Earlier this summer I had the unparalleled cinematic experience of seeing Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm here in New York City. Recently celebrating its 45th anniversary, it’s still a ravishing, incredible journey quite unlike anything else. The film is now set to be re-released in the U.K. next month and for the occasion, BFI have dropped a stunning new trailer that adds praise from two filmmakers heavily influenced by the film, Alfonso Cuarón and Christopher Nolan.
We also have another treat related to the space epic: an original, unused score. While the film’s iconic use of pieces such as Johann Strauss II‘s Blue Danube Waltz, Richard Strauss‘ Also sprach Zarathustra, and György Ligeti‘s Atmosphères are forever tied to the production, before Kubrick fell in love with this temp music he hired Alex North (who worked on Spartacus and Dr. Strangelove) to create an original score. North would then learn after a preview screening that his work wouldn’t be used, but flash-forward a few decades, and we have his score in full. Check it out below, along with the trailer.
2001: A Space Odyssey will be released in the U.K. on November 28th.
What do you think of the trailer and the original score?