‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ Unrestored 70mm Print to Debut at Cannes

In time for the 50th anniversary of the classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), director Christopher Nolan (b. 1970) will present the unrestored 70mm print of the Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) masterpiece at Cannes. 

It'll be a HAL of an event! (GIF via MGM)

THR reports:

The screening will take place on Saturday May 12, and is set to be attended by Kubrick's family, including his daughter Katharina Kubrick and long-time producing partner Jan Harlan.

"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," said Nolan. "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."

For the first time since the original release, the 70mm print was struck from new printing elements made from the original camera negative, without any digital tricks, remastered effects or revisionist edits.

"Stanley Kubrick in the official selection! It is a great honour for the Festival de Cannes to host the 50th anniversary celebration of one of the most extraordinary films in the history of cinema. And to welcome to the Festival for the first time Christopher Nolan, whose presence creates a precious bond between past and present, without which cinema would have no history," said Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux. "We are looking forward to this unique 70mm projection which will prove, if proof were necessary, that cinema was indeed invented for the big screen."

Kubrick's widow asserted that Kubrick would have admired Nolan's films, which have included Memento (2000), The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017).

Poor behavior in the theater is discouraged. (GIF via MGM)

Ann Gillis, who appears in a small role in the film, just died this year at age 90. Keir Dullea (b. 1936) and Gary Lockwood (b. 1937), the film's leads, are alive and active on the nostalgia circuit.

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