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RIP Sir Ken Adam (1921-2016)

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  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    RIP Sir Ken!
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    I can't say anything any better than the previous posters. I agree and Sir Ken Adam will be missed.

    A life well lived.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,333
    Sad to hear of the death of Bond Production Designer Sir Ken Adam at the ripe old age of 95. He made celluloid dreams take form and become reality in the Bond films that he was involved with.
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia
    edited March 2016 Posts: 3,370
    Well said by everyone on here. From his heroic involvement in WW2 to the long career and unrivaled innovation he brought to production design, his biography is something that you can't make up. If you were to pick 5 names that set the tone and was crucial for Bondmania and the longevity of the series, Sir Ken Adam would have to be on that list.

    Thank you for all the memories and awe inspiring moments that you provided on the screen. RIP Sir Ken Adam
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    What can be said here?

    One of the main contributors to the success of the series.

    Was overjoyed to meet him circa 2010 at a screening of YOLT, probably his masterpiece.

    That he didn't win multiple Oscars for his work on Bond is an absolute travesty.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    He was nominated 5 times and won 2 Academy Awards, not for Bond of course, but what does it matter. The Academy recognised his genius.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    BondJasonBond006 wrote: »
    He was nominated 5 times and won 2 Academy Awards, not for Bond of course, but what does it matter. The Academy recognised his genius.

    One Oscar nomination for TSWLM and that's it? Be serious.

    The YOLT volcano deserved a Thalberg alone.
  • Ed83Ed83
    Posts: 1,181
    RIP Sir Ken, Amazing life and passion for your work! Always loved his interviews on the special features.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    Right after George Martin? This really is a tragic week.

    Ken Adam's sets were incredible. May he find peace in Atlantis, the space station of MR and the volcano in YOLT!
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,357
    ForYourEyesOnly wrote: »
    Right after George Martin? This really is a tragic week.

    Ken Adam's sets were incredible. May he find peace in Atlantis, the space station of MR and the volcano in YOLT!

    Don't forget his "Cathedral of Gold" from Goldfinger. :) If I could live on any Ken Adam designed location it would have to be Dr. No's lair. The original is just so amazing and beautiful.

  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    The tarantula room in DN is also one of his best.

    So simple yet conveyed such menace whilst also setting the style for the series.
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    TheWizardOfIce wrote: »
    The tarantula room in DN is also one of his best.

    So simple yet conveyed such menace whilst also setting the style for the series.

    Couldn't agree more.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    TheWizardOfIce wrote: »
    The tarantula room in DN is also one of his best.

    So simple yet conveyed such menace whilst also setting the style for the series.

    You could see his genius right there. And how about Dr Strangelove?
  • Crazysoul95Crazysoul95
    Posts: 3,336
    Great visionary, will be greatly missed. His sets from bond are some of the best i've ever seen
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    So which is everybody's favourite set of Ken Adam?
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    BondJasonBond006 wrote: »
    So which is everybody's favourite set of Ken Adam?

    It's probably easy to say the volcano lair in YOLT but, for pure atmosphere and the simplicity of it, I'd have to say the tarantula room in DN. Both outstanding in different ways, as are his others. Genius.

  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I'd have to say the casino in Dr No
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 6,014
    The war room in Dr. Strangelove.

    Oh, you mean in Bond ? The Liparus.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Gerard wrote: »
    The war room in Dr. Strangelove.

    Oh, you mean in Bond ? The Liparus.

    No in general is ok.
    The war room would be my favourite too :)
  • EmilioEmilio Palmyra, Nassau
    edited March 2016 Posts: 175
    I had the great fortune to frequent the Adams home in the early 80's as my aunt lived in the same street in London. Being my aunt Italian, as Sir Ken wife, Maria Letizia, they eventually became quite friend.
    I was around 15 y.o. at that time, and I still have a vivid memory of a Sunday brunch where my younger brother and myself were playing with models of Moonraker and Sir Ken Oscar for Barry Lyndon. It was Summer and outside the house was parked a yellow Mini Moke, the exacte same car used in YOLT and TSWLM, Sir Ken told me.

    R.I.P. Sir Ken, your vision made us all dream, thank you.

    http://casaforte.blogspot.it/2016/03/in-memoriam-sir-ken-adam-1921-2016.html
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Thanks for sharing that.
  • ggl007ggl007 www.archivo007.com Spain, España
    Posts: 2,541
    Great story, @Emilio! Thanks for that.
  • KanangaKananga
    Posts: 367
    Got a chance to meet and spend some time with Ken in 2006, sad to hear he passed. R.I.P Ken Adam.

    You will be missed, Bond has missed you since 1979.

    :(
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Ken Adam is one of the reasons, besides the score and the story, that I view Barry Lyndon as a top five Kubrick film.
  • jerome007jerome007
    Posts: 158
    Cubby,Harry,John and now Sir Ken created magic in the name of Bond. And forever they will have our gratitude. RIP.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,197
    Possibly the best set designer in film history.

    RIP, Sir Ken. :(
  • fjdinardofjdinardo
    Posts: 1,976
    Does anybody know why he never came back to Bond after Moonraker?
  • 00680068
    Posts: 14
    I have been watching his impressive work in all these films. His work was always brilliant even when some of the movies that are just average.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Ken Adam indeed is one of the greats.

    My favourite art director is Henry Bumstead.
    He was responsible for 4 Hitchcock movies (Vertigo one of them) and a dozen Clint Eastwood movies.
    His last production design was for Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags Of Our Fathers.

    Ken Adam might be my No 2, I have to think about that.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I remember as a kid, making my own model sci-Fi sets, from anything I could get.
    from old airfix kits, packaging materials etc. All heavily influenced by Ken Adam's
    designs.
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