:14:16 -0700 When I was a wee lad, I was utterly blown away by "2001: A Space Odyssey." I first saw it in San Antonio where I was born and raised. I remembered reading about it and even buying a comic book serialization before it ever hit the town learning much later as to why: the Cinerama engagements were first roll out, all other cities had to wait on the engagements in a very slow deliberate roll-out by MGM. Once opened, the film played exclusively at a General Cinema, 1000 seat theatre over a year, and literally keep getting moved to other houses for the better part of another year. We are talking San Antonio guys....where the search for illegal aliens was nothing special. When I took a job in exhibition in Washington DC, that was when I hit Odyssey nirvana. The theatre chain I worked for owned the 1000 plus seat UPTOWN THEATRE a true Cinerama Theatre beginning in 1962, located walking distance from THE NATIONAL ZOO. But what really blew my mind was knowing the theatre was the host of the World Premiere of "2001: A Space Odyssey." The theatre was shut down several months before the premiere and was completely renovated at a cost just north of $900,000 when $900,000.00 really meant something....mind blowing given the reason for the renovation – was for the premiere of "some space movie" as told to me by the same manager still employed at the theatre when I started working for the circuit. (The Washington Post actually did an article on him when he retired in 1986 two years after I moved to DC, since it was estimated that 50% of the population knew who he was. Plus you can see the theatre in newsreel footage on the special DVD extras of 2001, but I digress). Further, since my job had me interacting with all studio publicists, one named Ted Hatfield who worked for MGM out of NYC at the time – (later moved to Columbia) – told me great stories of that horrible/wonderful time. In DC there were scheduled a series of screenings but the first was the WORLD PREMIERE and gala reception with NY and LA to follow. This film was a big, big investment for the studio at the time. Kubrick agreed to attend but he flexed, probably for his own amusement and eccentricity, some unusual demands. Can't remember them all, but he did insist at the ultra deluxe and traditionally Georgian styled, Hilton Hotel, literally walking distance from the theatre, that one elevator be his exclusively......and be painted out completely in purple. But he was a man under pressure, as all of MGM's brass were there along with a battalion of execs from NASA, McDonnell Douglas, TWA, Hilton and anyone else that lent their names, technology and sizeable promotional commitments. Did I mention there was never a test screening? Not surprising he took control of the actual presentation demanding agonizing test runs with the projectionists that went on well into the evening prior. The Premiere proved a huge media event with the typical black-tie glitterati of DC – and numerous Members Of Congress and Ambassadors in attendance. It un-spooled without a hitch.... ....AND IT BOMBED. We are talking B-O-M-B-E-D. Panicked MGM execs all met after only briefly showing up at the reception and assembled at the hotel with Kubrick. He actually began to suggest cuts to an evidently despondent, if not suicidal group of brass. But there were still two screenings scheduled the next day---one for national press and a second for employees of TWA and lower tiered not-so-swells. My friend Ted told me the vibe of premiere night was nothing short of funereal. He didn't sleep at all, so got reasonably soused with his cohorts. He showered and went to the theatre with his equally whacked ad pub cohorts and all braced themselves for the worst. The first screening at 10:00 am with critics he felt went okay, as many commented on exiting but it was only about 200-300 critics and as you know are a very sullen bunch anyway. But at least they didn't seem to be outright bored. When Ted and gang got outside the theatre to see if anyone from TWA, and the other invited not-so-swells were even going to show up....the lines stretched blocks down Connecticut Ave in both directions; way, way more than the theatre could hold.... And they were shocked. This time they had to stand bleary eyed through this packed to the rafters screening (with scores of other people standing with them along the rear and sides of the main auditorium and sitting jammed in the aisles of the balcony). It was for Ted and his co-publicists – as if watching 2001 for the first time. Instead of the agony of witnessing indifferent, shifting-in-their seats restlessness the night prior, this crowd of pilots, corporate AD and PR flaks and Capitol Hill staffers – the crowd was engaged, tense and ultimately blown by the experience. Ted told me you could literally feel the audience reaction. Not even waiting for the film to end, Ted called his boss's suite from the theatre manager's office where the other execs