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RIP Sir Ken Adam (1921-2016)

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  • AlexanderWaverlyAlexanderWaverly
    Posts: 2,115
    fjdinardo wrote: »
    Does anybody know why he never came back to Bond after Moonraker?

    Ken Adam as quoted by Adrian Turner in the 1998 book Adrian Turner on Goldfinger (page 13):

    "They're not only a design challenge, which didn't worry me, but the whole logistics and organisation did -- when you had sometimes four units shooting all over the world at the same time and you had to service those units with props, with sets, whatever. The production team had changed and, in my opinion, not for the better -- except for Cubby Broccoli who is an old friend and who I worked for even before the Bonds. I just not would have felt with some of the new people involved. Also, I like to think that by then I had reached a stage in my career when, as a rule, I only do the films I want to do."

  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I will hopefully get around to adding some content to this thread, but it will take a while. Ken Adam was the greatest production designer of all time. And that isn't hyperbole.
  • fjdinardofjdinardo
    Posts: 2,104
    AlexanderWaverly wrote: »
    fjdinardo wrote: »
    Does anybody know why he never came back to Bond after Moonraker?

    Ken Adam as quoted by Adrian Turner in the 1998 book Adrian Turner on Goldfinger (page 13):

    "They're not only a design challenge, which didn't worry me, but the whole logistics and organisation did -- when you had sometimes four units shooting all over the world at the same time and you had to service those units with props, with sets, whatever. The production team had changed and, in my opinion, not for the better -- except for Cubby Broccoli who is an old friend and who I worked for even before the Bonds. I just not would have felt with some of the new people involved. Also, I like to think that by then I had reached a stage in my career when, as a rule, I only do the films I want to do."

    Very interesting
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia
    Posts: 3,375
    AlexanderWaverly wrote: »
    fjdinardo wrote: »
    Does anybody know why he never came back to Bond after Moonraker?

    Ken Adam as quoted by Adrian Turner in the 1998 book Adrian Turner on Goldfinger (page 13):

    "They're not only a design challenge, which didn't worry me, but the whole logistics and organisation did -- when you had sometimes four units shooting all over the world at the same time and you had to service those units with props, with sets, whatever. The production team had changed and, in my opinion, not for the better -- except for Cubby Broccoli who is an old friend and who I worked for even before the Bonds. I just not would have felt with some of the new people involved. Also, I like to think that by then I had reached a stage in my career when, as a rule, I only do the films I want to do."

    Very interesting and thanks for sharing.

    It does seem that the production of the films changed. I won't necessarily agree with Adam that it was for worse, it was just different. A more minimalist approach with a focus on landscapes over big set pieces. I thought it worked quite well in FYEO and TLD particularly.

    That being said, when Bond went back to over the top in the 90's with the Brosnan era, the series could have greatly benefited by bringing Adam back. I love the work Peter Lamont did, but there did seem to be an 'it' factor missing from the big set pieces in the 90's era Bonds. Similarly, the sets were good, but not great in TND where Allan Cameron was the PD. Imagine the Stealth Boat if designed by Adam, 20 years after the super tanker from Spy.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    edited March 3 Posts: 4,401
    Ken Adam's last interview.

  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,201
    Thanks for this. It's very interesting to hear those things from the master himself, although I must admit that I "knew" much of it beforehand. Never heard of Iain Tyrrell, but he did a good job with the interview.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,401
    Iain Tyrrell has another YT channel where he discusses the renovation of mainly supercars of the sixties and seventies. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about this era of car making and not only knows his Ferraris and Lamborghinis inside out. He also is a very likeable person with a quiet demeanour.
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