Kubrick Teams with Arthur C. Clarke on Space Film

Feb. 20, 1965 - Stanley Kubrick (right), who examined serious aspects of World War I in “Paths of Glory” and dissected, via the funny bone, our A-Bomb Age in “Dr. Strangelove,” is now prepared to delve into the future. The youthful producer-director-writer has set a precedent for himself by teaming with Arthur C. Clarke (left) to write a novel, “Journey Beyond the Stars,” and that team has also adapted it into a movie script. The film will be made in the Cinerama wide-screen process and in color in association with MGM, starting Aug. 15.

There is no cast yet, but Kubrick said last week: “It will be filmed on location in England, Africa, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States with interiors being done at MGM’s Elstree Studios near London. It should be ready for release in the fall of 1966.” Kubrick would divulge no details about the novel other than to say it would be published in the “not too distant future.”

Clarke, as a noted British scientist and author of many books including “The Exploration of Space,” is, Kubrick said, “almost uniquely qualified in his field. As far back as 1945, he wrote ‘Extraterrestrial Relays: Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?’ Our story is involved with the space age, one of the great themes of our times and one that is still almost untouched in serious art and literature.”

“Journey Beyond the Stars” opens, Kubrick revealed, “in the year 2001. Permanent bases have been established on the Moon, manned expeditions have visited Mars, all the major planets of the solar system have been probed, and enough has been discovered to prove that only the Earth has brought forth intelligence. 

“Then, unexpectedly, comes the electrifying discovery, from uncomfortably close, of extraterrestrial intelligence. ‘Journey’ will be the epic story of adventure and exploration of the Earth, the planets of our solar system, and a journey light years away to another part of the galaxy, which will explore the infinite possibilities that space-travel opens to mankind.”

Who will be the “travelers” on this “Journey?”

“They’ll be real people,” Kubrick said, laughing, “not electronic puppets.”

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