were gathered with Kubrick and he literally screamed into the phone, "WE HAVE A FUCKING HIT! I KID YOU NOT. WE HAVE A FUCKING HIT! GODDAMN IT'S A HIT...." (I may have left out a second goddamn....) While on the phone reporting the reaction and turnout he then heard the roar of applause from the auditorium echoing through the building. It was something Ted recalled never quite experiencing again in his career, the extreme of swing from (having a) perceived-bomb-to-an-apparent hit in the course of less than 24 hours – with any other movie he was involved. Shortly after returning to the hotel comments from some of the better known National press began to filter to Kubrick and the execs as they were literally packing to take a private charter to NYC for the NYC premiere. The mood was definitely improving. Ted had to skip NY to supervise the junket wrap-up...... and the repainting of Kubrick's elevator. The rest as they say is history Still, Kubrick, based on the DC Premiere and I am pretty sure after watching the NYC screening, set about cutting about 12 to 14 minutes of his original cut of the film but then adding intermission music and mandating that all theatres completely darken the house during the Overture (rather than half-down) and for the final minute of the Intermission. ....And that is why the style B half-sheet sold for $2000. freeman ________________________________ Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 03:27:52 -0800 From: davidmkusum...@hotmail.com Subject: Re: My Friend Say 2001 is a "snorefest" To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU * I've remarked several times since the 1990s on MoPo about the love-hate relationship people have towards 2001, which is also one of my fav films about man being the only living species on earth that has the self-awareness of being a living, thinking, breathing "thing" - that's forever trying to find answers to things that are within - and far beyond his reach. * But here's the oddest thing. In the 42 years since its release - excepting the chick-nerds you see at sci-fi and comic conventions - I HAVE NEVER MET ONE WOMAN WHO LOVES "2001." Years ago I used to try to explain the picture to women and they'd just give me that totally blank, "you are such an unattractive and pretentious nerd" stare. So I stopped. Seriously, if women aren't already "tepid" about it, they outright hate it - and are puzzled that it's on any list of top films. It's like the sci-fi equivalent to "Last Year at Marienbad." Amongst film fans, arguments always break out about it merits, so I generally don't like to bring it up to show my "age." It's been over-hyped by baby boomers born from 1945 to 1964. Generation X'rs born from 1965-1979 feel it's overrated and Generation Y'rs born from 1980 to 1994 think it's like watching a black-and-white-silent-movie with no subtitles. New Millennials born after 1995 (who are now smart-alecky 15-year olds) aren't even worth trying to make a dent about it. * I think the film is brilliant for its time and still feels undated except for the totally fake-looking, pre-Rick Baker era ape scenes in the beginning. But to be fair, I also get why people feel it's a non-linear/abstract, Jackson Pollock type of you-figure-it-out-for-yourself-to-show-you're-hip-bore. -d. ________________________________ Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 01:38:30 -0800 From: sa...@comic-art.com Subject: My Friend Say 2001 is a "snorefest" To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU yeah so I'm doing my usual thing (working on posters) when I get an email from one of my very best friends in the world and this email is titles "snorefest" and his email proceeds to tell me "just watched one of the boringest movies ever - 2001" of course I told him he makes me sick and that he isn't worthy of breathing air above ground if he doesn't think 2001 isn't one of the best movies of all time (because it is) well we banter back and forth and he points to these reviews by other obvious idiots http://movie2s.com/movie/18364968/2001:_a_space_odyssey.html I once again tell him how retarded he is and he says "it needs more lasers and explosions. if the spaceships could transform into robots it would be much cooler" Now I don't want to embarrass my buddy, especially because he is a member of MoPo, so I don't want to mention my buddy's name (Sean), because I don't want my buddy (Sean) to get nasty emails from people telling him what a lowbrow movie viewer he must be. It's too bad my buddy (Sean) can't see how intellectually stimulating 2001 is (as are the rest of Kubrick's films - each one is a gem). But to each his own, so I'm not going to mention my buddy's name (it's Sean), but I just wanted you folks to know there actually is someone in our group that doesn't get this film. Hey Sean.. I mean, Hey Buddy, should I get you a copy of the Last Airbender for Christmas?? Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
