2001 A Space Odyssey
Artist: Bob McCall
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Excellent
Year: 1968
DescriptionStanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” is now widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films of all time. Although receiving an initially mixed response from critics and audiences, the film’s reputation has grown immeasurably and today is still praised for its poetic visuals and dazzling imagination and technical qualities. A similar sense of awe is created when looking at the ‘A’ style UK Quad, one of three used to promote the film, all of which used artwork by American artist Robert McCall. McCall is celebrated for his space art and glancing at the poster it is no wonder why. The spaceship imagery induces feelings of mystery and wonder. The large image of the Earth behind the space-station and the space beyond also reflect the film’s large and epic scope and Kubrick’s own visionary and meditative take on the science fiction film. Interestingly, the departing spacecraft bears the logo of the airline "Pan-Am" - sadly this American airline went bust in 1991!
McCall’s work on film posters can also be seen in the UK Quad for the American-Japanese war film “Tora! Tora! Tora!”, made two years after “2001” in 1970 (shown below and courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com). Although not a ‘space’ design, McCall’s talent for aviation imagery is marked. Though providing a more action-packed design in a bleached colour scheme, there is still a familiar epic quality in the artwork. Noticeably, and intriguingly, no people are clearly shown in either design, heightening the sense of mystery and the unknown. Although a Style ‘B’ Quad that McCall designed for “2001” (shown below for comparison and courtesy of www.moviepostermem.com) features people in space-suits, the lack of any defining features continues McCall’s brilliant artistic imagining of Kubrick’s thought-provoking exploration of humanity.